Monash's Multimedia Students Strut their Stuff

15 November 2000

Monash's multimedia students will display their work in an exhibition conducted on Monday October 30 at the University's Collins street premises.

Multimedia generally refers to systems and products that combine different media such as text, music, animation, film, moving images and sound into an interactive package that presents information in a variety of forms.

The students exhibiting are third year students undertaking Monash's Bachelor of Multimedia. The event will aim to showcase examples of multimedia creative to prominent figures in the fields of advertising, art and interactive multimedia and games development.

Dr Bronte Adams, who heads Multimedia Victoria will attend to speak on the significance of the Multimedia industry for Victoria and Monash lecturer, Troy Innocent will also speak on the unique features of Multimedia as a form of art.

According to Mr Innocent, a lecturer at Monash University - "Multimedia has shifted from a fringe activity to the mainstream over the past decade, and will continue to expand and grow as the demand continues to increase in the coming years. A key challenge facing the multimedia industry lies in acquiring people with the diverse range of professional skills required to develop multimedia products."

"Innovations pioneered by artists and designers in multimedia capture the abstract nature of information in the digital realm, examine how they inform our social identity and shape our understanding of the world."

Mr Innocent said that although artists employ new technologies in creating multimedia applications, the impetus behind the creative is driven by the developer or creator who applies the technology and rather than the technology itself.

"Initially confronted with the challenge of integrating new technologies into their existing practices, artists and designers now lead the way with new possibilities for visual communication, interface design and information architecture.

At the moment we are at a relatively early stage in the history of digital media. The work of students in courses such as the Bachelor of Multimedia is important to the development of the multimedia industry and will play a part in shaping the form of ideas developed in design experiments or personal expression focus on the development and exploration of new concepts and applications, and these feed into the multimedia industry at many levels."

Over 200 people are expected to attend the exhibition between 6 and 9 pm.

For more Information Contact Troy Innocent Ms Peggy Iu (03) 9903 1101, peggy.iu@infotech.monash.edu.au.

Some facts about the Bachelor of Multimedia

The Bachelor of Multimedia combines the study of technology, systems development and graphic design. The course will provide students with a broad understanding of the wide range of disciplines involved in developing multimedia systems while also enabling students to extend their own areas of interest and expertise. The programme consists of three components: core subjects, studio work and a specialisation stream. The core subjects teach the basic principles of key multimedia-related disciplines. The studio component has a strong practical focus, with students developing and learning about multimedia systems in an environment comparative to the workplace. The six elective subjects allow students to broaden their interests or specialise in a field of their choice.

Students can select to major in one of the following:

• Information Technology- focuses on multimedia applications in the fields of computer programming and networking.
• Arts - students can study a variety of disciplines such as politics, sociology, history and communications.
• Education - which examines theory and the way information is presented and
• Art and Design - focuses on digital imaging, visual design, photomedia and typography.

The course is taught by academics from four faculties: Information Technology, Art & Design, Arts and Business & Economics together with a wide range of experts drawn from the industry, thereby ensuring that students develop knowledge, understanding and skills in all aspects of multimedia.