Dreamlab

The lab grew out of the MediaCity innovation programme and now supports innovation projects, IP development and initiatives across games, film and TV, music, animation, health, education and the creator economy. Our team of 40+ experts covers games-engine development in Unreal, Unity and the web; software architecture and deployment; AI product development across animation, 3D and sound; realtime and AI content workflows for film, TV, VFX and animation; immersive experiences and live-events technology; virtual production; 3D art; sensor-based and playable media; and training.

Since launching in June 2024 the lab has assisted over 100 businesses and freelancers, helping them shape commercially viable innovations, win new work and solve day-to-day technical and market challenges. It is, arguably, the most diverse tech lab in any university in the UK, and it has hosted the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology more than once.

It started somewhere much smaller. In 2022 I spent evenings and weekends turning the garage at home into an indie virtual production set-up, built for next to nothing with a projector, trackers and kit from my filmmaking days. The point was the same then as now: make this technology affordable and accessible for smaller organisations.