University’s virtual sculpture trail is thought to be the first in the UK

Students from the University of Northampton have teamed up with a cutting-edge creative agency to set up what’s believed to be the UK’s first campus-based virtual art trail.

Visitors to the University’s Waterside Campus can use their mobile phones to view a series of 3D sculptures, created by Games Art students, as they explore the site.

There’s six augmented reality pieces of art scattered around the campus, which can be viewed via mobile devices which have the UON Games Art app installed. You can get the app for free from the PlayStore or the AppStore.

The app was developed by Northampton-based agency, AR Media, which specialises in immersive technologies, including augmented and virtual reality, plus film and video, animation, digital signage and studio hire.

Screen shots of the virtual sculpture trail at Waterside

AR Media director, Rob Fairhurst, said: “We became involved with the University through Digital Northampton’s Merged Futures event, and realised we had an opportunity to collaborate with the next generation of 3D designers.

“We gave the students free rein to design their pieces, only limiting them by the level of complexity their models could be, and they delivered the goods.

“Now anyone can use the app to find sculptures on campus and experience the students’ own work in full 3D, move around it and zoom right in. It’s a modern-day art installation and to our knowledge the first augmented reality art trail on a UK campus.”

Senior Lecturer in Games Art at the University, Iain Douglas, said: “This was a valuable opportunity to bring a real-life collaborative project to the students. AR Media were wonderful partners and I’m pretty sure there’s no other university in the UK that has geo-located their students’ 3D work around the campus – it’s a real first for everyone.”

The students who have their work on virtual display are Cleyon Johns, Kelvin Avey, Fiona Galloway, Thomas Craddock and Cameron Torrie.