+44 (0)161 295 6094
u.ali@salford.ac.uk

 

After graduating from Salford University in 2004 with a BSc (Hons) in Computer & Video Games and later in 2005 with a MA in Creative Technology, with his final project Religious Fossils focused on exploring the impact of digital photography and image manipulation within a creative context, Umran is now engaged in his doctoral study on exploring the impact of immersivness in 3D environments focusing on Computer & Video Games in particular.

After graduating and working as a freelance 3D artist & creative designer, and as a part time lecturer and private tutor teaching across Art & Design, 3D, CGI and creative media, Umran joined the school as a lecturer in multimedia, and teaches across a variety of creative and new media modules, including project management for creative industries, 3D character conceptualisation & design and games technology. Since 2007, Umran has also acted in the role of Equality & Diversity Co-ordinator for the School.

Since 2006 Umran has acted as Programme Leader for BSc (Hons) Computer & Video Games and is responsible for curriculum design, programme management as well as managing the CVG programme team and developing programme support from a variety of major industry partners. Many of Umran's students have gone on to work in the games industry and other related creative industries.

Umran's gaming passion has helped him achieve finalist status in the Sci-Fi channel's 2003 Ultimate Gamer Competition, as well as extensive media coverage (M.E.N., BBC, Sky ThisIsBradford) on his gaming talents as well as his academic and freelance work EternalKnight.

He has also gone to work on several large projects ranging from PlastiCity; a Will Alsop driven project visualising the regeneration of Bradford city centre in a fully interactive form, the Virtual Jean Claude virtual knowledge space project recreating the French composer Jean Claude Risset, into a 3D avatar for 'virtual lecturing', to working on video games such as the PC role playing game, Kult and acting as designer and producer for his own game projects such as EternalKnight.

Umran has also worked on projects in partnership with the DarkHorse organisation, BT and the Foundation for Art & Creative Technology (FACT) involving the recreation of and 3D visualisation of the several individuals lifetimes. He has also been involved with rebranding and visualising the creative elements of several companies.

Umran's research interests lie in creative design, focusing primarily on design issues surrounding the emerging computer and video game medium, and the advancement of computer graphics. Having written papers exploring issues such as the 'Techno-culture' surrounding games and has also written extensively on anti-piracy game technologies. Umran has also been a member of the IGDA for 8 years, and was an IGDA Scholarship winner in 2003.