iShed and Watershed's long and productive relationship with HP Labs, is explored in a book launched this week called Uncommon Ground: Creative Encounters between Sectors and Disciplines, written by Bronac Ferran and based on interviews with Clare Reddington and Erik Goelhoed.

 This book investigates the new culture of collaboration which emerged from recent developments in which areas of art and design have creatively fused with media and technology.

 Uncommon Ground is based around case studies involving both major institutions and companies along with smaller independent experimental networks. The result is a range of practical and inspiring examples providing insight into the complex rewards and challenges of both interdisciplinary and cross sector collaboration.

 This book is the first published outcome of a programme of research on collaborative practice that began with a Virtueel Platform expert meeting in Amsterdam in September 2006.