Birmingham has become the latest city to join a global network of design and digital consultancies set up to solve real world challenges through effective problem solving. Design Factory Birmingham will be based at Aston University, one of just three such hubs in the UK. There are 39 in total around the world, including London and Manchester.
Businesses, industry partners, entrepreneurs, staff and students will be able to collaborate on projects that will involve technologies such as 3D printers and design software. The university will share its expertise in artificial intelligence, additive manufacturing, data science and web, app and graphic design to boost the local economy.
The vice-chancellor and chief executive of Aston University, Professor Aleks Subic, said: “The Design Factory Birmingham is another key milestone in our ambition to be a leader in science, technology, and innovation, driving socio-economic transformation in our city and region. It is important to the Midlands because it will make a direct contribution to innovation led growth in partnership with industry and businesses.”
The head of the Design Factory Global Network, Felipe Gárate from Aalto University in Helsinki, Finland, said:“We are on a mission to create change in the world of learning and research through passion-based culture and effective problem-solving. Shared understanding and common ways of working enable Design Factories in the network to collaborate efficiently across cultures, time zones and organisational boundaries fostering radical innovations.”
Associate pro-vice-chancellor Professor Tony Clarke added: “This unique space on campus will bring together multi-disciplinary teams of hands-on innovators, collaborative thinkers and creators. We will be delivering a wide range of services including software application development, product design, creating protypes using a variety of technologies including laser and water cutting, digital and design training courses, and helping companies obtain innovation grants for projects.”
As a member of the global network the Birmingham Design Factory at Aston University will participate in two global design challenges - one run by McDonalds and the other run by the Ford Motor Company.