Events

Step into a captivating world where local and global artists unite in an exhibition that transcends boundaries. Observe a breathtaking array of creations, all shaped by generative artificial intelligence. This extraordinary display unveils the profound impact of AI tools on the ever-evolving canvas of art, challenging conventions and ushering in a new era of limitless possibilities.

As AI tools flourish, they are revolutionizing the artistic landscape, dismantling traditional gateways, and creating a paradigm shift from scarcity to abundance. Our featured artists, each with their distinct perspective on these transformative tools, allow you to embark on a journey of reimagining art, culture, and the very concept of work in a world cohabiting with AI.

Join us as we delve into this remarkable odyssey, an exploration and celebration of the artistry that thrives in a universe shared with these new forms of intelligence. These entities, for better or worse, have gleaned their wisdom from us, and their creations will leave you pondering the profound interplay between humanity and AI. Witness a possible future of art unfold before your eyes.

Abstract:

Since the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1985, Asia has remained the center of the manufacturing of video game hardware (China and Southeast Asia), the center of game innovation and the birthplace of most game genres (Japan), and the largest reliable resource of consumers (nearly half of game players reside in Asia). Dr. Fickle asks how video games, in being inextricably tethered to Asia, continue to produce new racializations of Asians around the globe, and the varied impacts games have had on Asian diasporas in North America through forms of digitization, “gamic” worlds, and play itself. The talk will explore a range of relevant contemporary topics in Asian/American gaming, such as esports, visual novels, racial representations, gender, labor and industry culture.

This event is part of the “ADE for Game Communities: Enculturing Anti-Racism, Decolonization, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (ADE) in Games Research and Creation” series from the ADE Committee of the Games Institute, University of Waterloo, and is supported in part by funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.

This event will be held in a HYBRID format. Please join us in-person at the Games Institute, EC1 on the University of Waterloo campus or online through Microsoft Teams.

Speaker: Tara Fickle (Associate Professor of English at the University of Oregon)

Dr. Tara Fickle is an Associate Professor of English at the University of Oregon, and an Affiliated Faculty member in the Department of Indigenous, Race, and Ethnic Studies, the Center for the Study of Women in Society, and the Center for Asian & Pacific Studies. She received her Ph.D. from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and her B.A. from Wesleyan University. Dr Fickle’s research interests include Asian/Asian American literature, Game Studies, the Digital Humanities, and Comics Studies. Her first book,“The Race Card: From Gaming Technologies to Model Minorities,”(NYU Press, 2019, winner of Before Columbus Foundation’s American Book Award), explores how games have been used to establish and combat Asian and Asian American racial stereotypes. Dr Fickle’s critical and creative work has appeared in Modern Fiction Studies, Comparative Literature Studies, MELUS, and various public humanities portals.

Immerse yourself in an insightful discussion moderated by CBC IDEAS host Nahlah Ayed, accompanied by renowned science fiction writer and tech visionary, Cory Doctorow. Joining this compelling lineup is tech policy entrepreneur and incisive analyst, Vass Bednar. Together, they will embark on a thought-provoking journey, delving into the pivotal interplay between imagination, public policy, and advocacy.

Discover how these driving forces empower us to seize control of our technology, instead of ceding power to formidable external influences. This isn't just a conversation; it's an opportunity to explore how we reshape the future of our tech-driven world -- an exhilarating exploration of possibilities!

Co-presented with CBC IDEAS and the University of Waterloo Stratford School of Interaction Design and Business.

Wednesday, November 29
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

Stratford School Atrium

This event is FREE, and we welcome all Stratford School Students to stop by to hang out with some cute dogs!

Learn about the Master of Digital Experience Innovation degree program on January 8, 2024.

This is a full-day design jam on January 20th, 2024, open to all post-secondary students held at the Stratford School.

The focus of the day: Though there are many publicly accessible mental health supports, 6 in 10 Canadians with a mood, anxiety, or substance use disorder go untreated. How can we use design to help reduce the barriers to accessing mental health care and better connect at-risk Canadians with the support they need?

Students will be solving this problem in teams of up to 6. Participants can either select their team in advance or will be assigned one.

Sponsored by: Sun Life and the Stratford School

BLEND: What to expect

At Blend, you'll connect with like-minded professionals, hear stories of designers and leaders facing the future and redefining realities, and participate in workshops that will help you in your industry.

This year features keynotes and workshops from industry leaders and the BLEND after-party. And the best part? You'll be surrounded by people who are just as passionate about breaking boundaries as you are. We're talking about entrepreneurs, creatives, and boundary-pushing thinkers who will inspire you to think bigger and bolder than ever before.

Over the day, you'll be inspired as we hear inspiring stories of people in our community of designers breaking boundaries and overcoming obstacles to redefine our world.

We'd love for you to be part of the conversation. We promise it'll be worth the investment.

When is it?

Join us on March 2, 2024 at the Stratford School of Interaction Design and Business. This event includes breakfast, lunch, and light appetizers at our networking social evening.

For more information including schedule and speaker line up please check out the Blend website. 

Velocity is proud to present an event which will take place over two lunch hours for GBDA and students at the University of Waterloo Stratford School of Interaction Design and Business. You will have the opportunity to form teams and get creative with using Virtual Reality (VR) programs to elevate your UI/UX skills.

Velocity is proud to present an event which will take place over two lunch hours for GBDA and students at the University of Waterloo Stratford School of Interaction Design and Business. You will have the opportunity to form teams and get creative with using Virtual Reality (VR) programs to elevate your UI/UX skills.

Congratulations to the Class of 2024 (June AND October graduands)!

You made it! To honour your achievements, the Faculty of Arts invites you to pick up your "grad gift"!