The Spectrum 2021: Anew Design and Creative Industries Graduation Exhibition presents the creative projects of 28 final year students majoring in Design and Creative Industries. Over the course of four years, the students explored a transdisciplinary programme designed to develop their technical skills, critical thinking, and entrepreneurial mindset.
The Design and Creative Industries programme is a combined major offered by the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences in collaboration with the School of Business and Economics, the Faculty of Integrated Technologies and the Faculty of Science, presenting a wide range of interdisciplinary areas of study across art, design and media, innovation and technology, and business and management. The creative industries have a significant role in the world’s economy contributing to the generation of growth and development. The encompassing field of the creative industries introduces students to endless opportunities of experience and employment. The modern world is in constant need of designers, film makers, writers, visual artists, musicians, fashion designers, architects, publishers, multimedia artists, curators, animators, game designers and many other creative professionals.
When we look at the creative economy, we are not looking at an isolated industry. We are facing an endless network of collaborations that increases opportunities for economic growth across all sectors. The creative industries offer a platform for collaboration within and between other industries. Many non-creative businesses succeed out of the products and services offered by the creative industries. The benefits of a developed creative industry are not only economic. They are also social. Studies have been demonstrating that those working in the creative industries come from distinctive social, cultural and religious backgrounds. Culture and creativity are inclusive, a common ground for the youth, and are strongly entrepreneurial.
Creativity and culture are also important factors in social welfare and the development of cities' attractiveness. When tourism is at the top of the agenda not only in Brunei Darussalam but all around the world, we have to remind ourselves that a cultural and creative infrastructure is a catalyst for urban development. The cultural and creative industries play a pivotal role in ‘branding’ a city with museums, art galleries, cultural festivals, art and design biennales, and an endless list of events and products designed to boost the city’s attractiveness for tourists, talents and highly-skilled professionals.
Art and culture are one of the foundations of developed cities not only because of their relevance for the tourism industry, but also for the welfare of the local communities. The cultural and creative industries contribute to strengthen cultural identities, to uphold traditions, and to increase national pride. As a higher education institution, UBD holds a social responsibility towards our community. UBD is an institution of knowledge conceived for the education of the society as a whole, not only of its students. It is meant to generate a positive impact in the community and to hold a significant role in the transformation of societies. Therefore, the offer of studies in the area of the cultural and creative industries is essential to develop human capital with highly-skilled graduates capable of working within the creative industries and also in other industries which require creative skills and innovative thinking.
This exhibition, and all the creative projects presented, are the result of an intense individual effort and collaborative work towards the development of innovative products and ingenious artistic creations. These exhibitions and the student’s projects are not the final result of a creative process or an academic achievement, but rather the beginning of a future career in the cultural and creative industries.
- DR. RUI OLIVEIRA LOPES & OSMAN MOHAMMAD SPECTRUM PROJECT COORIDINATORS
It is with great pleasure and a heart full of pride and joy that I welcome you to 'Spectrum' - the first graduation exhibition for the first graduating year of the BA Design and Creative Industries programme at UBD. I am obliged to make this foreword more interesting so I will start with a pun. Unfortunately, I don't know where to begin.
'Anew' is the name of our 2021 Spectrum exhibition and signifies a fresh turn of the pages in Brunei's own creative industries as it brings forward 28 budding creatives, equipped to future-proof themselves, into its colourful canvas.
Creativity is often depicted as a sort of innate brilliance that you simply have or don't. However, just like in any other areas of expertise and talent, it is actually a skill one can sharpen through an investment of education and practice; and it is incumbent on collectives, government and non-government, to harness it in the hearts of economies in a world of automation.
I hope that as you step through the doors of and into Spectrum 2021: Anew, the importance of creative talents and creative skills are easily translated to you; that creativity and the creative industries are then seen as diverse, dynamic and vital; that the creative works are well-received and engaging; and that you will continue to support the creative industries in a time where industry support is needed.
It's funny to think that a year ago, my colleagues and I were all simply wondering whether our final year would be delivered online or not... and now, we are showcasing our individual works and the culmination of our past four years here at our graduation exhibition. Truly, there is strength in unity and it's been an honour to work alongside 27 brilliant colleagues to bring this exhibition to life. There are fond memories of strengthened friendships, shared struggles, and even unrestrained laughter in these pages and in the walls of our exhibition.
Under the guidance of Dr Lopes and Sir Osman, the past year with my friends has really shone a light on the power of collaboration and the importance of it in our growing industry - not just between creatives, but also those who support and celebrate them. So on behalf of the first graduating year of DCI, whether you are from a corner of the creative industries or a supporter of creativity, thank you for coming to Anew. Here's to growing the creative industries anew together into the future!
- AQILAH ALI, DIRECTOR OF SPECTRUM 2021: ANEW
