Six Degrees, an exhibition of student work and an annual tradition in the College of Architecture, Art and Design (CAAD) at American University of Sharjah (AUS), was held recently, as a compilation of work done in CAAD by graduating students. Architecture and interior design students exhibited their work at the Mine Gallery in Dubai, and visual communications, multimedia design, and design management students' work was on show at AUS.

The exhibitions were open to invitees from industry. This was an opportunity for professionals to get to know CAAD graduates and the high quality of their work. The exhibition held at CAAD featured a lecture by Joziene van de Linde, managing director of Heijmans Technology in The Netherlands. Her talk was entitled "Smart Highway," and discussed smart solutions for th¬¬e infrastructure of tomorrow.

As part of the Six Degrees exhibition, a catalog has been prepared featuring the work of all the students. This is the fifth consecutive compilation of work produced by students graduating with a CAAD degree; and each student's contribution is chosen by the student herself or himself.

"This catalog celebrates the completion of a process that begins every year when an individual enters CAAD," said Dr. Varkki Pallathucheril, Interim Dean of CAAD. "Students are immersed in ways of learning and thinking that are radically different from what they have experienced before. This immersion sets the stage for students to acquire knowledge, skills, and sensibilities that expand over time and are honed through application and critical feedback. Students emerge from this process and join the growing community of CAAD alumni who are recognized as outstanding professionals and leaders."

Talking about Six Degrees, Hanin Hazeem said, "As a graduating interior designer from AUS, I feel like all my hard work finally paid off. After I saw people's reaction to my exhibited work and furniture pieces in Six Degrees, I felt proud to be a design student at AUS. I am now looking forward to pursuing a master degree."

Six Degrees was being coordinated by Assistant Professor Clément Vincent of the Department of Art and Design.