Open Call · Apply by Wednesday 22 July 2026
SAIAR Summer Studio
We're looking for creatives, designers, makers and curious minds to join our one-week summer studio on generative AI.
From latent to physical space
With an ever-growing flood of 'AI slop', the question becomes urgent: how do we, as creatives, designers and makers, maintain agency over AI in our creative process? The answer lies beyond the black box. Using generative AI with intention means understanding how to actively steer outcomes. This summer studio is about taking control of the latent space and bringing it back in the physical space.
This one week deepdive is organised by the SAIARlab: Spatial AI-Augmented Reality Lab, part of the bachelor Digital Design & Development at Howest. We invite creatives, designers, researchers, artists of varied backgrounds to experiment with building node-based workflows for image and video generation, strategies to using AI to expand your motion skillsets, and bringing it all together through AI-driven projection mapping. We take our AI-Augmented Double Diamond as guiding principle, and together we explore how we can reimagine our creative workflows.
Guided by an interdisciplinary group of tutors, the participants will be immersed into new ways of working through active lectures, and will work on their own experiments culminating in a small public showcase where participants bring together what they've learned.
Practical
The week at a glance
- Dates
- 24-28 August 2026
- Venue
- Budafabriek, Dam 2a, 8500 Kortrijk
- Language
- English as primary language, tutors can speak Dutch as well.
- Participants
- Max 15 people will be selected via open call. You will receive a notification by Wednesday 22 July 2026.
- Fee
-
Participation in the summer school costs 1200,- euros. A welcome lunch and final dinner are included, as well as light snacks and drinks throughout the week.
Accommodations and travel are self-funded by the participants. Recommendations for affordable accommodation will follow.
- Application guidelines
- No technical AI knowledge required: some hands-on experience with generative AI tools is expected. We ask for a brief motivation and a short text on what you hope to get out of the week.
Programme
Day by day
A provisional outline of the week. Times and some sessions may still shift.
Day 1 · Mon 24 Aug
10:30–18:00- 10:30–11:00
- Welcome & introduction to the summer studio
- 11:00–12:30
- Introductions of tutors and participants
- 12:30–13:30
- Lunch (included)
- 13:30–14:30
- The AI-Augmented Double Diamond Framework — Giliam Ganzevles
- 14:30–18:00
- Workshop Session 1: Intro to Node-based Workflows
- From 19:30
- Dinner & drinks (venue TBC)
Day 2 · Tue 25 Aug
10:00–18:00- 10:00–13:00
- Workshop Session 2: Building with Node-based Workflows
- 13:00–14:00
- Lunch break
- 14:00–15:00
- Guest speaker (TBC)
- 15:00–17:00
- Experimental Studio: with support by tutors
- 17:00–18:00
- Sharing session
Day 3 · Wed 26 Aug
10:00–18:00- 10:00–13:00
- Workshop Session 3: Generative AI for Motion
- 13:00–14:00
- Lunch break
- 14:00–18:00
- Workshop Session 4: Generative AI for immersive mapping experiences
Day 4 · Thu 27 Aug
10:00–23:00- 10:00–11:00
- Guest speaker (TBC)
- 11:00–13:00
- Experimental Studio: with support by tutors
- 13:00–14:00
- Lunch break
- 14:00–16:00
- Experimental Studio: with support by tutors
- 16:00–19:00
- Expo & drinks
- 19:30–23:00
- Dinner (included) (venue TBC)
Day 5 · Fri 28 Aug
10:00–18:00- Optional
- Vibe-code your own tool
- Optional
- Museum visit
Applications
Selection & timeline
We review applications on a rolling basis. Once the group is full, applications close. Apply by Wednesday 22 July 2026 at the latest.
On Friday 24 July 2026, we will announce whether the Summer Studio will go ahead — so we recommend waiting until then before booking any travel.
Ready to join the Summer Studio?
Apply by Wednesday 22 July 2026 with a brief motivation and a short text on what you hope to get out of the week. Selected participants will receive a notification by Friday 24 July 2026.