Staff Profiles

Areas of Expertise

Online Art & Design Practice and Education, Arts & Design Education, Collaborative Design, Graphic/New Media Design Studio.

Teaching Areas

Graphics/New Media Design, Online Design Studio, First Year Design Studio.

Current Research Activity

The Omnium Project, is an online collaborative design process created in response to the global economy, increasing complexity of visual communication, contemporary multi-disciplinary design projects and rapid developments in Internet technology. Research is required to identify and address the interdependence of various social, physical and technical factors that affect online design collaboration. The Omnium Project is an experiment that uses its unique framework to test online modes of interaction (physical) and collaboration (social) for visual communication designers. The outcome will produce an online technical-system and formalise a documented conceptual-approach for effective online collaborative design in visual communication.

Publications

Book Chapters

Bennett, R. Dzeikan, V. (2005). Creative Waves – an online global creative community: Students, educators and professionals explore collaborative modes of creative interaction, conversation and working process. United Designs: Graphic Design Practice & Education. (56 - 67). Seoul, Korea, Masthead Publisher.

Bennett, R. (2000). Omnium [vds]: Experiencing Cultural Diversities and Geographical Distances Whilst Collaborating Within an International On-Line Design Process. Collaborative Design: Design Research Society. ( - ). Coventry, UK, Springer Press.

Published Articles

Bennett, R. (2001). A Research Initiative Proposing Strategies for Quality, Collaborative On-Line Teaching and Learning. Education, Communication and Information, (1:1). (104 - ).

Projects

Creative Waves 2005 - 03>04>05  (Current)
a student project of inter-cultural visual conversations and online creative process dialogue.

An Omnium Project  (Current)
International, online graphic and photomedia studio hosted in collaboration with the International Council of Graphic Design Associations (ICOGRADA)

Conference Papers

Bennett, R. , V. (2005). Establishing online communities to explore collaborative modes of creative interaction and education. ASCILITE Conference, (Queensland University Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD.

Bennett, R. Dzeikan, V. (2005). Establishing online communities to explore collaborative modes of creative interaction and education. ASCILITE Conference, (Queensland University Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD.

Bennett, R. Dzeikan, V. (2005). Forming online communities of students, educators and professionals to explore collaborative modes of creative interaction and practice. ETD2005, 8th International Electronic Theses and Dissertations Symposium, (UNSW, Sydney.

Bennett, R. Dzeikan, V. (2005). Online Collaboration in the Creative Process: Working With the Most Interactive Community of Designers We Have [N]ever Met. Designs on E-Learning International Conference, (The University of the Arts LOndon, London, UK.

Bennett, R. Dzeikan, V. (2005). Creative Waves: A Case Study. World Design Congress ‘ERA 05’ Conference, (Danish Design Centre, Copenhagen, Denmark.

Bennett, R. Dunphy, E. (2004). Meeting Pluralist Demands With A Pluralist Response: The Omnium Project - Offering an Online Collaborative Design Response to an Increasingly Diversified, Interconnected and Pluralist World. Futureground International Design Research Conference, (Monash University, Melbourne, VIC.

Bennett, R. , et al.. (2004). The Future Has Already Happened: Dispelling Some Myths of Online Education. ACUADS Conference, (Australian National University, Canberra.

Bennett, R. McIntyre, S. (2004). Encouraging Quality and Purpose in Online Art and Design Education through an Online Course Authoring Fellowship Program. ACUADS Conference, (Australian National University, Canberra.

Bennett, R. (2003). The Omnium Project: Proposing a Framework for Creative Online Interaction. Create.Ed 2003 Conference, (RMIT, Melbourne, VIC.

Bennett, R. Broadfoot, O. (2003). Design Studios: Online?. Apple University Consortium Academic and Developers Conference, (Apple University Consortium, Wollongong.

Grants

Australian Research Council Discovery Project, The Omnium Project: Formalising a system and approach for an effective online collaborative design process in visual communication. (2004-2006),

University of New South Wales Learning and Teaching Award, Improving accessibility, engagement and experience in art and design postgraduate coursework study: towards a model for course-specific online information literacy. (2004),

The University of New South Wales Faculty Grants Program, Comparing traditional face to face Design Studio education with modern initiatives that aim to efficiently teach creativity and design exclusively via the internet. (2003),

The University of New South Wales Faculty Grants Program, A research and development project to improve "synchronous" [live] interaction and collaboration, between geographically distanced [design] students studying together online. (2003),

Professional Associations

Australian Interactive Media Industry Association (AIMIA)
AIMIA Awards 2005 - judge

ICOGRADA Online Student Project
Convenor, 2005

Fresh Conference, Singapore Expo, 2002
Chair of Session

Biennale of Sydney CD ROM, 2001
Creative Director

Fresh Conference, Sydney Convention Centre, 2000 and 2001
Chair of Session

WWWhat the Web, Macromedia Conference, 2000 and 2001
International Panel and Judge

Fresh Conference DVD, Hong Kong, Convention Centre, 2001
Interviewer of 12 keynote speakers

Design in Education Council Australia (DECA), Sydney, Australia, 1999
Conference Convenor