Pioneer awarded honorary degree

Kevin Bulmer is founder and Director of Synthetic Dimensions, an award-winning Wolverhampton business which has designed and developed best-selling computer games for the worldwide market.

Kevin has also developed a world-leading two-dimensional (2D) to 3D image conversion system which has been used worldwide by companies such as Nike, Reebok, Peugeot, Disney, EMI and Newline Cinema. The system was used on the promotional poster for the latest Batman film, The Dark Knight.

Kevin was awarded an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Technology in recognition of his outstanding contribution and eminence in creative media and information technology. The ceremony was held on Thursday, 3 September 2009 at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre.

Kevin, from Tettenhall in Wolverhampton, said: “I am deeply honoured and excited to receive this doctorate, especially from the University of Wolverhampton, because I am so impressed by their School of Computing and Information Technology. I am completely self taught, as there were no courses on computer graphics around in the early 1980s, and I am amazed at the range of technology and 3D digital media covered by the University of my adopted city.”

Synthetic Dimensions has been at the forefront of digital technology since its formation in Solihull in 1985. The company has designed and developed 14 top ten and nine number one best-selling computer games for the worldwide market, including Golden Axe, which won the Golden Joystick award, Corporation, Gauntlet and Legends of Valour.

The 2D to 3D image conversion system has been used to develop 3D posters for The Dark Knight and for Manchester United, as well as full colour holograms for Nike. He is now working on systems and content for 3D television.

Initially a graphic design company, Kevin switched the focus of Synthetic Dimensions within months to begin developing original computer games.

The company achieved the Innovations Award at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, 1996, in recognition of unique technologies developed for real-time, multi-user 3D game environments. The company then won the Wolverhampton Small Business of the Year title and the City of Birmingham Award for excellence in animation, both in 1998. Kevin was a semi-finalist in the Ernst & Young “Entrepreneur of the Year Awards” in 2000. He has successfully taken companies public on both OFEX (now Plus) and AIM.

Kevin is on the committee of the Creative Industries Forum and the steering committee of the Animation Forum West Midlands. He is also a Wolverhampton Business Champion.

Further information

Picture: Kevin Bulmer receives his honorary award from the University of Wolverhampton

For more information please contact Vickie Woodward in the Media Relations Office on 01902 322736