ESPOL’s School of Art, Design, and Audiovisual Communication (FADCOM) hosted the LAB-CONNECT ESPOL lab and workshop tour, an institutional initiative organized by the Office for the Transfer of Research Results (OTRI) and promoted by the Office of the President, which aims to highlight the technological, academic, and infrastructure capabilities of the university’s specialized facilities.
The tour took place on August 19, 2026, and allowed participants to gain firsthand insight into how FADCOM’s degree programs integrate academic training with experimentation, innovation, and industry needs. The event featured simultaneous tours of different areas of the School, where visitors were able to learn about equipment, processes, and projects developed in the Product Design and Media Production departments. The tour included the Modeling Workshop (T102) and the Laser Cutting Workshop (T105), located in the 3M Building, where modeling, prototyping, and manufacturing processes were demonstrated, along with applications developed in an academic context. In the Sound Lab (LAB201), visitors participated in a soundscape experience that allowed them to explore the technical capabilities and available equipment.
One of the highlights of the tour took place at the Audiovisual Production Center – Television Studio (LAB203), where attendees went from being spectators to becoming participants in an audiovisual production. The experience included a news set, hosting, and audience participation, an interactive trivia game, and a live broadcast via a private YouTube channel, allowing participants to directly experience part of the audiovisual production process.
The tour concluded with an immersive video mapping experience in space Z001, where visitors were able to interact with a visual installation developed specifically for the event. The experience showcased the possibilities of audiovisual technology applied to the creation of immersive environments.
Through this tour, FADCOM presented a comprehensive overview of its capabilities and the work carried out in its laboratories and workshops, highlighting the contributions of students, faculty, technicians, and support staff to the processes of education and innovation.
The event also helped strengthen the ties between the university community and the Faculty’s specialized spaces, demonstrating how academic infrastructure can serve as a bridge to industry and open up new opportunities for collaboration. As part of LAB-CONNECT ESPOL, the participating spaces were evaluated by institutional authorities based on criteria related to safety, organization, technical implementation, quality of the exhibition, technical expertise, and innovation in the experiences presented.
Through its participation, FADCOM reaffirmed its commitment to an educational approach that integrates creativity, technology, experimentation, and engagement, demonstrating that its laboratories and workshops are not merely learning spaces but also platforms for developing experiences and solutions within the disciplines of art, design, and audiovisual communication.
© Photography: Ricardo Torres / Text: José Luis Castro
