Sketching with Technology: students explore interactivity, technology and speculative design at ECU event

In a showcase that merged creativity with cutting-edge technology, second-year Interaction Design students and third-year New Media + Sound Arts students presented their work at the Sketching with Technology event hosted at Emily Carr University of Art + Design (ECU). This event featured projects exploring interactivity, creative technology and speculative design, as well as blending performances, short films, and interactive installations. The event is part of the Technology Pathways initiative under the larger Pathways for Creative Futures program led by the Shumka Centre for Entrepreneurship.

“It was a pleasure to present my work alongside my peers, and I’m grateful for the opportunity and the experience that I gained—not only from the event itself but also from the process of getting there,” says NMSA student Miranda Firmston (BMA 2026).

The Pathways for Creative Futures program equips students with practical skills and industry connections through work-integrated learning (WIL) opportunities in fields like animation, virtual/augmented reality (XR), and machine learning. The Technology Pathways initiative enhances this experience by offering hands-on projects, hackathons, and interdisciplinary workshops, preparing students to merge creative design with emerging technologies. By connecting students with industry professionals and addressing the growing demand for skilled talent, these initiatives position graduates for success in the evolving creative technology sector. The program is funded in partnership with the Business + Higher Education Roundtable (BHER) and with support from the Government of Canada.

Exploring emerging technologies

The projects showcased at the event were imaginative, hands-on experiments designed for creative growth rather than producing polished outcomes. Performances by New Media + Sound Practices (NMSA 300) students included using custom audio interfaces, often self-designed, made from various materials like wood, metal and water-filled bowls. Using these tools, students created layered soundscapes or manipulated visual elements to craft immersive experiences. These innovative techniques were developed under instructor Peter Bussigel's guidance and supported by various software and tools including Arduino, Max/MSP Jutter, Ableton Live, Pure Data and Unity, encouraging the exploration of unconventional audio storytelling.

“The Sketching with Technology event happened to be my first time fully committing to a performance with my work, which came with all the mysterious technical errors and last-minute confusions that are to be expected from such an occasion but also brought with it a certain sense of vulnerability that I think pushed me to engage more deeply with both my work and the audience,” says Miranda.

Between performances, Interaction Design (INTD 200) students presented short films and animations that imagined futures and emerging technologies, highlighting speculative design and artificial intelligence. Their concepts included dystopian cities, silk-designed infrastructures, lie-detecting glasses, instant health scanners, plant-growing happiness-fueled headbands, and more. The course, taught by Haig Armen, explores themes of speculative design and its impact on future interactions with technology.

Through both classes, students are asked to imagine creative solutions that will help them ideate and think outside the box, which will benefit them in their future careers.

Shaping the future of creative technology

Students who participated in the Sketching with Technology event are honing skills that prepare them to shape BC’s creative technology sector in digital media, animation, and interactive design fields. Graduates from these programs often pursue careers as Sound Designers, Media Artists, Experience Designers, Interaction Designers, Product Designers, or Service Designers. Whether they are creating immersive soundscapes, designing interactive digital environments, or working on cutting-edge animation projects, ECU students are not just preparing for careers—they’re on the cutting edge of shaping the future of industries.

“Events like Sketching with Technology showcase our students' incredible innovation and creativity as they explore the intersection of art, design and technology,” says Cemre Demiralp, Project Manager of Partnerships + Creative Entrepreneurship at the Shumka Centre. “These events not only celebrate our students’ imaginative work but also underscore the critical role creative thinkers play in shaping the future of emerging industries.”

By blending artistic vision with technological innovation, the Sketching with Technology event highlights how ECU students push boundaries and imagine new possibilities for creative technologies. Through the skills they’ve learned through this initiative, they are poised to become innovators and changemakers in the ever-evolving technology industry.