On May 8–9, 2026, the USC-SJTU Institute of Cultural and Creative Industry (ICCI) brought its “Dream Now–Create the Future” workshop series to London, with events held at the London College of Communication, University of the Arts London (UAL), and the School of Arts at Queen Mary University of London.

Supported by Dreamina AI, the initiative brings together educators, creators, and students to explore how emerging AI technologies are reshaping creative practice, creative education, and future career paths in the cultural and creative industries.

On May 8, a workshop at UAL’s London College of Communication was hosted by photographer and creative educator Nas Abraham and attended by undergraduate students and faculty members from the Photography and Creative Industries programme. London-based Dreamina AI creator Diane Laidlaw and Matthew Scott, founder of Playhuman Group, joined the event as guest speakers.

Representing ICCI, Dean Weimin ZHANG introduced the institute’s ongoing exploration of AI-integrated creative education and shared reflections on the evolving role of creators in the AI era. Through live demonstrations and project case studies, Diane Laidlaw presented AI-assisted image-generation workflows developed with Dreamina AI and invited students to experiment with creative image production in real time.

Drawing on his experience in the UK creative sector, Matthew Scott discussed how AI technologies are reshaping industry expectations and creating new opportunities for emerging talent. Nas Abraham encouraged students to develop a distinct creative identity while learning to work confidently with AI tools as part of their future practice. Conversations throughout the workshop also touched on the differences and connections between the creative and technological ecosystems of China and the UK, opening up discussions around future cross-cultural collaboration.

Workshop at London College of Communication, University of the Arts London, May 8

On May 9, the programme continued at the School of Arts, Queen Mary University of London, where the workshop was hosted by Dr. Kiki YU, Programme Lead of the MA Creative Arts and Media programme.

Guest speaker Justin Hounkpatin shared his transition from a non-film background into AI-assisted filmmaking, introducing independent commercial projects created using AI technologies. His presentation sparked conversations among faculty members and students on how AI tools are lowering barriers to creative production while reshaping approaches to storytelling and visual expression.

Professor Anat Pick and other participants joined discussions on collaboration between professional filmmakers and AI-native creators, as well as the relationship between human creativity and AI-generated cinematic language.

Workshop at the School of Arts, Queen Mary University of London, May 9

During the visit, the ICCI delegation also observed teaching activities at both institutions and exchanged ideas with faculty members on creative education, talent development, and the future role of AI in higher education, laying the groundwork for future collaboration and exchange.

ICCI delegation with Professor Kathryn Richardson, Dean of the School of Arts at Queen Mary University of London, and faculty representatives

“Dream Now–Create the Future” is an international public engagement initiative launched by ICCI with the support of Dreamina AI. Building on the London workshops, ICCI will continue to foster international dialogue around AI technologies and the future of creative education through future exchange programmes and collaborative initiatives.