Humber Polytechnic, Canada
NTU hosts Humber Polytechnic for a VR design workshop, building international partnerships and advancing creative education globally.
Virtual Reality (VR) is rapidly reshaping creative industries, offering designers new ways to visualize, prototype, and collaborate. At Nottingham School of Art & Design, this future came to life during a two-day workshop led by Visiting Professor David Neumann from Humber Polytechnic, Canada.
The sessions introduced postgraduate students to Gravity Sketch, a cutting-edge VR design platform. Students had the chance to experiment with immersive design and co-creation in virtual spaces, including sketching, scaling, and refining ideas in real time.
NTU students trying out the new VR design platform
Zara, an NTU postgraduate student, reflected: “It was calming to create without distractions, yet inspiring to collaborate virtually. Seeing ideas come to life in real time felt futuristic and limitless.”
Others emphasized the transformative potential of VR beyond entertainment. “VR extends far beyond gaming. It’s a powerful medium for creativity and collaboration,” said Alice, a student of MSc Virtual Production course. “Working with Humber students to create artwork in minutes was incredible.”
For Hannah Duran from the MA Graphic Communication course, the experience highlighted VR’s potential for professional practice: “Experiencing an environment at full scale feels far more immersive than traditional mock-ups. This technology could transform how we present concepts to clients.”
This collaboration marks an exciting step toward integrating cutting-edge technologies into creative education and fostering global partnerships that redefine how design is taught and practiced. Future plans include joint workshops and research in creative technologies and immersive media.