IADT + CFA appoint Creative Fellows
In June 2024, IADT and CFA welcomed two Creative Fellows to explore the creative potential of extended reality (XR) and immersive technologies. The Fellows, Sean Burns from 4e.ie and Daithí Magner, a film designer and graduate from IADT, were tasked with advancing the use of XR technologies within the creative and cultural industries.
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During their fellowship, Sean and Daithí facilitated three XR Labs workshops, aimed at integrating immersive technologies into IADT’s Teaching & Learning framework. These workshops, held in collaboration with IADT staff, provided hands-on opportunities to explore how CFA’s investment in technology equipment and studio spaces could enhance understanding and application of XR innovations.
“It really opened people’s minds and got everyone at IADT thinking about how XR could enhance their practice—many of us working across the Institute have ideas of how to integrate it into our work.” – Rob Griffin, IADT Lecturer.
In addition to the workshops, the Fellows conducted interactive demonstrations exploring practical uses of XR technologies. These included archiving screen-based assets through immersive formats—such as curating graduate films on VR headsets for exhibitions or open days—and developing sustainable exhibition models using augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR). Notably, the Fellows showcased the use of 3D digital mapping to highlight student work in diverse disciplines like costume design, model-making, and production design.
At the June 2024 graduate exhibition On Show, Sean and Daithí hosted a dedicated space on campus, offering insights into creative methodologies and assisting students in scanning their final year projects. Their presence at the exhibition provided students, staff, and industry professionals with the chance to explore how XR could influence future creative practices. The hands-on engagement sparked greater interest in XR technologies, leading to additional staff training sessions in photogrammetry, virtual production, AR, and VR. These training initiatives, funded by N-TUTORR, are enhancing staff expertise and supporting interdisciplinary teaching, learning, and research.
The Creative Fellows initiative at IADT has had a lasting impact, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and introducing new avenues for creative innovation. The programme has not only strengthened staff capacity in emerging technologies but also provided valuable opportunities for students to develop skills that will be crucial in their future careers. The success of this fellowship demonstrates the transformative potential of XR technologies in creative education and highlights IADT’s commitment to staying at the forefront of digital and immersive creative practices.