[AMS] PROTOTYPING

Oxford Brookes University

Analysis Modelling Simulation

CPD / Summer school

OFFICIAL LAUNCH June 2025

[AMS] will officially launch the Prototyping theme for the new summer school this June 2025 09/06/2025 - 20/06/2025. Join industry experts and professionals for this interdisciplinary short course designed from the ground-up to tackle real-world problems and boost R&D impact in practice. Follow this [LINK] to register your interest

[AMS] Prototyping summer school overview:

In today’s fast-paced, innovation-driven world, [prototyping] is a critical tool for transforming ideas into successful designs and tangible solutions. This 12-day executive short course provides a comprehensive exploration of prototyping, blending cutting-edge research with practical application. Through expert-led sessions, hands-on modeling, and real-world simulations, participants will develop problem-solving frameworks, apply systems thinking, engage stakeholders effectively, and master professional communication. From identifying design flaws to accelerating innovation, the course addresses key challenges and opportunities in prototyping, ensuring participants gain the strategic and technical skills needed to drive impactful solutions. With a focus on interdisciplinary collaboration, industry-academic integration, and emerging technologies, this program equips learners, executives, engineers, and researchers with the tools to navigate today’s complex development landscape. Whether refining existing products or pioneering new ones, this course empowers professionals to leverage prototyping for competitive advantage and sustainable innovation.

Joining this course in-person also gives the opportunity to use the prototyping facilities at Oxford Brookes Headington campus and Grymsdyke Farm [LINK]

Participants can choose to take part in the CPD only stream or continue onto an accredited 15 credit short course:

CPD Intensive: (5 days hybrid) At the end of the CPD section Participant will be issued with a CPD Certificate of Participation.
AMS Accredited Short Course Consists of 12 days (5 days CPD intensive + 7 days in depth hands-on prototyping study supported by online and in-person supervision from academic and industry experts. Following completion participants will be awarded 15 credits.

Vicky Sisk, Year 2 Architecture apprentice, Grimshaw Architects

Architecture for growth: a kit of parts system to improve socio-economic conditions in fragmented areas. Exploration of adaptability of the kit of parts components.

Hybrid CPD Intensive Course

Participants engage in a 5 day online Intensive (with option to engage in person). For CPD participants interested in gaining recognition for their learning, the provision of certificates of attendance (which acknowledge engagement with the module and knowledge acquired) can be an attractive feature. These certificates, while not assessing skills, validate the individual's commitment to continued professional development and can be used for Approved Prior Experience and Learning (APEL) if they wish to proceed with the [AMS] short course *.

5 day online Intensive (with option to engage in person)
Engage with Academic and Industry Modelling and Simulation Experts
CPD Certificate of Participation awarded upon completion (which can be used to transfer into AMS Short Course)

£600.00 Secure early bird price before 19th May or Online only price.

£960.00 price if book after 19th May

Alumni get a further 10% discount

*Those who wish to continue on the short course will only need to pay the remaining balance.

NOTE: Minimum numbers are required to run course

Link to book your place and purchase >>HERE<<

[AMS] Prototyping Summer School

Participants can take the full 12 days 15 credits course. These credits can be used for Approved Prior Experience and Learning (APEL) if they wish to proceed onto other Brookes Courses such as Masters in Digitals Crafts in Architecture or Apprenticeships in Architecture. Online forums, webinars, and virtual workshops can further enhance the learning experience, enabling interaction with instructors and peers for knowledge exchange without the need for physical presence on campus

Accredited with 15 Credits at Level 7 (Includes the 5 day CPD Intensive Course).
Engage with Academic and Industry Modelling and Simulation Experts
12 days hybrid / in-person
Access to Online platform including relevant material
Formal Assessment (Project report + short written abstract circa 500 words)

£1200.00 Secure early bird price before 19th May

£1500.00 price if book after 19th May

Alumni get a further 10% discount

NOTE: Minimum numbers are required to run course

Link to book your place and purchase >> HERE <<

Grymsdyke Farm

Grymsdyke Farm is a design research initiative located in the village of Lacey Green just outside London. Over the past 20 years Grymsdyke Farm has repurposed its agricultural buildings to create maker spaces and communal facilities where traditional craftsmanship blends with modern digital design.

Grymsdyke Farm is a destination and a reference point in the design sector: a place to develop ideas, explore design practices and investigate methodologies. Within easy reach of central London, its rural setting in Buckinghamshire is linked with design and making in a region that historically was the heart of the British furniture industry.

Grymsdyke Farm has pioneered a holistic and communal approach to design, making and learning that links reading and collaboration with the making process. Our programmes and workshops develop experimentation in fabrication, supported by lectures, talks, publications and exhibitions.

AMS CPD/ SUMMER SCHOOL STRUCTURE

This 12-day professional development program is structured to advance prototyping expertise through a balanced integration of digital skill-building and applied fabrication. The course is divided into two phases, designed for architects, designers, and practitioners seeking to enhance their technical and creative workflows.

Phase 1: Digital Skill Development (Days 1–5 | Hybrid)
The program begins with a hybrid format, combining online and in-person sessions to establish core competencies in Rhino and Grasshopper. Mornings focus on structured software training, covering parametric design workflows, 3D modeling precision, and automation strategies. Afternoons transition to collaborative application, where participants work in small groups to solve design challenges under instructor guidance. Evening sessions feature industry-led talks on emerging trends in prototyping, augmented reality (AR), and computational design, providing context for the tools and methods explored.

Phase 2: Applied Prototyping (Days 6–12 | Grymsdyke Farm)
The second phase shifts to full-time, in-person immersion at Grymsdyke Farm, a dedicated makerspace. Participants use AR headsets to visualise and refine digital models in physical environments, enabling real-time adjustments to prototypes. Mornings prioritise iterative design development, integrating feedback from digital simulations and material constraints. Afternoons are dedicated to fabrication, utilising advanced tools such as laser cutters, CNC machines and 3D printers, alongside traditional techniques, to construct prototypes from materials including timber, polymers, and composite substrates. Evenings include peer reviews and mentor-led critiques to refine outcomes.

Final Day: Professional Review & Networking
The course concludes with a formal presentation of prototypes to a panel of industry experts, followed by structured feedback and group discussion. A closing networking session allows participants to connect with peers and professionals, fostering collaborative opportunities.

Knowledge Learning Outcomes:

Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving Frameworks: Understand various critical thinking frameworks and problem-solving strategies that are fundamental in AMS to tackle complex issues effectively.
Systems Approach Flexibility: Acquire knowledge on the flexibility of systems approaches in AMS, understanding their benefits, limitations, and integration into broader methodological designs.
Systemic and Interdisciplinary Understanding: Comprehend systemic perspectives within AMS, recognizing interdisciplinary interrelationships and their implications on problem-solving.
Communication and Presentation: Principles of effective communication and presentation, tailored to various audiences within the AMS field.

Skills Learning Outcomes:

Application of Problem-Solving Frameworks: Ability to apply appropriate problem-solving frameworks and critical thinking strategies in AMS, tailoring solutions to complex problems across different themes.
Application of Systems Thinking: Apply systems thinking in AMS, recognizing system boundaries, stakeholders, and context tailored to thematic needs.
Stakeholder Awareness and Mapping: Demonstrate awareness of stakeholders, mapping their needs and outlining potential AMS engagement methods.
Professional Communication: Skill in clearly and persuasively conveying complex AMS concepts and findings to non-specialist audiences, including through written, verbal, and visual media

What you will learn / Tools / Methods

3D Modelling with Rhinoceros3D

Learn to create complex surfaces, generate accurate models, and streamline your design workflow. Ideal for architects, product designers, and anyone seeking proficiency in this powerful CAD software.

Parametric Design with Grasshopper

Visual programming to generate intricate geometries, automate design variations, and optimize complex forms. Elevate your creative process and explore new frontiers in architecture, engineering, and digital fabrication.

Mixed Reality Fabrication and Assembly

Learn to visualize and interact with your designs in real-world contexts, enhancing client communication and streamlining the prototyping process. Explore spatial design, holographic overlays, and interactive product presentations.

Academia + Industry

The Analysis, Modelling and Simulation [AMS] engages Academic, Government and Industry experts to support R&D.

Enabling the participants to gain insights into both theoretical and practical guidance for wider systemic impact and contribution.

Academic and Industry experts

Sarah Britten-Jones

Oxford Brookes University

Sarah is an artist, academic, design researcher and PhD Candidate at the Royal College of Art. Sarah was a member of Open Hand Open Space Artist Studios in Reading for 12 years, and currently teaches at Oxford Brookes University School of Arts as a Senior Lecturer in Design. Sarah has worked with others in the public realm to create interactive performance and sculpture in response to institutional, social, and historical environments. She currently uses participatory and speculative design research methods to visualise and embody systems and feedback processes within institutions.

Adam Holloway

Oxford Brookes University

Architect, educator and computational designer. His practice work and research explores how digital tools can extend the scope of human creativity, reinvent traditional materials and apply knowledge from natural and technological innovation to create inspiring spaces and places. He has taught extensively at the Bartlett, Westminster University and London Metropolitan University and now leads the Digital Craft in Architecture (MA) course at Oxford Brookes University, as well as a design studio on the MArchD Applied Design in Architecture course.

Denis Vlieghe

Oxford Brookes University

Denis Vlieghe is Subject Lead for Oxford Brooke's Apprenticeships in Architecture Lv7, and will be chairing the discussion. He is also director at CUBE ZERO Ltd, an innovation, design, and technology company offering digital transformation solutions to clients include Grimshaw Architects, Whitbread, and Future Flight consortium.

Karl Kjelstrup-Johnson

Oxford Brookes University

Karl is an expert in bridging the gap between academia and industry through pioneering research in AI and data analytics. With a background in architecture and expertise in computer and cognitive science, he focuses on applying advanced research to real-world applications and human-machine decision support systems.

Nadia Barakat

Gensler

Nadia is an architectural assistant, Level 7 apprentice, and design researcher in Gensler's London office where she currently works within Cities & Urban design and Education practice. She's passionate about sustainable urban regeneration, innovation in cities, and inclusive design.

Gabriel Pavlides

Fosters + Partners

Associate Architect at Foster + Partners, former apprentice Gabriel's work centres around Aviation, Large Infrastructure Projects, and Leisure Tourism in Asia and Middle East. Sustainability and Innnovation through work projects, informed his Research into timber craftmanship and Circular economy principles. Gabriel is currently an Industry Ambassador for the Oxford Brookes Architect Apprenticeship programme.

Dagmar Binsted

Scott Brownrigg

Dagmar is an Associate, based in the London studio. Having studied at The Bartlett, she has extensive cross sector experience in designing schemes, coordinating construction teams and assisting in clients' brief development. Dagmar's recent projects include a new commercial development in Newmarket Road, Fordham, the refurbishment of No.1 Puddle Dock and 5-6 St. James’s Square in London. Dagmar is also part of the Scott Brownrigg group involved in the Architecture Apprenticeship Trailblazer.

Yuting Cheng

FisherCheng

Yuting co-founded Fisher Cheng in 2018 with a mission to deliver socially driven architecture that delights, through collaborative and equitable means. Prior to establishing Fisher Cheng, Yuting worked at Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners, most recently helping to deliver the public realm and social housing element of the ‘ruthlessly inclusive’ Hammersmith Civic Campus to planning stage.

FINAL LINE UP TO BE ANNOUCED!

Watch this space for updates

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