Collaborative Practice

In June 2019 the Faculty of Arts, Design and Media introduced an ambitious new collaborative practice module. The module recognises the value and contemporary relevance of a cross-course sharing of knowledge, skills and experience. 

450 second year students from 12 undergraduate courses across Birmingham School of Architecture and Design, Birmingham School of Art, School of English, School of Media, and School of Visual Communications came together to work in multidisciplinary groups. The groups responded to the overarching theme of Birmingham as a Hidden City, one abundant in history, stories, trade, culture, politics, artefacts and architecture.

Focusing on one of the keywords:

• Echo
• Metabolism
• Edge
• Dreams
• Archaeology

Each group researched and imaginatively developed their collective ideas to a final, professionally produced outcome. The results were extraordinary: books, films, zines, pop-up events, installations, podcasts, apps, brands, campaigns, societies, and even a fully-functional board game.

Kristal - The Electric Cinema board game

We met with second year student Kristal to talk about her board game project about the Electric Cinema with other students from the Faculty of Arts, Design and Media..

Savills Prize for Collaborative Practice 2019

Savills joined the Faculty of Arts, Design and Media and kindly sponsored two awards as part of the evening. Head of Departmental Development, John Griffiths, had this to say afterwards.

"The abundance of fresh new talent at BCU, as demonstrated through this module and competition, in indicative of the resurgence of Birmingham as a creative powerhouse".

Winners (£650)
International student society App for city orientation and exploration

Runner up (£350)
The City Garden – proposed garden festival in Victoria Square

The Deans prize

Winners (£300)
Electric cinema board game