HSE ART AND DESIGN SCHOOL students create music videos under the guidance of Ariel Kotzer

Students at the HSE ART AND DESIGN SCHOOL in St. Petersburg had the opportunity to work with multidisciplinary artist Ariel Kotzer as part of the elective course “SOUND & VISION: Visual Interpretation of Music Through AI and Creative Practice.” Throughout the module, students developed original videos and explored artistic approaches that merge sound design with visual language, all under the mentorship of an internationally experienced designer and creative director.

Ariel Kotzer is an educator, designer, and multidisciplinary artist who specializes in experimental animation and audiovisual installations using neural generative graphics. His portfolio includes award-winning music videos and short films featured at international festivals. In 2024, following the publication of his interview in Projector magazine, he visited St. Petersburg to deliver an open lecture on the use of AI in visual arts. During his visit, he also shared his insights with the HSE Art and Design School regarding the intersection of digital art and the physical world, as well as the evolving role of the artist.

Participants in the elective learned to critically apply AI tools and integrate them with non-digital methods. At the end of the module, they showcased their audiovisual projects, drawing inspiration from global music stars, local artists, and their own field audio research. The workflow for each project was divided into six stages: research, defining insights, concept creation, storyboarding, testing, and final execution. For each stage, students utilized different tools designed not only to produce the final result but also to bridge the gap between a human idea and prompt language.

Valeria Zosimova, a third-year student of the Communication Design program, shared her experience: “I chose this elective because I was previously afraid to dive deep into AI tools — especially when it comes to video — and I wanted to challenge myself. I didn't expect the course to be taught in English and even considered dropping it, but surprisingly, there were no communication issues at all! Ariel was incredibly mindful of the language barrier. He could explain things almost with hand gestures, never rushed anyone, and carefully chose words everyone could understand. The workflow was seamless because Ariel was with us from the initial brainstorming to the final execution. We discussed the projects extensively and really immersed ourselves in our chosen topics and software. His feedback and expertise helped me immensely. I wanted to combine traditional Middle Eastern dance patterns with modern music. After consulting with him, I began to see dance not just as a set of movements, but as a phenomenon, an aesthetic, and an emotion. It allowed me to see the bigger picture. Thanks to this elective, my perspective on artificial intelligence has completely shifted, and I now know how to use it effectively in my future projects.”

For the final seminars and exams, Ariel Kotzer returned to St. Petersburg to meet with the students in person.

He praised their dedication and the fascinating final outcomes: “I had no prior teaching experience, so this was all new to me. The students were wonderful, incredibly serious, and attentive. Even though there was a language barrier, we overcame it together. Their level of dedication is what impressed me the most. I would love to work with them on a deeper level — the scope of an elective course doesn't allow them to devote as much time to this project as they do to their core classes. I really loved the final results, and absolutely every student project surprised me. While I would have liked to spend another couple of weeks working with them in person, they did a fantastic job during the online module and gave 100% while I was in St. Petersburg. I would be thrilled to continue this experience and perhaps teach the course entirely offline next time.”

The HSE ART AND DESIGN SCHOOL is continuously expanding its opportunities for international collaboration. In recent years, the St. Petersburg campus has hosted educators from France, Hungary, Turkey, Israel, and India. Meanwhile, students have traveled the globe through academic mobility programs, attended international professional conferences, and participated in cultural code research expeditions.