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Innovation Studio

Events and workshops

Industry-engagement and our strong maker culture puts collaboration at the heart of everything we do.

Events and workshops

We facilitate events and workshops with industry partners and host knowledge-sharing and best practice sessions. We offer specialist workshops that explore a range of creative technologies that can be tailor-made to your needs, and hold open lectures on engaging, specialist subjects that are open to members of the public.

If you have an event you'd like to host, or would like to develop a bespoke workshop for your business, simply get in touch with us at innovationstudio@aub.ac.uk. Alternatively, explore our upcoming events and workshops below.

Creative Tech Studio Sessions

We run workshops showcasing creative technologies and innovative practices as part of our Creative Tech Studio Sessions. These sessions can be tailor-made to suit your business and your training or CPD needs.

Creative Tech Studio Sessions give you the chance to:

  • Enhance your skills
  • Learn about specialist subjects
  • Try the latest industry technology
  • Experiment with new ways of working
  • Network

You can find examples of the types of workshops we can offer below. Get in touch with us at innovationstudio@aub.ac.uk to discuss your exact requirements, and we'll direct you to or develop a suitable workshop for you.

Please note, if your business currently holds Associate membership to the Innovation Studio, Creative Tech Studio Sessions are included in your membership package. If you have any questions, get in touch with us.

Student using a Magic Leap VR headset

Intro to VR

Intro to Design in VR is perfect if you're curious to learn what virtual, augmented and mixed reality is all about. Across two and a half hours you'll explore each area of VR, as well as look at the software and tools used to create digital experiences. At the end of the session, you'll have a better understanding of the different types of VR as well as how you can create digital experiences using these tools.

Suitable for beginners; no previous VR experience necessary.

Duration: 2.5 hours

Learn more and book
A person is using VR equipment to draw abstract colourful shapes and lines.

Design in VR – Gravity Sketch

This half day course focusses on using Gravity Sketch for VR. You'll learn the fundamental tools and features of Gravity Sketch, as well as the operating functions of VR equipment. You'll experiment with a selection of tools and features through fun and interactive activities, whilst participating in group exercises with other attendees in virtual worlds. At the end of the session you'll produce a 3D model that you'll be able to photograph using an AR App.

By the end of the workshop, you'll be more confident in using Gravity Sketch for 3D modelling and have the opportunity to sign-up for Drop In sessions with your tutor and founder of Design in VR, Ekaterina Savosina, which will enable you to receive Gravity Sketch Certification.

Suitable for both Gravity Sketch beginners and anyone with VR experience wishing to progress their skills.

Duration: 3.5 hours

Learn more and book
Wooden cut outs of a cartoon ghost.

Design for 2D Prototyping

Over two and a half hours, in this workshop you'll learn how to design ideas for 2D manufacturing, considering equipment potential and limitations. You'll examine examples and discuss what design aspects work well and where designs can be improved.

By the end of the session, you'll have a better understanding of creating projects suitable for processes, such as laser cutting and water jet cutting.

Suitable for beginners; no previous 2D prototyping experience necessary.

Duration: 2.5 hours

Learn more and book
Image is cut in half: one half shows a 3D digital drawing of a cog and the other half shows it created as a 3D product.

Design for 3D Prototyping

This workshop will enable you to understand the potential and limitations of conventional 3D manufacturing. It includes how to optimise your design process to create better functional models for prototyping and manufacture.

By the end of the session, you'll have a better understanding of how to design your project to be compatible with 3D manufacturing processes like CNC routing and milling.

Suitable for beginners; no previous 3D prototyping experience necessary.

Duration: 2.5 hours

Learn more and book
Fusion 360 plastic printed example

Introduction to Fusion 360

Fusion 360 is industry-standard software for 3D modelling. Used for professional product design and manufacturing it has the capabilities to prepare designs for 3D printing. Throughout this workshop you'll receive an introduction to Fusion 360 and learn about its many innovative tools.

You'll cover the Fusion 360 interface and basic modelling techniques through step-by-step tutorials, as well as have the opportunity to explore the software on their own. You'll be challenged to design a keyring or similar object to demonstrate your understanding. There'll be the opportunity for Q&A as the workshop progresses.

By the end of the session, you'll have a solid grasp of the fundamentals of the software and be able to create your own 3D objects suitable for 3D printing.

Suitable for beginners; no previous Fusion 360 experience necessary.

Duration: 2.5 hours

Learn more and book
Render of a glass-fronted building using software Twin Motion

Introduction to Virtual Environments (Twinmotion)

Twinmotion is the fast, intuitive, and high-quality visualisation tool used by architects and designers to produce real-time videos and walkthroughs ready to export as images, video, and interactive VR scenes.

This introductory workshop will cover the interface and creation tools. You'll be shown examples of completed virtual spaces and be guided through the various techniques to create an environment of your own. You'll also learn how to export your content in various formats, for different methods of delivery.

By the end of the session, you'll have a solid grasp of the fundamentals of Twinmotion and be able to create your own virtual environments.

Suitable for beginners; no previous Twinmotion experience necessary.

Duration: 2.5 hours

Learn more and book

Open Lectures

Our Open Lectures are a series of talks sharing insights into specialist subjects, local community initiatives and projects, and hot topics within the creative industries.

Each lecture is led by a specialist guest speaker and we welcome guests on campus for a pre-lecture drink to meet our staff and explore our current exhibition in TheGallery.

These lectures are free to attend and are open to members of the public. Details of any upcoming lectures are shared below.

Partner events

We're proud to partner with external organisations and support regional events that promote business growth, champion entrepreneurship, knowledge share, and offer networking opportunities. Some of our past and present event partners have included, Women in Tech Dorset, BCP Council, Homewards and NHS Dorset Innovation Hub.

We're also currently a member of Venturefest South, a thriving community of innovators and businesses here in the south of the UK. We'll be exhibiting at the #VSF2024: Festival of Innovation on 14 November 2024.

If you'd like to partner with us to develop or host an event, get in touch at innovationstudio@aub.ac.uk.

Explore the Innovation Studio

Innovation Studio, photographed by Richard Bryant. Photo of an exterior wall with two reverse-L shaped windows and three semi-circle panels visible. A person walks past towards the right.

Overview

The Innovation Studio operates as a lab for creative technologies, a nucleus for start-ups and enterprises and an industry engagement hub.

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Projects

Take a look at some of our recent collaborative projects with external partners and businesses

Sunseeker employee working on schematics of a boat

Associate membership

Our Associate Programme offers membership of our Innovation Studio to regional businesses seeking research and development support.

Three people examining materials

Residency

A Residency at AUB's Innovation Studio gives you and your business the chance to connect and collaborate in our co-working space.

Innovation Studio, photographed by Richard Bryant. Photo of an interior space, with several people sat working at tables. A rectangle-shaped railing is in the middle of the room.

Creative Technologies

The Innovation Studio features state-of-the-art equipment and digital resources, and the latest manufacturing technology.