Research

Applied Research in Visual Arts is centred on professional practices that have a variety of outcomes, including the skills needed to work in galleries, museums, film and multimedia, the craft industry, teaching and communications as well as in arts administration and the cultural industries as a whole. Emerging areas in the Visual Arts include installation, performance using digital tools, public art, virtual reality experimentation, multimedia and interactive art.

Applied Research in Design focuses on enhancing creativity and collaboration in the design process, the innovatory use of new and natural materials, the relationship between design and new kinds of economies and methodologies. Additional areas of applied investigation and professional learning include interface and web design, communication design, new media, gaming, environment design, limited production object design and craft, digital technologies, design and cross-cultural contexts, medical product design, urbanism and sustainable design as well as high performance niche product design.

Applied Research in Media Arts is production and practice oriented so that graduate students will learn not only how to make media, but also how to develop works, create collaborative infrastructures for projects and develop various modes of distribution. An example of a project linked to this area is streaming video, which will allow independent filmmakers to create video for the Internet and distribute it at the same time.

The research centres at Emily Carr University are communities of applied academic researchers with a common purpose. As research clusters they focus on areas of research interest that may include faculty from different disciplines, and on applications where Emily Carr is making significant national and international contribution.

We have established a number of formal centres, which are detailed within this section and in the sidebar on this page, however there are also other emergent clusters with the distinction being the level of funding and activity. Centres and clusters are a way to formalize collaborative relationships between faculty and students and to give greater visibility and access to specific areas of investigation to our external community and partners. Not all research activity fits within these groups, projects frequently overlap, and they will evolve over time.

The allocation of Chairs to individual universities is an integral part of the Canada Research Chairs program. Firstly, the allocation process ensures a dynamic program that responds to shifting research success at Canada¡¯s academic institutions. Secondly, the process works to attract and retain individuals who are recognized as the world's most accomplished and promising researchers. Chair-holders aim to achieve research excellence in their areas of study, and to strengthen Canada¡¯s international competitiveness as they improve depth of knowledge, quality of life, and develop the next generation through student supervision, teaching and research creation and coordination.