SOFTCOPY MAGAZINE

Dr Chris De Beer with FoAD's Information and Communications Officer.  NASIPHI GIGABA  The Head of Department (HOD) of Fine Arts and Jewellery Design, Chris de Beer recently completed his Doctoral Degree (PhD) in self-reflective study. Titled: “An autoethnographic exploration of Creative Design Practice: Towards Pedagogic implications”, his thesis presented an ethnographic exploration of his Identity as a creative artist, a designer and a university educator. “Being in the creative field and trying to cultivate the creativity within my students is what inspired my study. I examined my own creative practice by doing autoethnographic self-interviews of my contributions to exhibitions, and then examined the pedagogical implications inherited in these explorations,” said De Beer. De Beer’s thesis  offers a visually exemplar for artists and educators interested in exploring pedagogic implications of an enhanced awareness of self in creative practice, he also st...

NASIPHI GIGABA  (L-R) Ronicka Sirputh, Senele Hlumayo, Sue Barrett and Dr Rene Smith.  The Durban University of Technology’s (DUT) Faculty of Arts and Design (FoAD) staff were recently recognised and appreciated at this year’s Annual “Research & Staff Recognition Awards” hosted at the Ritson Hotel School. Opening the award ceremony and welcoming the staff was the Executive Dean of the FoAD, Dr René Smith, who emphasized the importance of hosting the awards and recognising the staff for all their determination. This year’s award ceremony marks the 4th Staff Recognition Awards and the 5th Staff Research Awards since 2014. As part of this year’s Implementation, all nominees in their various categories were appreciated with an award for their contribution towards the faculty and towards research. “We introduced the awards very interested more about the work that takes place in the faculty and over the years we decided that let us award everyone who contribu...