The Hackspace is a flexible, technology-focused space on the Paddington campus where students can experiment, prototype and access support in the areas of creative coding, physical computing and electronics. We encourage students to explore the creation of bespoke solutions for art and design projects with predominantly open source software and hardware. The Hackspace is open access, providing a welcoming environment for exploring, hacking and learning with code and technology, geared towards people from creative backgrounds with no assumed knowledge whatsoever.
In the Hackspace, students can access a variety of virtual reality (VR) headsets, with popular software suites for 3D painting in VR as well as 3D modelling objects which can be fabricated in Paddington's Makerspace and across the wider UNSW Making network.
Chat to us about: algorithmic thinking, sensors, generative processes for computer graphics and audio, motors, mimicking natural phenomena with code, free/libre/open source software and anything else you have in mind.
If you are stuck, come in and chat to The Hackspace staff or email us and we can direct you on how to get started with your project.
Have you ever felt constrained by the software you use?
Writing code is the first step towards making your own custom software to do almost anything you can think of. Your imagination is the limit. At the Hackspace you can access support for a host of different programming environments, all geared towards creative people with absolutely no experience with code.
Programming small, simple computers called microcontrollers is at the heart of physical computing: the meeting point of electronics, interactivity and movement. At Art & Design the Arduino microcontroller is widely used across various disciplines to sense data from the physical world, and to convert numbers from a computer program into physical change through lights or motors.
The Hackspace is the home of Art & Design's on-campus VR equipment. Popular experiences include Tilt Brush for 3D painting and Gravity Sketch for CAD-style 3D modelling and object design. Files from Gravity Sketch can be exported and fabricated in various ways in the Makerspace.
The Hackspace staff are avalible to meet with you to discuss your next project.
These consultations are avalible to all students including postgrad and HDR as well as staff and researchers.
Please drop in to the Hackspace or email us to book a time to meet with us.
If you have feedback about the space fill out the survey linked below
