Ever wondered what goes on behind-the-scenes at some of Brighton’s most innovative and creative companies?
This year as part of Brighton Digital Festival 2016, Wired Sussex have invited 30 Creative, Digital & IT Companies to run 38 events over 5 days – resulting in a jam-packed line-up of workshops, drop-ins, demonstrations, talks, parties and games tournaments.
This year we have a few veterans but also a couple of new comers to CDIT Open Studios resulting in a bigger and more diverse line up than previous years – covering Animation, Graphic Design, Digital Marketing, SEO (Search Engine Optimisation), Accounting, Digital Publishing, Games Development, Strategy, Advertising, Research & Development, Web & App Development, Networking, Entrepreneurship and more – there’s bound to be at least a few events for you, whether you’re a recent graduate, a seasoned industry professional, or a curious individual.
Creative, Digital & IT (CDIT) Open Studios 2016 runs from Monday 5th to Friday 9th September. All CDIT Open Studios events are free to attend and open to everyone, but please register to attend events asap to secure a place.
Check out what’s in store this year:
Design, Branding, Animation and Creative Events
Animation masterminds Persistent Peril invite you over for an informal chance to meet potential collaborators and fellow creatives, and discus what they/you do over some tea.
Virtual Reality could be redefining our digital experience in the future; come along to Tilt’s Open studios; VR – A look into the past, present and future and have a try at the variety of different headsets on this hands-on session.
Want some dedicated time to motion graphics and animation? Buff Motion are offering one to one 20 minutes sessions tailored to you about advice on making animated content as well as portfolio advice.
Infrographics have become a real buzz word and everyone seems to be using them. But should you? Come find out at Puree Design’s Infographic Workshop.
If you’re an animator, designer or web developer who wants to help on the mission to change behavior and inspire healthy decisions, then Pegasus’s creative workshop will be of interest to you.
Witness super innovative experiments in sounds and light at Ithaca Audio & Visual’s Open Studio.
Wolfcub Digital are inviting their friends to join them in Wolf Club an evening of informal talks, interactive activities, music and design and they are inviting you along as well.
Post-production house The Edit are offering the chance to come and see some of their projects in progress and learn what a difference a professional sound mix and colour grade can make to your video project.
Accounting Events
An informal opportunity at OZKAN Accountants for digital companies and creative freelancers to bring their accountancy questions along and get to know the friendly accountants who can answer them.
Cardens Accountants will be running sharing their expertise on managing cashflows, offering an introduction to Xero and also talking about ‘Freelance Freedom’ at their events across the week.
Strategy, Marketing and SEO Events
Barkweb are opening their doors on 2 occasions for Open Studios for a chance for you to meet their friendly bunch of techies and creatives and hold an open forum and discussion
Digital agency Brilliant Noise are taking you into The Brilliant World of Data to discuss the behind the scenes aspects of data, as well as a networking opportunity for project managers and digital producers.
If you fancy having a chat and a drink with a digital agency that integrate software and app development with digital marketing then pop along to HARE.digital Open Studios.
Wake Up (on) Wednesday with Rakuten Attribution (formerly DC Storm) who’ll be talking about the Evolution of Attribution (Marketing Analytics), and their journey from DC Storm to being part of the fourth largest ecommerce company in the world. They’re also inviting you in for TFI Friday involving a few focused workshops followed by beers on the roof terrace.
Want to learn about the world of SEO and Local SEO - Frank Communication and Build14me are offering 42 actionable takeaways to help boost your online digital presence all with tea and biscuits.
How about some Hangover free Digital Marketing with RocketMill on Wednesday or perhaps join them on the Tuesday as well for Brighton Saleforces Meetup?
Web, App & Software Development Events
Beer, pizza, Lego and Agile working methodologies … join Asset Bank for Build a Marvellous Lego Machine and get involved in a bit of healthy competition.
Come and see Caroline Oldman talk about her experience working with DabApps to develop Biteappy and share her journey from lightbulb moment through to launch and beyond. DabApps are also putting their explanatory skills to the test with the ‘Wheel of Fortune’ technical topics ranging from JavaScript frameworks to Big Data and the Internet of Things.
Join Wordpress aficionados Pragmatic Web for a series of talks followed by drinks on the terrace and delicious homemade cakes. Yum.
The Experience Factory will take you on a tour through Cogapp’s mini-museum showcasing digital experiences that they have been prototyping plus other exciting projects such as VR and more.
Fancy a BBQ on a roof terrace with some web designer? Clearleft are providing this opportunity on Friday lunch time.
Brightec are offering a series of short talks about ‘Creating Company Culture’ and giving a tour of their space to meet the team concluding with cake and refreshments in the kitchen.
Join The Unit for an early evening session on Tuesday of talks and debates on one of the most eagerly anticipated tech topics; Bots, Messaging and AI.
Games Development Events + Open Studio Events for Kids
Bring your preschool kids to the home of Tee and Mo at Plug-in Media’s Open Studios! Take part in their music and craft workshops and see where the apps and animated songs are made.
Learn how to shape and make products guaranteed to be loved with Graphite Digital’s interactive talks through a typical product lifecycle for their Open Studios event on Thursday evening.
Come and join West Pier Studio for a Mario Kart tournament and a few drinks whilst also seeing their VR software, mobile games and their 3D design software.
Networking, Employability and Entrepreneurship Events
The Happy Startup School are opening their doors to all budding entrepreneurs, students, Freelancers etc for an eye opening workshop on building a happy startup (and pastries!).
Wired Sussex are inviting creative students, graduates and those looking for a job, to hear from Gem Barton author of ‘Don’t Get a Job…Make a Job’ who’ll be talking about strategies and approaches required to ‘make it’ as a creative in the sector.
Come along to the Digital Catapult Centre Brighton for the chance to talk to their residents as they showcase their current work, ranging from game designers to VR artists.
Come see a coworking space in action with Campus Plus's Open Studio and come away with hints, tips, contacts and motivation to take content onto the next level.
You can see what days each event is taking place and full details of what's going on, on the CDIT Open Studios webpage here.
If you're a company and you'd like to get involved there's still time! Just drop Laura at info@wiredsussex.com an email and we'll be in touch with all the information you need to take part.
Oh and do follow #BDFOpenStudios on twitter!