Elephant's Leg II: Creativity in Action

The Future Arts and Technologies Laboratory (FASTlab), founded at the University of Newcastle, Australia, stands as a pioneering initiative at the intersection of art, science, and technology. This book documents FASTlab's unique journey, tracing its emergence as a collaborative hub where creativity and experimentation transcend disciplinary boundaries. Through a series of innovative projects, FASTlab has demonstrated how research can be simultaneously imaginative, rigorous, and impactful-reshaping both university education and artistic practice.

At the core of this work is the conviction that creativity must serve society. The volume highlights projects that integrate human unpredictability, artificial intelligence, and community engagement into a dynamic mix that generates new pathways for industry collaboration, social innovation, and sustainable development. These case studies range across healthcare, environmental sustainability, tertiary education, and smart cities, illustrating how creativity applied to real-world problems can generate holistic and practical solutions.

FASTlab has achieved recognition through prestigious awards and competitive funding, underscoring its role as a leader in transdisciplinary applied research. By connecting academia with industry, fostering new forms of collaboration, and embracing artistic and technological approaches, the laboratory offers a model for research and education in the 21st century.

This book is both documentation and invitation: it showcases creativity in action while calling on readers-whether researchers, educators, artists, or policymakers-to reimagine the role of creativity in shaping a more innovative, inclusive, and sustainable future.

Craig Hight is Associate Professor in Creative Industries at the University of Newcastle, Australia. His research expertise spans documentary theory, software studies, critical data studies, audience research, and human-centred design. He has established a global profile through his investigations into documentary culture and practice, with particular emphasis on their transformation through online, mobile, and interactive technologies.

Mario Minichiello is Professor of Design and Creative Arts at Loughborough University. An award-winning practitioner and academic based in Cambridge, he brings extensive experience in design, visual communication, and creative arts practice to his scholarship and teaching.