The Southern Utah University communication department held the official unveiling ceremony for the new Social Brand Lab and Visual Communication Research Lab on Friday, Feb. 2. This “Lab Launch” also celebrated the new offices of SUU News and the recently introduced sports communication emphasis.
The event featured free food, a chance to win some exciting prizes and activities geared to the new research facilities. Prizes included a drone, a gift card to the SUU Bookstore and an Apple Watch.
“The goal for me was to be able to show all the opportunities that are available at SUU,” said Matt Barton, communication department chair. “We’ve been planning this for like five years, just trying to be able to get the resources and work appropriately with university officials to find a space that would work.”
In the Social Brand Lab, visitors were able to practice product photography techniques by laying out the objects on a person into an aesthetically pleasing pattern.
The lab is intended to provide a space where students can practice their marketing skills in an applied environment. Jennifer Burt, the faculty advisor for the Social Brand Lab, shared the vision behind the new lab.
“We have always really focused on trying to give our students hands-on experience with real clients,” said Burt. “The space gives us room to expand those services, and it gives us kind of a storefront where we can bring clients.”
Riley Foy is a senior studying communication with an emphasis in strategic communication. Because of his emphasis, Foy has already taken classes in the lab ahead of its official launch.
“My favorite thing is actually bridging the gap and learning how people do everything they do on social media,” said Foy. “I can actually do this as a successful career.”
In addition to the new branding lab, the Visual Communication Research Lab is a new development aimed at enabling students to use their knowledge in a real-world environment.
Professor Lijie Zhou, the faculty advisor for the VCRL, gave visitors a tour of the cutting-edge virtual environment technology. Features of the lab include advanced eye-tracking technology and environment rendering software. The department also acquired a state-of-the-art Teslasuit, a haptic outfit capable of simulating physical stimuli.
SUU News also got to show off their new workspace. Faculty and students saw examples of student-run journalism and picked up SUU News swag. There was also a live webcast hosted by Thunder 91 radio.
Outside the classrooms, students took pictures in front of a photobooth and learned about the department’s new sports communication emphasis.
A great way to get involved with the new labs is to take courses related to strategic communication and messaging.
“You don’t just have to be a major or a minor in communication,” added Barton. “There’s a lot of ways to supplement your education and even augment your education by looking at what’s available down here.”
For more information about the programs offered by the communication department, visit their website. To get involved with SUU News, contact Operations Manager Michele Fogg.
Author: Nick Stein
Photos: Anna Mower
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