On this page you will find a proposed 2025/26 Academic year menu of optional workshops, seminars and events being offered and ran via the Digital Aquarium. The optional sessions focus on a variety of emerging and experiential technologies and practices and open to students and staff regardless of year or course. This year I have decided to make these optional sessions more transparent and offer them much akin to a menu.
Starters are designed to be more introductory in nature and may not always be in the form of a workshop, these sessions are less focused on making a final product but rather discussing the nature of the tools and practices alongside where possible getting hands on with some examples.
Main courses are practical workshops with a bigger emphasis on development, design and practice and are typically also longer sessions compared to starters or desert.
Deserts are designed to go that bit further on a topic or subject and typically lean more into individual learning and online resources.
There are also Special offerings that are more specialised and tailored sessions that take place over multiple weeks / sessions and may involve some ‘homework’.
This menu may change and are subject to timetable availability, access to equipment and numbers. Contact sfisher@lincoln.ac.uk for more information or to request a session.
Digital Aquarium Menu
Optional sessions for 2025/26 Academic Year
Starters
Ethics and Responsibilities in the use of AI within creative sectors
Seminar session that covers Generative AI, how it works and its positive and negative use cases within creative industries. Designed to promote positive use practice alongside discussion on its future and wider context.
3D Scanning [Introduction]
Seminar session that discusses various 3D scanning tools and methods discussing Neural rendering fields, LiDAR/Laser and Photogrammetry. This session would typically be followed by a workshop activity (Mains) using mobile based scanning tools and applications.
Transmedia and Metaverses
Seminar session exploring transmedia campaigns, ARGs and the metaverse concept. Participants are also encouraged to have a go at planning an Alternate reality game campaign around a theme.
Mains
Augmented Reality
Workshop ~2hrs
A practical workshop whereby attendees create a simple interactive AR experience using their mobile phone. A library of pre-made assets will be provided and attendees will need access to mobile phone and internet connection.
Max attendees: 22
Projection Mapping
Workshop ~2hrs
Focusing on the use of projection mapping hardware and software to bring life to surfaces and objects alongside its use in live performance.
Max attendees: 12
Motion Capture
Workshop ~2hrs
Motion capture and performative capture workshop exploring full body and facial capture tools and practices.
Max attendees: 22
Virtual Production
Workshop ~6hrs
Exploring virtual production and then creating a VP ready environment / scene for use in live capture. This workshop can be fairly complex and is best suited towards those with Unreal Engine experience or whom attend Unreal Masterclasses (Specials).
Max attendees: 22
Drone Operation
Workshop ~3hrs - Weather Permitting
Drone workshop talking about legal use of drones and safe flight with demonstrations. Outdoor workshop.
Max attendees: —
3D Scanning [Practical]
Workshop ~2hrs
Practical workshop focused on Gaussian Splats and photogrammetry whereby participants learn a bit more about 3D scanning and capture techniques and have a go at capturing themselves or objects as 3D workable files.
Max attendees: 22
360 Production and Film making
Workshop ~3hrs
Workshop exploring the use of 360 cameras for HDRi, VFX, VR and immersive experiences whereby participants learn how to use 360 cameras, edit footage and deploy onto platforms.
Max attendees: 22
*Limited number of 360 cameras
Virtual Reality
Workshop ~5hrs
Attendees will learn how to make an interactive VR experience using game engines (Unreal/Unity) alongside the considerations required for working within this medium. This session can be fairly long and also prone to technical issues hence sessions take place over multiple weeks.
Max attendees: 22
*Limited number of VR headsets
Digital Avatars / MetaHumans
Workshop ~2hrs
Using Unreal and motion capture / facial capture data you will create a digital double and bring them to life. This workshop can be fairly complex and is best suited towards those with Unreal Engine experience or whom attend Unreal Masterclasses (Specials).
Max attendees: 22
There will also be workshops throughout the year covering the majority of the Adobe applications: After effects, Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere Pro.
SPECIALS
Take place over multiple weeks and this year focus heavily on the use of Unreal Engine 5 within various workflows and contexts. Regardless of pathway it is encouraged that all participants who are interested in using Unreal engine as part of their workflows attend the introductory Unreal workshops.
Unreal Fundamentals
Unreal Workshop series focused around the use of Unreal Engine starting from scratch from the tools, setting up an optimal workflow, importing assets and creating basic worlds and materials. A good place to start for any future workshops that involve Unreal as part of workflow.
Approximately 6 weeks (4 x2hr sessions)
* Lab space and machine requirements permitting
Unreal for Architecture and Design
Unreal Workshop series focused around the use of Unreal Engine within Architectural and product design / showcase spaces. Students will learn how to create environments, setup materials, add basic interaction and import their models for use within the engine, builds off Unreal Fundamentals series.
Approximately 4 weeks (4 x2hr sessions)
* Lab space and machine requirements permitting
Unreal for Animation and Film
Unreal Workshop series focused around the use of Unreal Engine for cinematography and animation storytelling. Workshops briefly look at environment building and explore the use of virtual cameras, animation timelines and export. Builds off Unreal fundamentals series which covered materials, models and some world building. NOT THE SAME AS VP WORKSHOP, ties in well with meta human and motion capture workshops.
Approximately 4 weeks (4 x2hr sessions )
* Lab space and machine requirements permitting
Desert
All current offerings
Online materials, tutorials and workshops that go beyond what has been covered in sessions are available for nearly all of the above workshops and seminars as online resources.
Workshops are pre-prescribed via the Digital Aquarium including materials there within however some materials and content can be adapted to better fit schools and modules on request depending on expectation and workloads.