AI Artist and Flood Shelter Architect Selected as Creative Changemakers of 2023

One of the first AI images to win a major art competition and a design for flood proof shelters are among six creative milestones to be celebrated as Creative Changemakers of 2023.

The list, voted for by staff and students at Ravensbourne University London, a specialist university for the creative and digital industries, recognises the creatives behind six moments that impacted the world over the last year.

· Jason M. Allen became one of the first artists to win a prize using the artificial intelligence programme Midjourney.

· Epic Games launched Unreal Editor for Fortnite, allowing creatives to build their own experiences.

· Richard Howarth launched a new era of mixed reality technology with Apple’s Vision Pro headset.

· Prof Dr Yasmeen Lari championed zero-carbon, self-build shelters for people displaced by climate change.

· Electric Theatre Collective demonstrated the power of artificial intelligence tools to animate famous art Masterpieces for Coca Cola.

· Dr Manel Torres created a spray-on dress for Bella Hadid, featuring sustainable, 3D-printed fabric. 

Andy Cook, VC of Ravensbourne University London says, “The last year has seen the creative industries disrupted by generative AI, demonstrating the ever-increasing need for collaboration between creative and digital skills.  

“With arguments still raging over whether AI is a welcome creative tool or a plagiaristic evil, Jason M Allen’s use of Midjourney and Electric Theatre Collectives’ animation for Coca Cola were milestones in our awareness of what might be possible.

“There is also a strong sense of purpose: Dr Yasmeen Lari and Dr Manel Torres are taking a lead in two of the creative industries with the biggest sustainability challenges to overcome: architecture and fashion.

“Two innovations stand out for making creativity more accessible: Richard Howarth’s design of Apple’s Vision Pro goggles are set to unlock augmented reality, while Epic Games release of Unreal Editor for Fortnite opens up game development on an unprecedented scale.”

A panel of industry judges, including Eider Fernandez of Zaha Hadid Architects, Steve Ford of Nord University, Matthew Jones of Accept & Proceed, and Hetty Mahlich, Editor of Show Studio, will now join Andy Cook, Ravensbourne’s deputy VC, Simon Robertshaw and Director for Innovation, Industry and Enterprise, Lawrence Lartey in selecting the moment that they believe has made the greatest impact on 2023.

Ravensbourne academics have also compiled a list of four Emerging Creative Changemakers – mid-career creatives who the university is celebrating for reshaping the creative industries.

- Creative copywriter Liy Grant champions people of colour in advertising. She works for London agency Mother where she produces commercials for brands such as Ikea and H&M.

- Film director Charlotte Regan tells working-class stories differently. Her debut feature, Scrapper, won a Sundance World Cinema Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic and opened the London Sundance Film Festival.

- Architect Hamza Shaikh demystifies architectural drawing and new technologies for the next generation. He is a Creative-Tech practice area leader at Gensler and the author or ‘Drawing Attention: Architecture in the Age of Social Media’.

- Alexa Sirbu advocates careers for women in computer-enabled motion graphics, 3D visuals and film. As co-founder of XK Studio she produces innovative work for brands like Apple and Hubolt.

According to a recent survey commissioned by Ravensbourne, many young adults in the UK believe that the creative industries are not only about making lives more enjoyable (38 per cent) but also to help people see the world differently (37 per cent), tell stories that otherwise wouldn't be heard (36 per cent), and to help imagine solutions to the world’s problems (32 per cent).

The nationwide survey of 1,000 18-25 year-olds also found that more thought gaming can positively influence how people think and act (23 per cent) than traditional media such as radio (14 per cent) and publishing (15 per cent)[i].

Andy Cook, VC of Ravensbourne University London says, “The creative industries are constantly being reshaped by passionate individuals, driven by a desire to change the world they are working in. This year we are shining the spotlight on four rising stars whose individual creativity and craft is matched by their efforts to make their industries more accessible to people from all backgrounds.”

Both lists of Creative Changemakers have been invited to collaborate with students at Ravensbourne in the next academic year.