With an educational orientation that closely integrates creative practice and scientific research, the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH) consistently encourages students to engage with international academic forums in order to broaden their perspectives, research methodologies, and scholarly capacity. In this spirit, a group of students from the School of Media Design (SMD)—representing the Digital Communication and Multimedia Design and ArtTech programs—namely Lê Minh Long (K49), Trần Minh Thảo Nguyên (K49), Nguyễn Trần Vân Anh (K50), Trần Anh Gia Bảo (K50), and Kha Kim Mỹ (K50), presented their research at the International Conference “Integration and Co-creation: Global and Cross-Cultural Art”, hosted by Tsinghua University, Beijing, one of the world’s leading academic and research institutions.
The conference brought together scholars, researchers, and creative practitioners from various countries, with academic support from the Academy of Arts & Design (Tsinghua University) and ZHUANGSHI – Chinese Journal of Design. This year’s discussions centered on a world undergoing profound reconfiguration, where globalization coexists with localization, technological advancement intertwines with social transformation, and diverse cultures continuously engage in dialogue to construct shared values. Within this context, integration and co-creation are regarded as core driving forces shaping new modes of thinking, aesthetics, and values in contemporary art and design—particularly at the intersection of humanity, technology, nature, and the material world.
At the conference, the SMD student group introduced the project “UEH E-History | Campus N | A Phygital Interactive 3D Model for Experiential Educational Communication.” At an overview level, the project aims to develop a phygital educational communication system that visualizes the historical and architectural development of UEH Campus N through a multisensory, interactive experience. In terms of research orientation, the study investigates the role of natural user interaction and immersive environments in enhancing learner engagement, spatial understanding, and historical perception. Methodologically, the project adopts the UX Ecology Framework and a Research-through-Design approach, integrating qualitative methods (document and theoretical analysis of HCI, NUI, and immersion; user behavior observation; semi-structured interviews) with technical–experimental evaluations (system latency measurement, gesture recognition calibration using Leap Motion, projection mapping accuracy testing, and stability assessment of the integrated TouchDesigner–Resolume–display system). The project contributes by demonstrating the feasibility of combining physical 3D models, gesture-based interaction, and real-time processing in educational contexts, while proposing an ArtTech-oriented approach to historical and spatial communication within higher education.
Participation in this international conference not only marks a significant academic milestone for the student group, but also strengthens the connection between SMD, UEH, and the global research and creative community. This achievement reflects the university’s educational orientation that integrates art, technology, and social values, and affirms the proactive academic role of SMD students within the contemporary discourse of integration and co-creation in art and design.
Writer: Nguyen Tran Van Anh, School of Media Design, UEH
