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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 host a series of masterclass workshops and lectures for industry professionals to inspire innovation and develop new capabilities within a creative discipline.

Our workshops and lectures are free for Dorset Industry, SMEs, start–ups, sole traders, and social enterprises. If attending a workshop, a short registration form will need to be completed along with a short proposal of your idea.

Explore our events below and the types of classes we offer – get in touch if you have any questions.

Creative Tech Studio Sessions

We regularly run workshops showcasing creative technologies and innovative practices as part of our Creative Tech Studio Sessions. These workshops are open to students, staff, industry professionals and members of the public. These sessions give you the opportunity to:

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

Explore our current sessions below.

Please note, if your business currently holds Associate membership to the Innovation Studio, these 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 events sharing specialist knowledge on topics of design thinking and creative practice.

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. The lectures support the university's commitment to its civic agenda.

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 and Dorset Innovation Hub.

We're currently a member of Venturefest South, a thriving community of innovators and businesses here in the south of the UK. Venturefest South regularly hold Rumble Events and you can find details of these below.

Date: 18 July 2024
Time:
9.00-12.00
Location:
Southampton Science Park

'Shaping Plans for Business Growth' is the first event in an exciting Venturefest South 3-part series designed to deliver top-tier business growth advice for business leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs. Limited free places available.

What to Expect

Hear from guest speaker, Kyle Stewart from Watercress Research, who'll share stories from the front line of developing his innovation led business.

We'll then open up the discussion with an interactive panel and Q&A session where delegates can ask questions to VFS partners from Blake Morgan, British Business Bank, Carswell Gould and Openshaw & Co., covering key leavers from growth including:

  • Identifying growth opportunities for the business
  • Setting realistic and achievable growth goals
  • IP strategy for growth
  • Branding and Marketing Strategy
  • Developing a detailed action plan to execute growth strategy
  • Securing the necessary resources (funding, talent, technology) to support growth

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.

Abstract image

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 Programme

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

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.

Latest events