Creative Product Abstracts

Below find specific guidelines for I. design, II. visual arts, and III. performance arts.

In order to help reviewers evaluate abstracts across disciplines, the sections described will appear as separate questions in the URCI Abstract Submission Portal. Because many disciplines compose abstracts as a unified narrative (or other format), you will given the optional opportunity to submit your abstract in the format that is specific to your field/discipline at the end of the submission in addition (not replacement) to the required questions.

I. Abstract guidelines for design (e.g. architecture, graphic design):

  1. Purpose statement: What is the purpose of this new design (e.g., what problem does it solve, or what new advantages does it create)?
  2. Statement of context and relevance: Describe why this design is unique and relevant today.  What has changed, is changing, or is likely to change in the future and how might this change affect people, place, design aspirations, technology, etc.?
  3. Description of methods/technique/approach: How did/will you create and test the design (e.g., experiment, simulation, case studies)?
  4. Your specific contributions: Provide a brief description of your specific contributions to the research apart from collaborators, mentors, and past contributors (if any) to this project, or, if created independently, state that there were no other contributors.
  5. Description of results and/or conclusions: What do you expect to learn and what is likely to be the significance of your design?
  6. A URL may be provided for optional supplementary documents. Include an accessible link to the file (google drive, dropbox, etc).
  7. Prior to submission, be prepared with basic information about you and other members of the project.

 

II. Abstract guidelines for visual arts:

  1. Purpose statement: Provide an artist statement. The artist statement is an artist’s written description to explain, justify, extend, and/or contextualize their work. It is, therefore, descriptive, instructive, or reflective in nature. It places, or attempts to place, the work in relationship to art history and theory, the art world and the times. Further, the statement serves to show that the artist is conscious of their intentions, aware of their practice and its position within art parameters and of the discourse surrounding it, indicating the level of the artist’s own comprehension of their field and making.
  2. Statement of context and relevance: In the statement, cite your influences and inspirations: e.g., other established artists; movements that are referenced or serve as inspiration; political/ cultural/ social issues that the work responds to; personal events, adventures, medical diagnosis; etc.
  3. Description of methods/technique/approach: What techniques were used?  It could be as basic as oil painting on primed canvas, or a more in-depth explanation of the experimental process.
  4. Your specific contributions: Provide a brief description of your specific contributions to the research apart from collaborators, mentors, and past contributors (if any) to this project, or, if created independently, state that there were no other contributors.
  5. Description of results and/or conclusions: What did you learn?  What was successful?  What are things to be addressed in future pieces?  How does this piece fit into your portfolio or future works?
  6. Provide a URL for supplementary documents. Visual Arts presenters are required to upload examples of work. For works in progress, you may substitute images of the work being submitted with images of past works that are representative of the artwork to be exhibited at the Festival. Include an accessible link to the image file (google drive, dropbox, etc).
  7. Prior to submission, be prepared with basic information about you and other members of the project.

 

III. Abstract guidelines for performing arts:

  1. Purpose statement: This is a statement discussing compositional or performance aspects of the work. Why did you compose this work or choose this work to perform? What aspects of dance, music, spoken word, etc. are you exploring?
  2. Statement of context and relevance: How does the composition and/or performance advance the development of your creative output?
  3. Description of methods/technique/approach: Provide a brief description of the work from a compositional or performative standpoint.
  4. Your specific contributions: Provide a brief description of your specific contributions to the research apart from collaborators, mentors, and past contributors (if any) to this project, or, if created independently, state that there were no other contributors.
  5. Description of results and/or conclusions: How did the composition of the work or preparation for the performance affect your musical understanding and output?
  6. A URL may be provided for optional supplementary documents. Include an accessible link (google drive, dropbox, etc) to a recording of the work and a score/script of the work if required for performance.
  7. Prior to submission, be prepared with basic information about you and other members of the project.

 

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