Research is the lifeblood of Marist Eastbay College of Art, fuelling our academic programmes, driving innovation, and contributing to the global body of knowledge. We foster a dynamic research culture that is interdisciplinary, collaborative, and impact-driven, addressing critical challenges and exploring new frontiers at the intersection of art, design, and technology. Our commitment to research excellence is integral to our identity as a leading institution.

Our Research Ethos: Impact-Driven Inquiry

At Marist Eastbay, we believe that research should not only advance theoretical understanding but also create tangible positive impact. Our research ethos is rooted in the principle of ‘Impact-Driven Inquiry,’ guiding our scholars and students to pursue investigations that are relevant, responsible, and transformative. We encourage research that addresses societal needs, enhances cultural understanding, drives economic development, and promotes sustainable practices. This ethos is reflected in our strategic research priorities, the projects we undertake, and the way we disseminate our findings to academic peers, industry partners, and the wider public. We strive to ensure that our research outputs are not confined to scholarly journals but also translate into innovative products, influential policies, compelling artistic works, and enriched community engagement.

Key Research Pillars: Shaping Future Landscapes

Our research activities are organised around several key interdisciplinary pillars that reflect our strengths and address areas of significant global importance. These pillars provide a framework for collaboration and focus our efforts on creating critical mass in strategic domains:

1. Digital Transformation in Arts and Humanities: Exploring how digital technologies are reshaping artistic practice, cultural heritage, narrative forms, and scholarly inquiry in the humanities. This includes research into digital archiving, AI in creative processes, interactive storytelling, and the ethics of digital culture.
2. Sustainable Design & Resilient Technologies: Focusing on the development and application of design principles and technological solutions that promote environmental sustainability, social equity, and economic viability. Research areas encompass circular economy models, smart materials, sustainable urbanism, and resilient infrastructure.
3. Human-Centred AI and Interactive Systems: Investigating the design, development, and societal implications of artificial intelligence and interactive technologies with a focus on enhancing human capabilities, experience, and well-being. This includes work on explainable AI, ethical AI frameworks, human-robot interaction, and immersive (VR/AR/MR) experiences.
4. Creative Industries Futures and Innovation Management: Analysing and shaping the future of the creative and cultural industries through research into new business models, intellectual property in the digital age, audience engagement, and the strategic management of innovation in creative enterprises. This pillar has strong links to our AACSB accreditation.
5. Critical Media & Communication Ecologies: Examining the evolving role of media and communication in society, with a focus on media literacy, digital ethics, misinformation, platform governance, and the impact of new media technologies on public discourse and democratic processes.

Research Centres and Hubs: Fostering Collaborative Excellence

To galvanise research in our key areas, Marist Eastbay has established several dedicated research centres and hubs. These serve as focal points for interdisciplinary collaboration, attracting funding, hosting leading researchers, and nurturing postgraduate talent:

• The Centre for Immersive & Interactive Realities (CIIR): The CIIR is at the forefront of research into virtual, augmented, and mixed reality technologies and their applications across art, design, education, healthcare, and entertainment. It houses state-of-the-art motion capture labs, VR development suites, and haptic feedback systems, facilitating pioneering work in user experience design, digital storytelling, and simulation.
• The Institute for Ethical Technology & Design (IETD): The IETD promotes critical inquiry into the ethical, social, and legal implications of emerging technologies. Researchers at IETD develop frameworks, guidelines, and educational resources to foster responsible innovation, working closely with industry partners and policymakers to address challenges related to data privacy, algorithmic bias, and the societal impact of automation and AI.
• The Studio for Advanced Material Futures (SAMF): SAMF explores the intersection of material science, digital fabrication, and sustainable design. Researchers and students experiment with smart materials, biomaterials, and advanced manufacturing processes (like 3D/4D printing) to develop innovative solutions for product design, architecture, and wearable technology, with a strong emphasis on circularity and reduced environmental impact.

Postgraduate Research Programmes: Nurturing Future Scholars

Marist Eastbay is deeply committed to training the next generation of researchers. Our postgraduate programmes, including research-intensive Master’s degrees (MA by Research, MSc by Research) and pathways towards doctoral studies (PhD in collaboration with partner universities), offer students the opportunity to undertake significant independent research projects under the guidance of our expert faculty. Postgraduate researchers benefit from tailored research methodology training, access to specialised facilities, and a supportive peer community. They are encouraged to present their work at conferences, publish in reputable journals, and contribute actively to the intellectual life of the College.

Faculty Research Spotlights: Leading by Example

Our faculty are active researchers and practitioners who are leaders in their respective fields. Their diverse research interests span a wide spectrum, from developing new algorithms for generative art and investigating the cognitive impacts of interactive media, to designing sustainable urban systems and critically examining the ethics of AI in creative decision-making. Faculty regularly secure competitive research grants, publish influential scholarly works, exhibit their creative outputs internationally, and engage in consultancy with leading organisations. This active research engagement directly informs their teaching, ensuring that students are exposed to the latest ideas and developments.

Interdisciplinary Research Projects: Breaking New Ground

We actively foster and fund interdisciplinary research projects that bring together faculty and students from different departments and even different institutions. These projects tackle complex problems that require multifaceted approaches, often leading to unexpected synergies and highly innovative outcomes. Examples include collaborations between digital artists and computer scientists on new forms of data visualisation, or partnerships between design engineers and social scientists on user-centred healthcare technologies.

Collaboration and Partnerships: Extending Our Reach

Marist Eastbay believes in the power of collaboration to amplify research impact. We have established strong partnerships with industry leaders, cultural institutions, government agencies, and other academic institutions both within Switzerland and internationally (leveraging our 75+ global university partners). These collaborations facilitate knowledge exchange, provide access to real-world data and challenges, and help to translate research findings into practical applications and societal benefits. Our AACSB accreditation also encourages strong engagement with the business and creative industries.

Knowledge Exchange and Public Engagement: Sharing Our Discoveries

We are committed to sharing our research findings and creative outputs with the widest possible audience. Marist Eastbay regularly hosts public lectures, exhibitions, workshops, and symposia to engage the community with our work. Our faculty and students actively participate in public debates, contribute to media outlets, and work with schools and community groups to promote understanding and appreciation of art, design, and technology. This commitment to knowledge exchange ensures that our research contributes to broader societal dialogue and learning.

Research Integrity and Ethics: Upholding the Highest Standards

All research conducted at Marist Eastbay adheres to the highest standards of integrity and ethical practice. We have robust institutional policies and review processes, including a dedicated Research Ethics Committee, to ensure that all research involving human participants, data, or potentially sensitive materials is conducted responsibly and ethically. We provide ongoing training in research ethics for all students and faculty, fostering a culture of accountability and respect for scholarly principles.