New scholarship funds students on the cutting edge, where art meets technology

Thanks to a partnership between TD Bank and the Federation of Chinese Canadian Professionals (Ontario) Education Foundation, graduating students in the New Media program at The Creative School are being rewarded for demonstrating innovation through the marriage of art and technology. 

The TD-FCCP Education Foundation New Horizon Scholarship at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) annually recognizes two fourth-year New Media students whose academic year-long capstone project demonstrates exceptional innovation in the novel use of an existing technology or the development of a new one.

“Our objective is always to promote higher education. We would like to make a difference in students’ journeys, and awards give them a lot of encouragement,” said architect David Sin, vice-president of FCCP Education Foundation.

Felisa Nguyen and Yusuf Shamma are the inaugural winners of the TD-FCCP Education Foundation New Horizon Scholarship. Each student received $2,000 to support the completion of their 3D capstone projects. Their works were on display in April at the New Media graduating class year-end thesis showcase, Odyssey (external link) , which represents themes of adventure, journey, exploration and discovery.

Nguyen’s capstone project, Ngủ Ngon/Sweet Dreams (external link) , featured a collapsible skeleton of her childhood home that she would repeatedly erect and deconstruct. Wrapped in translucent architectural film, it embodied themes of the imperfections of memory, routine, migration and trauma. 

“Coming from a traditional art background, I was inspired to pursue New Media at TMU and develop skills in digital media,” said Nguyen. “I was able to bridge those two spaces in my practice through fabrication projects, using professional materials, tools and technologies accessible to me through the financial support of the TD-FCCP Education Foundation New Horizon Scholarship. The award has greatly strengthened my latest works and portfolio, and led to success in design internship opportunities, and my upcoming graduate studies.”

Shamma’s capstone, Perpetual Operation System – Rubber Duck (external link) , centred around his construction of a conveyor belt system and his coding skills to program an industrial robot arm modified with an electromagnet. Playing on themes of absurdity and juxtaposition, the industrial robot arm continuously and precisely moves a rubber duck around the industrialized conveyor system.

“As an international student at TMU, I pursued New Media as a means of bridging my interests in both engineering and fine art. Thanks to this award, I’ve had access to greater technologies, thus allowing me to achieve my vision and bring my thesis project to life,” said Shamma. “Not only have I been able to expand my own skill set through this award, but I’ve also been working at TMU’s maker space to help other students. In doing so, I’ve become interested in exploring maker education further, and making design and technology accessible to everyone.”

Both Nguyen and Shamma graduated with their Bachelor of Fine Arts from TMU in 2023.

“In New Media, art exists at the vanguard of innovation. New technologies and techniques are explored by artists who adapt them to the human experience, either in practical or poetic ways. Often great things result – like touch screens for example, which came about when artists figured out how to paint on screens with their fingers,” said Mark Argo, assistant professor of New Media. “New Media students often work with digital media companies, advertisers, professional artists or in education, teaching science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) to children. They know how to speak tech, and they know how to speak creative; it’s a nice place to be.”