Creative designers, photographers, illustrators, and a graffiti artist were among the speakers at GUST’s (Gulf University for Science and Technology) The SEEN: INSPIRATION. INNOVATION. IMAGINATON, which ran from April 13-15, 2014 on the university’s campus.
The conference is the first in a three-year sequence. Each annual conference is dedicated to an area of emphasis within the department’s Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in Mass Communication. These include Visual Communication, Radio and TV Broadcasting, and Public Relations and Advertising.
“In today’s world, visual messages are a very important way to communicate and get people’s attention. This conference showed how creative professionals are using the power of visuals to make an impact,” said Antonia Jolic, faculty member in the Mass Communication and Media Department. “It also gives our students a better understanding of the possibilities offered by their degree”.
The SEEN was organized by GUST faculty and students to focus on three aspects cutting across all creative industries: Inspiration, Innovation and Imagination.
Speakers at the three-day event included the creator of the world-acclaimed comic book series THE 99 Dr. Naif Al-Mutawa, political cartoonist Bader Bin Gaith, Co-Founder of AOK Architecture Abdulaziz Al-Kandari, independent filmmaker Abdulrahman Al Kulafi, as well as many others.
There were also workshops on design, graffiti, and Arabic calligraphy. Workshops were led by, among others, Jassim Al Nasrallah, Yousef Saleh, “Monstariam,” and Antonia Jolic.
The event culminated with a live graffiti demonstration by Yousef Saleh and Mohammed Abuhakmeh, AKA “Monstariam”, who filled a large three-part canvas with street art celebrating The SEEN.
An[toni]a Jolic 