Industry-Academic Collaboration: Rediscovering the Value of Partnership
By Professor Jeeyoun Kim, Graduate School of Visual Communication Design, Hongik University
Over two decades ago, as a student in New York, I was captivated by the dazzling advertisements illuminating the countless LED billboards in Times Square. Back then, I dreamt of the possibilities of media while studying in awe of its potential. Today, seeing the groundbreaking LED art installations of the Korean company d'strict gracing not only Times Square but also iconic locations around the world fills me with immense pride and inspiration. d'strict has become a dream collaborator and employer for students aspiring to create media art.
At the Graduate School of Visual Communication Design at Hongik University, we recently conducted a 10-week industry-academic collaboration project with d'strict. It was an eye-opening experience that revealed the profound motivation and challenges such a partnership brings to students. Despite the project being limited to just 16 participants, nearly three times as many students applied—an indication of the strong interest and passion for media art among students.
Growth Through Challenges
This project was not only a collaboration with a prestigious brand like d'strict but also a creative journey utilizing generative AI tools. Many students leveraged AI to refine their ideas and enrich their visual storytelling. However, they didn’t merely rely on technology—they combined AI-generated outputs with their own creativity to explore new possibilities.
While AI streamlined repetitive tasks, the true quality of the work depended on the students’ critical thinking, logical reasoning, and artistic sensibility. Through iterative processes—analyzing AI-generated drafts, refining them, and aligning them with cohesive concepts—students demonstrated the importance of creativity beyond technology.
Industry and AI: A New Horizon for Education
This collaboration offered students a rare opportunity to design public art under the banner of "art" while maintaining rigorous conceptual and logical frameworks. By integrating AI technology into their creative workflows, the project showcased new avenues for creation and production. For instance, one student developed innovative sculptural expressions using AI-generated image drafts, while another crafted a more coherent and evocative narrative with AI-assisted alternatives.
These experiences highlighted AI's potential to transform not only the creative process but also the very nature of education. Students learned to harness AI's possibilities while combining them with their unique perspectives, a skill that will remain crucial in media art and visual storytelling education in the years to come.
Rediscovering the Value of Industry-Academic Collaboration
Industry-academic collaboration projects at Hongik University have firmly established themselves as some of the most sought-after courses among students. These projects allow students to collaborate with peers from diverse disciplines, gain fresh perspectives, and lead their projects from inception to completion.
The collaboration with d'strict was particularly demanding, requiring greater responsibility and effort. However, it also offered unparalleled rewards, culminating in a sense of pride and achievement. Students pushed themselves harder than ever, driven by the dual pressures of representing their own vision and meeting the standards of a renowned brand. The result was groundbreaking works that expanded the boundaries of the burgeoning field of media art.
New Directions for Education in the Age of AI
The recent launch of an AI-based video production tool, SORA, has opened a new chapter in the paradigm of video creation. As advancements in AI increasingly automate tasks like filming and editing, education must move beyond teaching technical proficiency. Instead, we should focus on helping students articulate compelling stories, consider their societal impact, and collaborate across disciplines to create synergistic outcomes.
In creative fields like media art, it is equally important to teach students how to leverage AI tools while guiding them to go beyond technology—encouraging them to generate new value through the unique human qualities of creativity and emotion.
This collaboration with d'strict reaffirmed that exceptional works stem not only from technology but also from deep thought and solid logic. Moving forward, our educational efforts must center on empowering students to think critically, solve problems, and blend diverse perspectives to create novel possibilities. This approach, I believe, is the key to instilling values that will remain steadfast even in an ever-evolving AI-driven era.
LIVE ON DISPLAY!
The selected works from the industry-academic collaboration project at Hongik University will be showcased on the grand media displays around COEX during the Seoul Media Art Festival (SMAF) on December 25th.
On December 24th, visitors can also enjoy LED.ART's artworks alongside d'strict FLOW teaser movie, a artwork that has been acclaimed at the world's largest display in London's OUTERNET, where its run has been extended due to popular demand till this year.
This Christmas season, don’t miss the chance to experience the vibrant media art displays lighting up the Samsung-dong area!
Industry-Academic Collaboration: Rediscovering the Value of Partnership
By Professor Jeeyoun Kim, Graduate School of Visual Communication Design, Hongik University
Over two decades ago, as a student in New York, I was captivated by the dazzling advertisements illuminating the countless LED billboards in Times Square. Back then, I dreamt of the possibilities of media while studying in awe of its potential. Today, seeing the groundbreaking LED art installations of the Korean company d'strict gracing not only Times Square but also iconic locations around the world fills me with immense pride and inspiration. d'strict has become a dream collaborator and employer for students aspiring to create media art.
At the Graduate School of Visual Communication Design at Hongik University, we recently conducted a 10-week industry-academic collaboration project with d'strict. It was an eye-opening experience that revealed the profound motivation and challenges such a partnership brings to students. Despite the project being limited to just 16 participants, nearly three times as many students applied—an indication of the strong interest and passion for media art among students.
Growth Through Challenges
This project was not only a collaboration with a prestigious brand like d'strict but also a creative journey utilizing generative AI tools. Many students leveraged AI to refine their ideas and enrich their visual storytelling. However, they didn’t merely rely on technology—they combined AI-generated outputs with their own creativity to explore new possibilities.
While AI streamlined repetitive tasks, the true quality of the work depended on the students’ critical thinking, logical reasoning, and artistic sensibility. Through iterative processes—analyzing AI-generated drafts, refining them, and aligning them with cohesive concepts—students demonstrated the importance of creativity beyond technology.
Industry and AI: A New Horizon for Education
This collaboration offered students a rare opportunity to design public art under the banner of "art" while maintaining rigorous conceptual and logical frameworks. By integrating AI technology into their creative workflows, the project showcased new avenues for creation and production. For instance, one student developed innovative sculptural expressions using AI-generated image drafts, while another crafted a more coherent and evocative narrative with AI-assisted alternatives.
These experiences highlighted AI's potential to transform not only the creative process but also the very nature of education. Students learned to harness AI's possibilities while combining them with their unique perspectives, a skill that will remain crucial in media art and visual storytelling education in the years to come.
Rediscovering the Value of Industry-Academic Collaboration
Industry-academic collaboration projects at Hongik University have firmly established themselves as some of the most sought-after courses among students. These projects allow students to collaborate with peers from diverse disciplines, gain fresh perspectives, and lead their projects from inception to completion.
The collaboration with d'strict was particularly demanding, requiring greater responsibility and effort. However, it also offered unparalleled rewards, culminating in a sense of pride and achievement. Students pushed themselves harder than ever, driven by the dual pressures of representing their own vision and meeting the standards of a renowned brand. The result was groundbreaking works that expanded the boundaries of the burgeoning field of media art.
New Directions for Education in the Age of AI
The recent launch of an AI-based video production tool, SORA, has opened a new chapter in the paradigm of video creation. As advancements in AI increasingly automate tasks like filming and editing, education must move beyond teaching technical proficiency. Instead, we should focus on helping students articulate compelling stories, consider their societal impact, and collaborate across disciplines to create synergistic outcomes.
In creative fields like media art, it is equally important to teach students how to leverage AI tools while guiding them to go beyond technology—encouraging them to generate new value through the unique human qualities of creativity and emotion.
This collaboration with d'strict reaffirmed that exceptional works stem not only from technology but also from deep thought and solid logic. Moving forward, our educational efforts must center on empowering students to think critically, solve problems, and blend diverse perspectives to create novel possibilities. This approach, I believe, is the key to instilling values that will remain steadfast even in an ever-evolving AI-driven era.
LIVE ON DISPLAY!
The selected works from the industry-academic collaboration project at Hongik University will be showcased on the grand media displays around COEX during the Seoul Media Art Festival (SMAF) on December 25th.
On December 24th, visitors can also enjoy LED.ART's artworks alongside d'strict FLOW teaser movie, a artwork that has been acclaimed at the world's largest display in London's OUTERNET, where its run has been extended due to popular demand till this year.
This Christmas season, don’t miss the chance to experience the vibrant media art displays lighting up the Samsung-dong area!