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Two people with long hair are smiling at a tablet. People are gathered in the background around banners for Playground Games.
Guest speaker Mark Brown and Games Lecturer Jake Montanarini stand at the front of a lecture threatre. A big screen is behind them, with 'Making a Dream Job' written on a light blue background.
Top-down view of a storyboard workshop. Students are sat on a wooden stepped seating area, working on big pieces of paper. Two people stand at the front leading the session.

Computer Arts and Technology Work in Progress Conference

Norwich University of the Arts hosted its annual Work in Progress conference, celebrating the courses within the Computer Arts and Technology subject area

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Visiting speaker Astrid Goldsmith is standing behind a lectern, presenting to a busy lecture theatre. There are pictures of small clay models on the big screen.

Computer Arts and Technology Work in Progress Conference

Guest speaker Mark Brown and Games Lecturer Jake Montanarini stand at the front of a lecture threatre. A big screen is behind them, with 'Making a Dream Job' written on a light blue background.

Computer Arts and Technology Work in Progress Conference

The Work in Progress conference has been a long-running event at Norwich, and has grown significantly over the years. For the first time, this year’s conference covered not only BA (Hons) Animation, but also BA (Hons) Animation and Visual Effects, BSc (Hons) Games Development, BA (Hons) Games Art and Design and the new Creative Computing courses.

The Computer Arts and Technology Work in Progress (CAT WIP) conference is a combination of visiting speakers, portfolio crits and practical workshops. Students heard first-hand stories and advice about how to hone their practice at university and shape their careers after leaving.

A busy foyer in a modern building with lots of wood and glass. People are busy chatting, some standing and some gathered around round tables.

Computer Arts and Technology Work in Progress Conference

Students are gathered round a table with some tablets and stickers on it.

Computer Arts and Technology Work in Progress Conference

A person in a black t-shirt and glasses and a person with long, pink hair and a black hat are look at a laptop screen.

Computer Arts and Technology Work in Progress Conference

Two pairs of people are seated around a table. The pair closet to the camera are looking at something on a tablet.

Computer Arts and Technology Work in Progress Conference

Guests included games essayist Mark Brown, founder of Game Maker’s Toolkit on YouTube, stop-motion animator and visual effects artist Kevin Parry and Lauren Kaye from the She Plays Games Podcast. They discussed working as a games journalist and how to transform your passion into a career. CAT WIP also hosted some industry focussed speakers, such as Chloe Brown and Chip Duggan from Playground Games. Their talk delivered specific employability advice, including guidance on shaping your portfolio and preparing for interviews.

There was an additional focus in this year’s conference on equality, diversity and inclusivity (EDI). Speakers highlighted some of the challenges the sector still faces while championing the successes and work of many artists and producers in the industry today. Norwich Animation graduate Engy Jarrouj, Talent Partner for Outreach and Inclusion at Framestore, gave a talk about her early career and EDI in the Animation and VFX industry generally. She Drew That founder Hannah Lau Walker led a panel discussion with animators Jocie Jurtiz and Katy Wang, discussing their creative evolution as practitioners and the work of women in animation. Students were also joined by Dom Shaw, EDI coordinator for UKIE, the trade body for the UK games and interactive entertainment industry.

Top-down view of a storyboard workshop. Students are sat on a wooden stepped seating area, working on big pieces of paper. Two people stand at the front leading the session.

Computer Arts and Technology Work in Progress Conference

Students are sat on a wooden, stepped seating area, working on big pieces of paper.

Computer Arts and Technology Work in Progress Conference

A speaker in a green shirt is presenting to a group of students. He is standing in front of a lectern, and the students are sitting on wooden, stepped seating.

Computer Arts and Technology Work in Progress Conference

Aside from guest lectures, a key part of the CAT WIP conference is to provide portfolio feedback and networking opportunities. The conference hosted portfolio crits from Daniel Robinson from Oddbug Studio, Robin Milton from Fairer Games, Tiril Schjerven and Connor Adams from Jagex, the team from Playground Games and the She Drew That panel. Astrid Goldsmith, writer, animation director and Norwich alumni, led a practical storyboarding workshop.

“The CAT WIP conference was a celebration of creativity and everyone’s love of their craft, and there was a real buzz in the air. We’re very proud of all the staff and students that supported the event to make it such a success.”

Jake Montanarini, BA (Hons) Games Art and Design Lecturer and Industry Liaison Officer

Lecturer and Industry Liaison Officer for BA(Hons) Games Art and Design Jake Montanarini led the organisation of the CAT WIP conference. He said of the event:

The Computer Arts and Technology Work In Progress Industry event was brilliant! Not just because of the interesting bill of guests, but also because of the work students are doing right now. It was a celebration of creativity and everyone’s love of their craft, and there was a real buzz in the air. We’re very proud of all the staff and students that supported the event to make it such a success.

Thanks to all the visiting speakers and professionals who made the conference such a success.

Event photography: Andi Sapey

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