Glasgow art gets global viewing

Final-year product design graduates at Glasgow School of Art are using the Internet to bring their degree show to a global audience in a bid to boost their job prospects.

James Auger, one of 15 students presenting their work in 95o global, said: "Traditionally, the degree show is in the art school, but the number of industrialists coming to visit has been dwindling, and it's just getting interest from local people. The sort of people who would be willing to employ us just don't see the degree show in Glasgow - we tend to get a bit neglected" The students contemplated staging the show in London, but then decided to break free from geographical constraints and present their work to agencies, colleges and designers across the world.

"It's been completely driven by the students," Mr Auger said. "This will be the first extensive degree show ever published on the Internet. It's been done before, but only half-heartedly."

The interactive degree show includes an introduction to the college and the students, and presents two futuristic designs from each member of the group, ranging from a moped to a condom machine.

One innovation is The Kinsman, which is effectively a portable paperless fax machine designed by Chris Downs. It is intended to be used as a private hotline within families rather than for general access.

Personal picture cards for each family member would allow private dialling, with messages appearing on the machine's screen.

The show opens on and can be accessed via the World-Wide Web at http://www.mech.gla.ac.uk/ gsapd/sig.htm.