The DesignLab at Worms University of Applied Sciences is an open makerspace dedicated to STEM, design, prototyping and creative development. Here, students and university staff can try out ideas, develop them further and turn them into their first tangible forms.
The DesignLab provides a space for experimentation, creation, tinkering and collaborative learning. A variety of materials, tools and technologies enable students to develop an initial idea into a design, a model or a prototype.
DesignLab meets the start-up ecosystem
The DesignLab complements the start-up support services offered by Worms University of Applied Sciences and works closely with the Start-up Centre. Whilst the Start-up Centre focuses on entrepreneurial thinking, start-up knowledge and the development of business models, the DesignLab offers the opportunity to test ideas in practice and bring them to life.
This creates a link between idea, design, technology and entrepreneurship – from the initial question to the prototype and beyond.
Ideas become tangible
Many good ideas emerge whilst studying, during projects or through collaboration between different Faculties. The DesignLab provides the space to pursue these ideas further and test them in practice.
Here, you can:
- Develop and visualise ideas
- Experiment with materials and design options
- Build models and prototypes
- work with digital and analogue tools
- Learn about and apply design thinking methods
- Testing and refining initial product ideas
- Gather feedback and improve ideas iteratively
- Working in an interdisciplinary manner with other students and university staff
The aim here is not to produce a perfect result straight away. Experimenting, discarding, modifying and refining ideas are all an integral part of the process.
Who is the DesignLab for?
The DesignLab is open to students and university staff from all Faculties. The exchange between different disciplines is particularly exciting: STEM meets design, business, computer science, tourism and other fields.
International and interdisciplinary teams are also welcome.
Whether it’s an initial idea, a course project, a research question, a start-up plan or simply the desire to try something out – there’s a place for it at the DesignLab.
Learning, teaching and developing together
The DesignLab is not just a workshop, but also a place for learning and socialising. Through workshops, courses and open-access sessions, you can discover methods, tools and design techniques and put them into practice straight away.
These include, amongst others:
Creativity and design workshops
In collaboration with designers, engineers and other specialists, we develop programmes centred on creativity, materials, design and visualisation.
Design Thinking
Design Thinking helps participants to view problems from different perspectives, develop ideas, build prototypes and test them with others at an early stage.
Prototyping and making
From simple models to fully functional prototypes: the DesignLab offers the space and opportunities to put ideas into practice and develop them further through hands-on experimentation.
Testing and Feedback
Ideas benefit from discussion. In the DesignLab, concepts can be presented, discussed and further developed collaboratively. This gives rise to new perspectives and concrete next steps.
An open space for ideas
The DesignLab thrives on the people who use it. That is why we see the Makerspace as an open space for exchange, knowledge transfer and collaborative experimentation.
Come along with your ideas, questions and challenges. Make use of the spaces and equipment, exchange ideas with others and work together on the next step.
The DesignLab brings ideas to life.
Background
The DesignLab was established as part of the d-lab project, funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). It was based on the funding initiative ‘Entrepreneurial Thinking and Scientific Start-up Spirit – Research and Start-up Spaces at Universities of Applied Sciences (StartUpLab@FH)’ (funding reference 13FH029SU8).
Today, the DesignLab is an integral part of the Worms university campus and provides a space where STEM, design, creativity and start-ups come together.
The content ranges from developing an initial idea, through sketching and designing, to digital implementation and practical production. This allows participants to discover and try out various creative and technical possibilities. These include, for example, working with CAD programmes, creating digital models and realising their own designs using modern manufacturing processes such as CNC technology or laser cutting. The focus is on hands-on trial and experimentation – from the initial idea right through to a workpiece designed and manufactured by the students themselves.
High-performance CAD workstations, CAM and graphics software
Workstations for PC-based exercises
Individual workshops
Recurring courses
Field trips
Design Thinking is a customer-centred and iterative method for solving complex problems and developing new ideas. The Design Thinking method enables the development of a solution that is superior from the customer’s perspective, whilst taking into account economic viability, feasibility and desirability. Successful implementation of the Design Thinking approach requires not only suitable methods and processes, but also appropriate spatial and technical facilities.
Fully stocked tool racks
Trolley tables and stools
Whiteboards and smartboards
Craft materials and workshop equipment
Digital camera
Timer
Rapid prototyping is the umbrella term for various processes used to produce prototype components quickly on the basis of design data. A range of machines and equipment for both additive and conventional manufacturing is available here.
3D scanning using photogrammetry
CAD/CAM workstation
CNC milling machine
Laser cutter
Cutting plotter
3D printer
Crafts using various materials