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A large crowd of people stands and dances in a dark room illuminated by colorful lasers and vibrant light projections. Blue, purple, and yellow beams radiate from the stage, where DJs or performers are set up. Abstract visuals are projected on the side walls, creating an immersive, nightclub-like atmosphere.
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SDCT's Top 10: Year in Review

Relive standout events, inspiring student work, and key milestones from the 2024–2025 academic year.

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Two people participate in an immersive experience wearing virtual reality headsets mounted on animal-shaped masks, holding poles for support. Vivid digital projections of bananas and streaks of light animate the space around them, casting shadows on the wall.

Design Assistant Professor Jiabao Li’s “EchoVision” showcased at CURRENTS Arts and Technology Festival

June 8, 2025

Albuquerque Journal

Jiabao Li’s “EchoVision” invites audiences to navigate like bats using echolocation—now featured at CURRENTS New Media Festival.

A person’s hands interact with a variety of material samples arranged neatly on a table. The samples include translucent acrylic sheets, color swatches, ceramic cups, fabric swatches, a shell, and textured tiles in neutral and earthy tones. The person holds a clear circular lens and a square plastic sheet, suggesting a material exploration or design planning activity.

Doreen Lorenzo Explores the Emotional Impact of Design in Fast Company Feature

June 3, 2025

Fast Company

Assistant Dean Doreen Lorenzo speaks with Lyse Martel on how design influences emotion, sustainability, and innovation.

A stylized robot character with a plant sprout antenna walks through a bright meadow with wind turbines and floating drones under a vivid blue sky. The title “Re:Fresh” appears above.

Merge Conflict Studios, Founded by SDCT Grads, Launches Solarpunk-Inspired Game

May 19, 2025

Spectrum News

Merge Conflict Studios—founded by SDCT grads—brings eco-optimism to gaming with their new solarpunk title, Re:Fresh.

A collage of ten photos representing highlights from the School of Design and Creative Technologies’ 2024–2025 year. Activities include a design thinking workshop with sticky notes, a crowded career fair, a speaker at a podium, a pixelated video game scene, a stage with neon text reading “A Dynamic Future,” students interacting with creative installations, a student presenting a design prototype.

SDCT's Top 10 | 2024-2025

May 14, 2025

This has been another year filled with impressive student work, show-stopping exhibitions, and amazing partnerships! We are excited to highlight some of the amazing accomplishments from across our SDCT community from this past academic year.

Grace Davila Headshot

Alumni Spotlight: Grace Davila

May 7, 2025

Grace Davila is a 2022 Design BFA graduate from The University of Texas at Austin.

Portrait of Andrew Augustin looking to the side, wearing layered gold necklaces, with a misty background and soft lighting.

AET Faculty Member Andrew Augustin Featured Among Black Leaders Shaping Austin’s Tech Scene

April 10, 2025

African American News & Issues

Andrew Augustin, founder of Notion Games and AET faculty, is among the tech leaders transforming Austin’s innovation scene.

A person wearing a futuristic, geometric bat mask with a smartphone attached to the front, acting as a digital visor. The mask is white with angular facets, covering the entire head. The person, dressed in a striking red outfit, holds two white rods extending from the mask. Their mouth is open in an expressive pose. The background is blurred with an outdoor setting and a crowd of people, suggesting a live event or performance.

SXSW Spotlight: EchoVision and More XR Highlights from Austin

March 18, 2025

AR Insider

AET faculty member Jiabao Li’s EchoVision was among the standout XR experiences featured in this SXSW tech roundup.

A wide view of the Austin skyline with high-rise buildings, the Colorado River in the foreground, and a bridge crossing the water.

EchoVision Among SXSW’s XR Standouts Featuring AET’s Jiabao Li

March 18, 2025

Medium

EchoVision, a VR project by AET faculty Jiabao Li, was highlighted as a top immersive experience at SXSW 2025.

A large digital display wall showcasing a vibrant collage of Japanese woodblock prints. The central composition features a colorful, multi-panel artwork filled with scenes of traditional life, people in elaborate attire, and architectural elements, framed by red borders and Japanese text. Surrounding the center panel are smaller prints, depicting trains, Western visitors, marketplaces, parades, and scenic landscapes. The background is black, emphasizing the illuminated art pieces, which highlight a cultural

Japanese Art Collective teamLab Engages Students at UT Austin

March 18, 2025

Texas Global

SDCT welcomed teamLab’s Takeshi Yamada for a campus talk that gave AET students a look into the world of immersive Japanese digital art.

A person wearing a futuristic, geometric bat mask with a smartphone attached to the front, acting as a digital visor. The mask is white with angular facets, covering the entire head. The person, dressed in a striking red outfit, holds two white rods extending from the mask. Their mouth is open in an expressive pose. The background is blurred with an outdoor setting and a crowd of people, suggesting a live event or performance.

AET Faculty Member Jiabao Li Brings XR Bat Experience to SXSW

March 11, 2025

Culture Map

AET faculty Jiabao Li’s EchoVision at SXSW used XR to let pedestrians experience echolocation firsthand, featuring live bats with Austin Bat Refuge.

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