SOFTCOPY MAGAZINE

Professor Zakes Mda. Ahead of his much publicised seminar, Unsilencing an Occluded Cultural and Historical Heritage, renowned South African novelist, poet and playwright, Professor Zanemvula Mda, famously known as Zakes Mda held an interactive session with Faculty of Arts and Design (FoAD) students. Mda’s visit to the Faculty of Arts and Design was part of his public lecture organised by the Durban University of Technology’s Writing Centre in an effort to inculcate the culture of reading and writing outside disciplines. It was also part of the 2018 Creative Writing Competition, which is a student development initiative for all DUT students with a passion for creative writing. The two-hour session took place at City Campus’ iconic Arthur Smith Hall and was attended by Drama, Video Technology, Journalism and English for the Arts students. During his welcome address, FoAD’s Deputy Dean, Professor Brian Pearce said it was an honour for the faculty to host the award winnin...

ECP Students during their fashion show  Newspapers, feathers and plastic bags dominated the colourful impromptu fashion show hosted by the Faculty of Arts and Design’s Extended Curriculum Programme (ECP) last week Friday, 24 August 2018. The fashion show which was held at the Durban University of Technology’s City Campus Courtyard Centre saw ECP students taking to the runway to model outfits that they have made from recycled material. The fashion parade is an important fixture in the ECP’s calendar, and it forms part of the student’s continuous assessment. ECP coordinator, Julie Anderson explained that, “The students were required to produce a contemporary, sculptural fashion design piece from ‘found’ objects that will be modelled as part of an overseas fashion show and the piece is to reflect modern day South Africa and their heritage within this context.” She also added that the project makes the students stop, think and find material and in doing so, it open...

Graphic Design Students selling candy treats at DigiFest.  The Faculty of Arts and Design (FoAD) Executive Dean, Dr René Smith encouraged students to have an entrepreneurship mindset. Dr Smith was speaking at the second annual FoAD Student Entrepreneurship Day hosted by the faculty recently. In her address Dr Smith emphasized the importance of the faculty’s role in ensuring that students are motivated and supported to become entrepreneurs and to be business minded.   “As students, you have to learn how to make money for yourself, the goal is if you are not in full-time employment, you should be self-employed or be able to employ other people,” she urged. Eager FoAD students filled the City Campus’ Arthur Smith Hall to capacity to listen to a host of alumnus FoAD students who are thriving in their respective entrepreneurship ventures. Jewellery Design alumni and owner of Bespoke Jewellery, Glenn Adendorff joined former Fashion and Textiles’ student and founder o...