Message of congratulations from Catherine Wild

Dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts

It is my pleasure to congratulate this year’s graduating students in the Design, Computation Arts, and Graduate Certificate Programs of the Department of Design and Computation Arts. The theme of the 2013 Year End Show, WRAPT, effectively conveys this moment of transition in students’ lives and careers, and also laudably points to the collaborative efforts undertaken to bring together, in both this catalog and the exhibition itself, a diverse collection of compelling projects. Once more, we see an impressive interdisciplinary cross-section of interests, abilities, and achievements, demonstrating students’ critical awareness as creators of digital media, visual communication and the built environment, and as responsible stakeholders in the communities in which their work resides. The department’s strengths and evident vitality of student work are key attractors for future students and new faculty, and have also been confirmed in concrete terms through two recently-created student prizes: the Surface3 Award for Design, and the Computation Arts Award. Chapeaux to the winners of these important prizes, and best wishes to all the graduating students for continued success in the fulfillment of their ambitions.

Foreword from Joanna Berzowska

Chair of the Department of Design and Computation Arts

As I sit at my desk, contemplating the wording of this text, our fearless team of students (with considerable assistance from faculty and staff) are frantically working to put the finishing touches on the exhibit design and the catalog. The energy in the building is electric, as is the flurry of emails. It gives me immense pleasure to witness the enthusiasm and the excitement of the whole team in the culminating planning moments of WRAPT/Emballé, our Design and Computation Arts Graduating Exhibit. We are so proud of our graduating class and the wonderful work that will be presented in this exhibit. Our department takes a unique approach to design and technology, focusing on highly conceptual, speculative, and inventive work, with an interest in social, cultural, economic, and environmental sustainability. We want our students to anticipate the world as it will be five years from now, not just to emulate the trends of today. More than that, we want our students to help shape the needs, desires, and priorities of the world around them. As such, we teach them to be creative risk-takers, critics, innovators, and visionaries. I am thrilled that, in this catalog, we can record and archive their achievements. I sincerely thank all students, staff, faculty members, all their families, and especially Dr. Martin Racine, the coordinator of the exhibit, for their dedication, their passion, and their amazing hard work. Joanna Berzowska, Chair, Department of Design and Computation Arts, Concordia University

Foreword from Dr. Martin Racine

Associate Professor of the Department of Design and Computation Arts

Dear Friends, As the coordinator of this exposition, it is with great pleasure that I welcome you to Concordia University’s Department of Design & Computation Arts Graduating Show 2013. The concept of the exposition, WRAPT, has been chosen in class following an intense brainstorming session. The theme has many connotations. To wrap up as to put an end to something, in other words to conclude the experience of being a design student and to move on to another type of life in the professional world. To wrap also obviously refers to the idea of covering a gift, a precious object and even a building with paper or soft material, as in the creations of renowned artists Christo and Jeanne-Claude. In this sense, students experimented creatively with this notion for the graphic design and the scenography of the expo. This unique event presents the best projects done by our undergraduate and graduate students, including graphic design works (posters, book layouts), 3D design (furniture, lamps, objects), web design, game concepts, interaction design, projections and sound installations. This exposition gives the graduating students the opportunity to showcase their work and to create liaisons with the professional designers, media artists, along with family and friends who attend the event. br> This exposition has been organized by a group of fifteen talented students who have worked extremely hard in close collaboration to develop the visual identity, the scenography, the lighting, the web site and the interactivity dimension of the show, the students also took care of the fundraising and the planning of the vernissage. I hope you enjoy your visit! Sincerely,
Dr. Martin Racine
Associate Professor, Department of Design and Computation Arts, Concordia University