research collaborations
Studio Softbox are proud creative collaborators with academic research projects across a variety of disciplines, including arts, sciences, mental well being and medicine. We produce still and moving image content and even consult on branding and design to create content which documents, demonstrates and promotes your project.
Perhaps you want to consolidate your work, make your project more accessible to the wider public, present it to industry or simply build your portfolio online.
We understand the complexities and hard work around the development and realisation of research and we can help bring clarity and visibility to all your projects and give them maximum impact. We can deal with anything from individual experiments to extensive industry ready projects and we have a background in academia ourselves (we have published too).
So with the Research Excellence Framework coming in 2021, let’s talk about how we can collaborate with you to make your research work for you.
advanced textiles research group
promoting smart textiles prototypes for industry…
…for a smart textiles research group at Nottingham Trent University. We produced an entire suite of branded video and photography, designed for promotional use online (including social media platforms), in presentations, conferences and industry trade shows. All projects and prototypes needed to be presented in a coherent, slick, accessible and commercially viable manner and considering sensitive outstanding patent and copyright issues.
This project was recently featured at the Gwanju Design Biennale in South Korea.
“Studio Softbox have risen to the rigorous demands of the mixed scientific and artistic approach that we require to help us show products and processes to a wide range of potential collaborators.”
“Studio Softbox have produced sophisticated material for us that is extremely useful in a multitude of ongoing projects. I have particularly enjoyed their collaborative approach, where we discuss as we go and they rapidly find solutions. I highly recommend Studio Softbox’s video and photography work”
Emotional Fit / Trying It On
research Documentaries…
…showing the final stages of a research collaboration between academics from NTU and Coventry University. This project centred around developing a new fashion design methodology for mature women. As the design process featured in the project involved tacit communication and embodied knowledge, filming was a logical means to provide examples of interaction that could not be so directly evidenced by submitting a research paper consisting of text alone.
The project has subsequently taken on a life of its own and has been presented, both in experimental and more conventional mini documentary form, at The Swedish School of Textiles, The Gwanju Design Biennale in South Korea, The Melbourne School of Fashion and Textiles and presented by Jim Boxall from Studio Softbox and Dr Katherine Townsend at the Nottingham Trent University Research Conference and selected as part of a special ‘best of the fest’ screening at The WOFFF film festival in Manchester.
It is due to be exhibited in April 2020 at Fashion: Innovations in Sustainability exhibition in Leicester LCB Depot.
“Working with Jim on the short documentary film, Emotional Fit, enabled our research team to capture the aims, objectives and significantly, the strong collaborative relationships required in participatory research.
The film captures the co-creative focus and outcomes of the 2-year Emotional Fit project and Jim’s empathetic, responsive approach put everyone at ease. ”
Pattern Anatomies
a conversation between fashion pattern cutting and plastic surgery…
…documented in video and photography as part of an ongoing experimental research project focusing on collaborative processes shared between a fashion designer and a plastic surgeon.
Reconstructive surgery is used to treat structures of the body affected aesthetically or functionally by congenital defects, developmental abnormalities or trauma such as burns utilising surgical incision to manipulate and reconstruct skin. Designer Juliana Sissons takes the processes outlined by plastic surgeon and Royal Infirmary consultant Dr Sarah Pape OBE to create innovative and unusual three dimensional pattern design that allows for free movement whilst minimising pattern waste.
“Thank you very much Studio Softbox for all your help making our film.
From the outset, you had a real grasp of our key project messages and how to encapsulate and explain them within an academic and wider public context. What’s more, you worked closely and organically with us to produce content that was far above our expectations. It says so much and it looks lovely too. Plus you made it all so painless.
FANTASTIC!”
Archintex
not just another powerpoint presentation…
…a short sequence commissioned by Archintex, a research project collaboratively investigating ways for architecture, interaction design and textile design to work together to focus on empathic attitudes towards mental health wellbeing.
To be presented at presentations and conferences to give a clear and concise summary of the intentions and developments of the project and also to add impact, gravitas and positive emotion to help the project stand out from the all too familiar powerpoint format.
“Jim was able to create an atmospheric film that was highly engaging and conveyed the main events and themes of the project in a visually striking and memorable way. We found him to be an excellent listener who grasped our meaning quickly and accurately, and he was proactive in making suggestions and responsive to feedback when we needed to develop each stage of the film.”
Ben Judd- Who Shall Separate Us Now? / It Grows Like A Strange Flower
multi camera documentation of experimental performance art…
Fifteen gymnasts, 15 singers and a projectionist started at the corners of a gymnasium in Loughborough, gradually moving towards the centre of the space in a series of orchestrated movements for an hour long performance arts piece as part of the Radar/ Loughborough University Arts Festival. Studio Softbox co-ordinated and directed the video and audio documentation of this unique live performance. Jim has been pleased to document a number of Ben Judd’s performance pieces including ‘It Grows Like A Strange Flower’.
“Jim is professional, expert, reliable, supportive, and a joy to work with.
He can solve video and photo issues that seem unsolvable and he understands creative demands not only from the perspective of a professional in the field but also as a teacher and creative supporter within academic frameworks.
He always delivers.”