Arts, Design & Architecture Built Environment

Design Futures Lab

The Design Futures Lab aims to inspire exploration, innovation and research into fabrication, emerging technologies and design theories.

Students designing, engineering and creating at the Michael Crouch Innovation Centre (MCIC)

The Design Futures Lab is a workshop and community space for students and researchers to be creative individually and collaboratively, learning through making.

During the week our labs are open to help with course work requirements and facilitate research. Trained technical staff are on hand to teach and support students and researchers to safely use of the technology and equipment available. We encourage experimentation and learning through hands-on interactions.

Evenings and weekends the studio areas and research spaces are open to provided a culture of collaboration. 

What’s on in the Design Futures Lab

View calendars

Take a Tour

Take a tour through our workshop to check out the facilities that are available when you study and work at UNSW. 

Students

All students are inducted to use the Design Futures Lab as part of their course-work in the School of Built Environment. We encourage active participation in the space as a place to learn through hands-on experimentation and making.
opens in a new window

Researchers

We provide support for practice based research with equipment management, technical training, resource contacts and facilitation of projects.
opens in a new window

Network

Part of the UNSW Making Network. A collaboration between makerspaces across faculties at UNSW centred around barrier free access to expertise, tools and tech.
opens in a new window
CNC, 3D printing and laser cutting

This is where you’ll find the new home of laser cutting, 3D printing and CNC machining.

Wood workshop

The comprehensively outfitted DFL Wood Workshop allows staff and students to perform all the tasks required for the making of models and prototypes for their courses.

Digital Fabrication Lab

The Laser Cutting section of the Digital Fabrication Lab houses six laser cutters, a Zund vinyl cutter and the Design Futures Lab shop.

Find us

Design Futures Lab

Download campus map