3, 4, 7 and 8 April 2025
MixLab Open Studios
Join us from April 3–8 for MixLab Open Studios, a collection of events across Art, Design, the Manchester Fashion Institute and the School of Digital Arts (SODA) at Manchester Met that showcases the outcomes of the collaborative projects Unit X, Fashion X and SODA CoLabs.
These projects have seen students across multiple courses work collaboratively between programmes, across departments and with external companies and organisations. Their work blends disciplines, thinks innovatively and deals with a complex range of relevant contemporary themes.
Having worked in response to live industry briefs as well as their own creative projects, these projects have prepared students for creative practice beyond the completion of their degree and provided them with fresh perspectives on collaborative working. We invite you to MixLab Open Studios this April to sample their work!
Thursday, 3 April 2025
Unit X Open Studios – Design
Lowry Building
2pm – 5pm
For 10 weeks, first- and second-year design students have been experimenting, questioning, and making alongside industry partners and collaborators — all in response to one big question ‘what if?’. The Unit X Open Studios will showcase final work from these projects.
Friday, 4 April 2025
Fact, fake or fiction? Defining our reality in an age of unlimited media – SODA CoLab 4
SODA Building, 2.19
2pm – 5pm
Second-year SODA students have worked in mixed discipline teams to design a media experience that explores the theme of “Fact, Fake or Fiction?”. Their projects navigate a range of perspectives on the relationship between what we consider to be the truth, and media in the algorithmic age. Themes include: alter egos, counterfeit, the occult and supernatural, identity and authenticity, fake news and myth making, dystopia and protopia, simulacra, cybernetics and counter historical media.
Friday, 4 April 2025
Fact, fake or fiction? Defining our reality in an age of unlimited media – SODA CoLab 2
Geoffrey Manton Atrium
All day, exhibition continues until 11 April.
First-year SODA students have worked in mixed discipline teams to design a media experience that explores the theme of “Fact, Fake or Fiction?”. Their projects navigate a range of perspectives on the relationship between what we consider to be the truth, and media in the algorithmic age. Themes include: alter egos, counterfeit, the occult and supernatural, identity and authenticity, fake news and myth making, dystopia and protopia, simulacra, cybernetics and counter historical media.
Monday, 7 April 2025
Fashion X
Righton Building, Grosvenor East Building and SODA
All day.
The outcomes of collaborative projects from Fashion X at the Manchester Fashion Institute will be shown on the digital screens across Righton, Grosvenor East and SODA throughout the day. These projects include Fashion X Design (live brief partner Africa Fashion Week London), Fashion X Communications (live brief partner Conde Nast) and Fashion X Business (live brief partner Admiral).
Tuesday, 8 April 2025
Unit X Future Ancestors ‘Ancestral Archive’ – Fine Art and Fine Art & Art History
Fine Art and Fine Art & Art History Studios
(Grosvenor West and Chatham)
2pm – 5pm
For one afternoon only, the Fine Art and Fine Art & Art History studios will be transformed for Future Ancestors "Ancestral Archive". Over the past 11 weeks, students have been working together and have formed their own study groups to explore forms of informal, collective, ancestral, and generational knowledge and know-how. They have been sharing special interests and hobbies, teaching and learning new skills, swapping stories, DJing, dancing, crafting, cooking, reading, discussing, making, thinking, listening and walking. This vibrant temporary event showcases the individual and group practice emerging from these collaborative study groups.
Tuesday, 8 April 2025
Unveiling the Invisible: Reclaiming Marginalized Narratives – Art History & Curating
Grosvenor West Building
Opening event 2pm – 5pm
Exhibition continues until 14 April.
First year Art History and Curating students have designed and installed an exhibition in response to the theme: The Colonised Gallery: Curating as a Restitution.
The students have selected artworks from fellow Fine Art and Fine Art and Art History students, and objects from the University’s Special Collections - to create a display of work that attempts to subvert hierarchies present in current gallery practice and art history. The exhibition aims to unveil marginalised feminine voices, ‘offering visibility and exposure in a male dominated art world’.
The students invite you to the exhibition launch on the 8 April at 2pm, Grosvenor Gallery (part of the Holden Gallery) for refreshments and a curator’s introduction.