Visual Arts & Crafts (1905 Fields of Research [FoR] classification) is a broad and diverse research area that includes crafts, fine arts, photography and lens-based practice, and performance and installation art. UNSW Art & Design has consistently received the highest possible ranking of 4 or 5 (above to well-above world standard) as judged by the Australian Research Council's Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) reports in this field (4 in 2010 & 2015, 5 in 2012 & 2018).
Leading Art & Design Research in Innovation and Creativity
UNSW Art and Design is rated among the world’s leading art and design institutions. We have been recognised as the top creative arts faculty in Australia by the Australian Research Council Excellence in Research evaluations in 2012, 2015 and 2018.
UNSW Art and Design is fully committed to extending the public engagement and impact of its research through greater use of its extensive research facilities and expertise. UNSW Art and Design is rated Australia’s finest and among the world’s leading art, design and media institutions.
Our Research Areas
Our cutting-edge research covers topics as diverse as contemporary art, immersive visualisation, interaction design and social robotics. Explore the richness of our flagship research areas below.
UNSW Art & Design’s research in Art Theory and Criticism (1901 Fields of Research [FoR] classification) is recognised internationally and includes art criticism, history, theory, and Visual Cultures. We have consistently received the highest possible ranking of 4 or 5 (above to well-above world standard) as judged by the Australian Research Council's Excellence in Research (ERA) reports in this field (5 in 2010, 2012 & 2015; 4 in 2018 which was still the equal highest ranking received in Australia).
UNSW Art & Design’s research in Film, Television and Digital Media (1902 Fields of Research [FoR] classification) includes electronic media art, interactive media, and gaming and animation. It also comprises the crossover fields of visualisation, simulation and immersive design. We have consistently received the highest possible ranking of 5 (well-above world standard) as judged by the Australian Research Council's Excellence in Research (ERA) reports in this field (5 in 2010, 2012, 2015 & 2018) and are the only Australian university to do so.
UNSW Art & Design’s research in Design (1203 Fields of Research [FoR] classification) is a rapidly strengthening area with significant investments in staff and resources. Our research includes design history and theory, design innovation, textile and fashion design, and digital and interaction design. Design as a field contributes to a widening range of interdisciplinary research and also incorporates the crossover fields of visualisation, simulation and immersive design.
Partner with our World-Class Researchers
UNSW Art & Design is the leading Australian centre for interdisciplinary research in art, design and media. Our reputation is built on the high-level performance of our academic research staff.
We partner with a range of companies, initiatives, and individuals to make greater contributions to art and design knowledge, research and learning.
If you want to pursue partnerships, collaborations or find an expert supervisor, we’d love to hear from you.
Research Centres
At UNSW Art & Design, our research centres and institutes bring together leading interdisciplinary knowledge across the breadth of art and design. Our research centres work outside of disciplinary and industry boundaries. We collaborate across faculties within and outside of UNSW.
Together, our research delivers a greater understanding of the world around us and improves life in communities near and far. We value the exchange of knowledge and are committed to generating new ideas and tackling the most pressing challenges facing our generation.
Through arts-led thinking, we generate new insights into globally important issues resulting in real-world outcomes.
iCinema is an interdisciplinary research centre spanning the faculties of Arts, Architecture & Design, Engineering, and Science. iCinema is bought to life by its state-of-the-art 3D visualisation and computing infrastructure, along with expertise in art, interactive aesthetics, AI and immersive visualisation. The centre's principal focus is collaborative creative arts, engineering, humanities, and science research into intelligent and immersive interactivity.
The National Institute of Experimental Arts (NIEA) is a research institute that undertakes experimental research in art, science, and emerging technologies. NIEA has a particular focus on art and health, which is represented through the collaborative Big Anxiety Festival.
Research Labs & Facilities
The 3D Visualisation Aesthetics Laboratory (3DVAL) specialises in 3D computer graphics. This multidisciplinary lab is award winning and provides a facility for cutting-edge research.
Our Creative Robotics Lab provides a structured environment facilitating the creation of experimental interfaces that promote interactivity in physical spaces. The Creative Robotics Lab was established in partnership with the Australian Centre for Field Robotics (ACFR) at the University of Sydney and UNSW’s School of Computer Science and Engineering.
The Expanded Perception & Interaction Centre (EPICentre) is a shared UNSW research facility located at the UNSW Art & Design campus. The EPICentre undertakes visualisation research in the fields of art, design, science, medicine and engineering. Its major research infrastructure and expertise are accessible to UNSW and external researchers. Government and industry users are also welcome.
UNSW Art & Design’s facilities include the Makerspace, Workshops and Studios and Production Facilities
The Interactive Media Lab (IML) is a new open-access facility for staff and students to share skills, discuss ideas and experiment with creative coding methods and interactive technologies.
The National Facility for Human-Robot Interaction Research is a purpose-designed facility that hosts a variety of investigations into how people interact with technological devices, including robots. It is available for academic, commercial, and contract research.
