Exclusive showcase of creative work at AUS College of Architecture, Art and Design

An exclusive one-night event will see the American University of Sharjah (AUS) College of Architecture, Art and Design (CAAD) converted into an exhibition gallery showcasing the best works of the graduating class of Spring 2012. Creative work by over 80 graduating students will be on display at the college on Friday, June 8, 2012. The exhibition is a visual extension of the second annual edition of the 6˚catalog, a publication presenting self-selected work from the graduating class.

6˚is a comprehensive snapshot of the work by graduating students within a single publication and assembles student work referencing numerous disciplines, traditions, trajectories, cultures and aspirations. It is a loose collection of projects bound by place (CAAD) and time (2012). The publication and exhibition assemble individually submitted work from the core studios held in the college during Spring 2012.

According to CAAD Dean Peter Di Sabatino, "The College of Architecture, Art and Design has had another incredibly strong year, much of which was led by our graduating students. Evidence of this is shown through the many significant awards and selected exhibition venues-including SaloneSatellite, Design Days, Sheikha Manal Awards, Habib Awards, Danube Awards and Cityscape, to name a few. While this is very important, it is in fact the day-to-day efforts and hard work by all of the students, faculty and staff that make the difference, and make this graduating class outstanding. The particular awards and individual achievements must be contextualized in the daily, collective efforts and actions of the entire CAAD and AUS community."

As the publication and exhibition display work from all the majors in the College of Architecture, Art and Design, the title 6˚ is a play on the six degrees offered at the college: five undergraduate degrees and one graduate degree.

"This year's graduating class comes with unique energy and enthusiasm that will surely be reflected in the upcoming 6º exhibition. Their good work ethic and high spirits have made a memorable impression on me and I am excited to see the students graduate and I look forward to hearing stories of their future accomplishments. I am confident that the quality of their work and a range of creative endeavors will grab the attention of the community," said Amir Berbić, Associate Professor in Design.

According to George Katodrytis, Associate Professor of Architecture, "The work of graduating students at CAAD embodies years of hard work. It exemplifies a sense of responsibility and adds a creative edge to the emerging architecture and design scene of the region."

The exhibits will be displayed all over the CAAD building and will be arranged by discipline, with designated areas for architecture, interior design, urban planning, design management, multimedia design and visual communication.

"I have had the privilege of studying abroad in both Europe and America, and I can honestly to say that the level of design education we have reached at CAAD is just as good as many of these institutions that have been around for much longer. As students, we are very thankful that the college is hosting this show for us, and the support from the dean and the faculty has been tremendous. It is wonderful to have this launching pad into the professional world the same week we graduate, and hopefully we will gain lots of exposure while also proudly representing CAAD and the AUS community," said visual communication graduating student Nada AlYafaei.

"We made a home for ourselves here for the past four years; we built the people we are going to become. Now this is our chance to share it with the rest of the world," said multimedia graduate Maram Ashour.

The exhibition catalog and promotional package have also been designed by CAAD alumni Hadeyeh Badri and Hala Al-Ani, who now run Mobius design studio in Dubai.