Prototyping the future
Prototyping is at the heart of innovation. As a mindset for experimentation and an integral part of an iterative design process, prototyping is also key to the future of Fishermans Bend. It’s also core to why FB IDEAs exist - to nurture incremental and experimental urban renewal and activation during the transformation of the area and to build the collaborative culture and community to enable it.
Last week we hosted an event to explore this theme and hear about diverse examples of how prototyping is being used to foster innovation and shape the future of the precinct.
First we heard from Port Melb Secondary College about how prototyping is a key part of their approach to education. On arrival, we saw a great display of student prototyping in action - from pinball machines to robotics. Port teachers Shelly Casey and Craig Doughty talked about how the prototyping mindset and design thinking methodology underpins their SMaRT (systems, manufacturing and robotics technology) program. As an example, in Year 8 students are given the fundamental problem ‘How can we use robots to creatively solve real-world engineering problems?’. Using the VEXIQ educational robotics platform, they then build and code their own robotic designs, creating solutions in response to a series of challenges. Shelly and Craig even shared how the prototyping mindset and approach is used by teaching staff to design their education programs.
Paul Falzon from Advanced Composite Structures Australia (ACS-A) gave a fascinating insight into 30+ years of experience in design, engineering and advanced manufacturing. Established in Fishermans Bend in 1991, ACS-A were spun out from the highly successful CRC for Advanced Composite Structures and is now of Australia’s leading composites technology organisations. Specialising in composite materials such as carbon fibre, ACS-A provide world-leading services related to composites design, analysis and optimisation. They utilise their expertise in additive manufacturing for rapid prototyping to provide engineering design and manufacturing to a range of industries, including aerospace, renewable Energy and maritime. They have extensive global research and industrial network of partners and client, including a few Fishermans Bend locals such as Creature Technology Co, Boeing Aerostructures Australia and the Australian Government’s Defence Science & Technology Group. It’s never a dull day for the team at ACS-A!
And last, but not least, we heard from the team at Space Tank Studio about their vision to support early stage hardware startups in fields of physical product technologies to incubate and prototype their ideas in Fishermans Bend - The Startup Factory. Building on a decade of experience from their North Coburg site, with the support of FB IDEAs, the team are developing the blueprint for a new kind of incubator and ecosystem to support physical-product startups and innovation in Fishermans Bend. Leveraging the Venture Studio operating model and building on successful international examples such as NewLab in New York, MaRS in Canada and Unternehmer TUM in Germany, the vision is for The Startup Factory to be a hub for collaborative innovation that promotes systematic commercialisation and supports investment into early-stage hardware startups. They are currently talking to FIshermans Bend and startup community stakeholders, so if want to share your insights - we encourage you to get in touch!
Special thanks to our speakers and in particular Port Melbourne Secondary College for hosting us in their spectacular school - an inspiring place that really is nurturing the next generation of Fishermans Bend talent.
And of course to everyone that joined us. We look forward to seeing you next time.
