Digital and Technological Futures | University for the Creative Arts

UCA creatives focus on the potential transformative role of immersive technologies in Virtual Reality (VR), Extended Reality (XR), the gaming industry, and in the developing area of fashion-tech futures.

In fashion tech, UCA is transforming the smart textiles and e-textiles industry to become more ethical and sustainable through collaborative innovation projects between artists and technologists.

StoryFutures

Supporting innovation, R&D and training in immersive storytelling, the project helps create and fund R&D projects with creative businesses in the Gateway Cluster and Greater London. StoryFutures Academy delivers cutting edge training in immersive technology and storytelling for the traditional screen industries nationwide. UCA is an academic collaborator alongside SME Valkyrie Industries, helping develop haptic gloves for immersive VR sculpting for artists. Read more about the project.

Key contact

Professor Birgitta Hosea

Professor of Moving Image & Director of the Animation Research Centre

UCA games incubator studio

The Games Incubator Studio supports selected entrepreneurial graduates to launch their first indie game to market. UCA Games graduates have gone on to work at many of the leading games industry studios, including SuperMassive Games, nDreams, Creative Assembly, Guerrilla Games, TT Games, Codemasters, Rebellion, TT Games, Hanger 13, Playground Games, SEGA, Two Point Studios, PlaySport Games and many other AAA, AA, iii and indie studios in the UK and abroad.

Key contacts

Andy Bossom

Industry Engagement Lead

Dr Xinya You

Lecturer in Sustainable Business

VR and interactive 360° experience

UCA researchers develop new immersive experiences (portable 3D scanning, standalone VR HMDs, 360º films, spatial audio) and explore innovations and research into XR aesthetics intersects with creative technologies. Promote engagement with immersive media and develop frameworks to ensure these spaces can be worked in by non-specialist individuals.

UCA is the ISEA International Headquarters (HQ) – an Inter-Society for the Electronic Arts- fostering interdisciplinary academic discourse and exchange among culturally diverse organisations and individuals working with art, science and technology.

IsovistApp

This free multi-platform software tool is designed as an intuitive interface to advance the learning and adoption of spatial analysis techniques at all levels, from undergraduate education to advanced research and design practice. The software is available for download on isovists.org. Architectural practices adopting the software include Spacelab, Waugh Thistleton Architects, CBRE LAB Real Estate, and Space & X. Isovist_App is also widely used within academia for teaching and research. Visit the Isovist.org platform.

Key contact

Sam McElhinney

Programme Director Architecture, Associate Professor

Advanced solutions in intelligent creative technology and games programming

Our researchers excel in merging intelligent creative technology with games programming. Our interdisciplinary approach combines cutting-edge AI and virtual reality research with innovative synthetic-aware computer vision models. This synergy allows UCA to tackle complex technological challenges and provide advanced solutions. Through this expertise, UCA drives forward both academic and industrial advancements, setting new standards in creative and technological innovation.

Key contact

Professor Daming Shi

Professor of Intelligent Creative Technology

Innovative advancements in virtual production

Our researchers are at the forefront of the rapidly evolving field of virtual production. This innovative production method utilizes software tools and game engines, such as Unity and Unreal Engine, to seamlessly blend live action footage with computer graphics in real-time. UCA’s interdisciplinary expertise allows us to explore and advance the creative and business opportunities virtual production offers. Covering a range of processes from pre-visualisation to CGI and LED wall in-camera real-time visual effects, UCA is driving the future of content creation in the screen industries.

Key contact

Christopher Nicholson
christopher.nicholson@uca.ac.uk