Creative Lab: Networking Innovation at the Intersection of Performance, Technology, and Design
- Written byNicole Horgan
- Published date 01 April 2026
Creative Lab is a collaboration between London College of Fashion and East London Dance, with support from external partners such as choreographer Alexander Whitley. It is an interdisciplinary programme designed to foster innovation at the intersection of performance, technology, and design. It brings together early-career creative practitioners with a focus on costume, fashion, dance, choreography, and technology. Through intensive workshops, networking, and development phases, participants explore and experiment with new ways of integrating movement, technology, and costume design. The initiative prioritises accessibility, inclusion, and career resilience, aiming to create a sustainable network of practitioners equipped with interdisciplinary skills.
Creative Lab was conceived as a summer programme in 2017, initially as a collaboration between LCF and East London Dance. The programme was designed to bring together creatives working in costume design, fashion, dance, choreography, and technology. Participants engage in intensive workshops focused on motion capture, wearable tech, augmented reality (AR), and virtual reality (VR), supported by academic guidance from LCF’s Costume for Performance MA course leaders and the Digital Learning Lab.
Over the years, the Creative Lab has expanded its scope to include three key phases: the Intensive, the Network, and the Development.
Intensive Phase: Participants engage in workshops supported by LCF’s academic staff and external facilitators with expertise in choreography, motion capture, and wearable technology. The workshops cover a wide range of topics, including AR/VR, costume design for movement, and the use of technology in enhancing sensory experiences.
Creative Lab Network: Recognizing the need for ongoing support and connection among alumni, the Creative Lab Network was established. It hosts annual events where alumni can reconnect, share their work, and access new opportunities within the field of performance and technology.
Development Phase: This phase offers small grants and resources for alumni to develop projects conceived during the Intensive Phase. Projects often focus on enhancing accessibility and inclusion, such as using technology to assist visually impaired audiences in experiencing dance through haptic feedback or creating AR tools for neurodivergent audiences.
Creative Lab was born out of a partnership between LCF and East London Dance, driven by a shared vision of creating a space where technology, fashion, and performance could intersect. The initiative sought to address the gap in opportunities for early-career practitioners to experiment and innovate without the constraints of commercial briefs. Feedback from participants highlighted the value of this space for "play" and experimentation, which has been instrumental in shaping the program's ongoing development.
Aims
- To create a collaborative space for experimentation at the intersection of technology, performance, and design.
- To enhance the accessibility and inclusivity of performance art through innovative use of technology.
- To support early-career practitioners in developing interdisciplinary skills.
Initiatives and Activities
Haptic Feedback for Visually Impaired Audiences
This project explored how technology can enhance the experience of dance and performance for visually impaired individuals. By using motion capture and haptic feedback technology, the project aimed to translate dance movements into physical sensations that could be felt on the body, allowing visually impaired audiences to experience performances through their other senses.
Augmented Reality for Neurodivergent Audiences
This initiative involved the development of an augmented reality (AR) app designed to make live performances more accessible and engaging for neurodivergent individuals. The app provided an alternative way to experience performances, helping users feel more present and connected to the artistic work.
Gamified Portrayal of the Asiatic Body in Digital Performance
A project led by a dual-heritage English-Chinese artist exploring the commodification of the Asiatic body through the lens of gaming and popular culture. The digital performance combined dance, motion capture and videogaming to explore liminal states, magic and myth in the digital age.
Placemaking outcomes
More Accessible
Projects developed through Creative Lab have focused on making performance art more accessible, particularly for visually impaired and neurodivergent audiences.
More Equitable
By offering opportunities to practitioners from underrepresented backgrounds, Creative Lab promotes equity in access to advanced technology and professional networks.
More Inclusive
The programme fosters an inclusive environment where participants from diverse disciplines and backgrounds can collaborate and innovate together.
More Sustainable
Through its long-term model and focus on career resilience, Creative Lab aims to create sustainable career paths for its participants.
More Innovative
Creative Lab has become a hub for innovative practices at the intersection of performance and technology, with participants regularly pushing the boundaries of what is possible in their respective fields.
More Prosperous
By equipping participants with the skills and confidence to pursue new career opportunities, Creative Lab contributes to the broader prosperity of the creative sector.
Nurturing collaborative and sustained engagement
Ensuring the programme reaches diverse and underrepresented participants.
Managing the growing network of alumni and ensuring ongoing engagement.
Sustaining the programme financially.
Approach: Creative Lab is seeking follow on funding to support its expanded four-year model, which includes plans to broaden the participant base and enhance the programme’s inclusivity.Legacy
The legacy of the Creative Lab lies in its innovative approach to fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and its commitment to inclusivity and accessibility. By providing a space for experimentation and supporting the development of new ideas, the Creative Lab has made a lasting impact on the careers of its participants and the broader field of performance arts. The future of the Creative Lab includes plans to expand its reach, secure sustainable funding, and explore international partnerships, ensuring that it continues to be a catalyst for innovation and inclusion in the arts for years to come.