Scott Thorp

Associate Vice President for Research / Chair, Depart of Art and Design

  • Augusta GA UNITED STATES

At Augusta University, Scott Thorp seeks to create a creative community around a nationally ranked art and design department.

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Spotlight

2 min

Drawn to animation? Augusta University expands program to fulfill booming industry workforce needs

Look closely and you'll see the world runs on animation. Just about everywhere you turn, you find animation in some form, whether in a commercial, at a sporting event or in movies and television.“The interesting thing is, it’s hard to understand how pervasive animation is -it’s everywhere," said Augusta University's Scott Thorp. "Anything that moves, any media that you interact with, likely has animation inside of it. When you think of commercials, you have Monday Night Football, all that stuff moving on the screen is what our students will do.” Thorp is chair of the Department of Art and Design at Augusta University and an artist himself. He said in Georgia right now, there are more jobs than animators in just about every aspect of the industry.“When you think about videos, instructional videos, flight simulators, surgical simulations, metaverse, animation -it's there," said Thorp.This boom is also why Augusta University recently announced plans for a major expansion of its animation program housed on the historic Summerville Campus. “There’s not a lot of programs in the southeast at all. But there is industry here,” said A.B. Osborne, an assistant professor who was hired to launch the animation program at Augusta University a few years ago.Thorp agrees Georgia is booming when it comes to the entertainment sector and Augusta is leading the way.“This is very contemporary and very future oriented. With the film industry and all entertainment in Georgia, this is appropriate for it.” Looking to know more about what's in store for the animation industry and what it takes to train the next generation of the workforce? Then let us help.A.B. Osborne is an expert in the field of animation, working in everything from classic cartoons to technical and medical animation. Scott Thorp is associate vice president for interdisciplinary research and professor and chair of the Department of Art and  Design at Augusta University. He has worked for more than a decade as an exhibiting artist and his research interests include user-centered design, design thinking and the psychology of creativity.Both Osborne and Thorp are available to speak about Augusta University's expanding animation program. Simply click on either icon to arrange an interview today.

Scott ThorpA.B. Osborne

3 min

Van Gogh is coming to Augusta. Are you ready to immerse yourself in 300 of the artist's works?

Beyond Van Gogh — The Immersive Experience is coming to Augusta later this month. The exhibit has been getting rave reviews and has wowed more than 5 million art lovers interested in the famous Dutch painter since it began touring in 2017.It has been named 2021's best immersive experience by USA Today and was ranked among the 12 best immersive experiences in the world by CNN.But before it arrives, hear from Scott Thorp, chair of the Augusta University Pamplin College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Department of Art and Design, for an expert's perspective before the exhibit opens locally.Why do you think an exhibit like this has exceeded expectations nationwide for those who've come to see it?I believe these types of exhibitions exceed expectations because they are so stimulating. They include a new type of interactive media that entirely surrounds the viewer. You are more of a participant than a viewer in these situations. It’s like Disney is coming to your hometown. People are used to craning their necks to view static art on a wall. With this, you have to keep looking around to ensure you are getting everything. The technology here is relatively novel. Plus, it’s all around you. Sometimes museums feel intimidating, stuffy, or exclusive, so not everyone feels comfortable in those environments. However, blockbuster shows for Van Gogh or Monet have historically done exceptionally well. I look back to an exhibition at the Corcoran Gallery of Art in 2003 as a precursor to exhibits that use the work of established artists to create new and interesting environments. A sculptor named Seward Johnson exhibited his sculptural interpretations of impressionist paintings at the Corcoran Gallery of Art. It was called “Beyond the Frame.” And it was a huge success. You could walk into Van Gogh’s bedroom or Renoir’s “Luncheon of the Boating Party.” Do you think we'll see more exhibits like this in the future with other artists?Yes, this is only the beginning. There are several companies like Meow Wolf that do this all the time. Meow Wolf started back in 2008 and has been creating all kinds of engaging, high-tech installations. This will spread to more permanent venues such as the Illuminarium in Atlanta. The Illuminarium currently has a Georgia O’Keefe exhibition up.Could you see permanent exhibits like this in museums to give visitors a unique experience? I actually see these popping up all over the place. As they move forward, I’m sure artists will use this medium as their own. So it won’t be just about an artist of the past; the experience will be the actual work of contemporary artists.One thing that’s also interesting is there are applications for interactive spaces in many fields. Augusta University has an interactive wall in radiology.Thorp is also associate vice president for research at Augusta University and has worked for more than a decade as an exhibiting artist. His research interests include user-centered design, design thinking, and the psychology of creativity.Scott is available to speak about Beyond Van Gogh — The Immersive Experience. Simply click on his icon now to arrange an interview today.

Scott Thorp

1 min

Are paper ballots safe?

The State of Georgia wants to replace its 16-year-old voting machines with paper ballots for fear of Russian election hacking, but are paper ballots safe?“Safe from hacking? Perhaps. Safe from voter error? Not so much,” said Scott Thorp, a user-centered design expert and chair of the Department of Art and Design at Augusta University. “User-centered design for paper ballots is crucial for free and fair elections. Good design should never influence how people vote. A design mistake might actually have cost Al Gore the presidency in 2000. Who is to say it couldn’t cost the governorship in Georgia this year?”Thorp, who also worked as a professor and design coordinator at the Savannah College of Art and Design, is available to discuss:What user-centered design isHow design can influence people’s behaviorHow bad design can lead to human errorWhy designing paper ballots with users in mind is crucial for free and fair electionsThorp, who is also associate vice president for research at Augusta University, has worked for more than a decade as an exhibiting artist. His research interests include user-centered design, design thinking, and the psychology of creativity.Contact us to schedule an interview with Scott Thorp or learn more about his expertise.Source:

Scott Thorp

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Biography

Thorp previously worked at the Savannah College of Art and Design as a professor and as design coordinator for the school of foundation studies. Before that, he lived and worked for a decade as an exhibiting artist.

Areas of Expertise

User-Centered Design
Concept Development
Contemporary Art
Digital Photography
Creativity Research
Design Thinking

Affiliations

  • The Creative Coast
  • InnoCentive Solvers
  • Front End of Innovation
  • FabLab Interest Group
  • Art Educators USA
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Media Appearances

Linda Hardy wins fifth annual Applaud the Artist contest

The Augusta Chronicle  

2016-09-08

“This is my first choice,” said judge Scott Thorp, the chairman of Augusta University’s Department of Art. “It is colorful and has a good composition. Also, it has a very positive and energetic feel.”...

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Scott Thorp, Designing the Future

Augusta Magazine  print

2016-04-01

In 2015, a candidate for a job in the department of art at Augusta University—Scott Thorp—got his first tour of downtown Augusta. He also noticed a lot of abandoned buildings and empty storefronts. Wow, he thought: Empty storefronts usually mean cheap rent; artists always look for cheap rent. What a great opportunity there is in Augusta to grow the arts and culture downtown!

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Call for Entries: ‘Trifecta’ MFA Exhibition at Augusta University

Georgia Southern University  online

2016-04-15

Trifecta could not take place without the generosity of Scott Thorp, Chair of the Art Department at Augusta University who graciously is providing the Mary S. Byrd Gallery of Art for the exhibition.

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Answers

Could you see permanent exhibits like the Beyond Van Gogh- The Immersive Experience in museums to give visitors a unique experience?
Scott Thorp

I actually see these popping up all over the place. As they move forward, I’m sure artists will use this medium as their own. So it won’t be just about an artist of the past; the experience will be the actual work of contemporary artists.

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Beyond Van Gogh — The Immersive Experience, has been a huge hit nationwide. Should we expect to see more exhibits like this? 
Scott Thorp

Yes, this is only the beginning. There are several companies like Meow Wolf that do this all the time. Meow Wolf started back in 2008 and has been creating all kinds of engaging, high-tech installations. This will spread to more permanent venues such as the Illuminarium in Atlanta. The Illuminarium currently has a Georgia O’Keefe exhibition up.

Continue reading