Aaron Cowan, director of DAAP galleries and museum studies, worked with representatives from each school to adapt traditionally physical displays into virtual presentations. He acknowledges that it has been a challenge, especially happening so late into the semester, but is excited to see how students rise to the occasion.
“Every year the students at DAAPworks surprise me at how smart and innovative they are in the way that they do things,” Cowan says. “So I know this will be a challenge, but our students are very creative and skilled and will come up with some very interesting ways of taking the work that they’ve done and make adjustments in order for it to be viewed digitally.”
While this year’s event required a swift transition to the web, Cowan says this has been a longtime goal for the future of DAAPworks, and the college will likely continue to incorporate a virtual component at future DAAPworks events. He also recognizes that a virtual platform lends itself to a larger audience. Now, students can showcase their work on a global, shareable stage.