Arts University Bournemouth
Founded in 1883, Arts University Bournemouth (AUB) is a renowned arts and design institution with a global presence. It hosts courses in art, design, media, and performance, with a creative community comprising over 4,000 full-time students across various undergraduate and postgraduate programs. Recognised for its excellence, the University holds RIBA Accreditation, received ‘world-leading research’ status in REF2021, and achieved OFSTED Outstanding for its Foundation Diploma in Art and Design in 2023, boasting impressive graduate employability statistics..
AUB’s Innovation Studio – a distinctive resource in the South of England – aids budding businesses in launching and established ones in refining and testing new products or services. Membership grants access to a range of innovative workshops focusing on cutting-edge technology, processes, and concepts. Situated within AUB, Innovation Studio members benefit from the expertise and technical skills of academic practitioners and students.
The studio specialises in Design Thinking, Digital Modelling and Fabrication, Virtual and Mixed Realities, and Plastics Research. In aid of this, it houses an array of creative technologies, including additive manufacturing (SLS, SLA, and resin printers), subtractive manufacturing (3 and 5 axis CNC milling, desktop waterjet, and CNC routing), virtual and mixed reality tools, and digital fashion and printing equipment (body scanner and digital loom), along with testing facilities such as a spectrometer, humidity chamber, and material tensile test.
Through its Associate Programme, established businesses gain access to equipment and expertise for prototyping, testing, and experimenting with new technologies and workflows. Projects can range from one-off endeavours to extended collaborative research. AUB also supports pre-start-ups with a comprehensive programme to develop their ideas, craft a robust business plan, and create prototypes, while building a peer network.
Back to Dorset Talent Overview