VCD strives to empower creatives, technologists and academics by providing an environment for exploration and development in virtual creative design. Through its use of cutting-edge technology, interdisciplinary collaboration and meaningful industry partnerships, the centre works at the forefront of digital design and immersive media.
Contact us
Please feel free to contact Research Centre Director Dafydd Sills-Jones if you’d like to find out more about our facilities, projects and partnership opportunities.
We are a research centre based in AUT’s School of Art and Design, including members across the School of Engineering, Maths and Computer Science, School of Future Environments and School of Communication Studies, and beyond. VCD is dedicated to empowering creatives, technologists, and academics by offering a space to explore and develop virtual creative design. Using the latest technology and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, the centre leads in digital design and immersive media, working closely with industry partners to push the boundaries of innovation.
Our core mission
- Innovate and Lead: Foster a culture of innovation by conducting groundbreaking research that pushes the boundaries of virtual creative storytelling.
- Protect, partner and participate: to create a research environment in which Mātauranga Māori is valued, and tangata whenua have opportunities to lead and contribute.
- Collaborate and Integrate: Build strong partnerships with industry leaders, academic institutions, and creative professionals to facilitate knowledge exchange, collaborative projects, and real-world applications of virtual production, immersive production, AI-generated production in the genera area of Virtual Creative Storytelling.
- Promote Sustainability: Advocate for sustainable practices in virtual production, ensuring that technological advancements contribute positively to the environment and society.
- Enhance Creativity: Provide a supportive environment that nurtures creativity, enabling storytellers and artists to leverage virtual production tools to realize their visions and create compelling, immersive experiences.
Our research projects
Our research projects explore virtual creative design through immersive and AI-generated production technologies.
Our people
VCD combines the expertise of researchers across AUT’s School of Art and Design, School of Communication Studies, School of Future Environments and School of Engineering, Computer and Mathematical Sciences.