Six reasons to attend the Digital and Computational Design workshop

Author: IStructE

Date published

23 April 2025

Price
Free
The Institution of Structural Engineers The Institution of Structural Engineers
Six reasons to attend the Digital and Computational Design workshop

Six reasons to attend the Digital and Computational Design workshop

Tag
Author
Date published
Price
Blog
Author

IStructE

Date published

23 April 2025

Author

IStructE

Price

Free

In this blog, we address why all engineers need to attend the Digital and Computational Design workshop.

Enhancing your engineering workflow with digital tools

In today’s fast-paced world of engineering, digital tools are transforming the way we work—making tasks more efficient and opening up new possibilities. However, many professionals still find a gap between what's technically possible and what they can practically achieve in their day-to-day work. This workshop is designed to help close that gap.

Build your own digital tools without being a programmer

If you’re already comfortable using spreadsheets, you likely have the basic skills to go further and develop your own digital tools. From automating calculations to creating custom applications, this four-part workshop will guide you through practical steps to take your digital workflow to the next level. The goal isn’t to turn you into a full-time programmer, but to empower you with the ability to automate tasks, create apps, and make better use of existing digital tools.

Automate tasks, save time, and boost productivity

One of the main focuses of this workshop is tackling time-consuming, repetitive tasks. Through hands-on tutorials, you’ll learn how to automate design calculations, integrate with advanced design platforms like Grasshopper, and build lightweight tools tailored to your unique workflow. The emphasis is on creating tools that are relevant to your work—there will be no one-size-fits-all solutions, just practical skills that help you work smarter, not harder.

Accessible to all experience levels

The workshop is designed to be approachable, even if you don’t have coding experience. You’ll start with easy-to-understand automation techniques using APIs and progress to building simple apps. This isn’t about mastering complex programming; it’s about breaking down the learning curve and making it an enjoyable experience. By the end, you’ll have a working prototype of your own custom digital tool and the knowledge to continue refining it beyond the workshop.

Beyond productivity: exploring advanced concepts

While the focus is on improving productivity, the workshop also dives into more advanced topics, such as non-linear material models for reinforced concrete and multivariable optimisation. You’ll explore how to apply these techniques to real-world design problems, reduce material usage, and meet safety and regulatory standards. These skills will help you enhance both the quality and efficiency of your designs.

Designed for engineers at all levels

There’s a misconception that advanced digital tools are only for large firms or software developers. This workshop challenges that notion. It’s built to be practical and accessible, designed for engineers who want to enhance their capabilities without needing massive budgets or specialized software. It’s not about replacing engineers with code but about equipping them to work more effectively and innovate within their existing digital tools.
Whether you're a beginner curious about digital tools or looking to take your current digital workflow to the next level, this workshop will help you build the future of engineering.

Reserve your workshop place

 
 

Additional information

Format:
Blog
Publisher:
IStructE

Tags

Software Blog Architecture Digital Conceptual Design

Related Resources & Events

News
<h4>Structural engineering and the disaster recovery cycle</h4>

Structural engineering and the disaster recovery cycle

The catastrophic 7.7 magnitude earthquake that happened on 28 March in Myanmar has caused substantial damage, impacting people over a large area and causing significant loss of life across the region.

Date – 3 April 2025
Author – IStructE
Case Study
<h4>Earthquake disaster and reconstruction with examples of 2023 Turkiye and 2022 Afghanistan earthquake</h4>

Earthquake disaster and reconstruction with examples of 2023 Turkiye and 2022 Afghanistan earthquake

This talk will share the past humanitarian projects by Dr Miyamoto on the assessment, response and reconstruction following 2023 Turkiye and 2022 Afghanistan earthquakes.

Date – 27 March 2025
Author – Kit Miyamoto
Price – Free
Report
<h4>Improving operational use of post-disaster damage assessment for urban search and rescue</h4>

Improving operational use of post-disaster damage assessment for urban search and rescue

This project investigates the application of remote sensing technologies within the specific operational context of emergency urban search and rescue (USAR) efforts post-disaster.

Date – 21 January 2025
Author – Sivasakthy Selvakumaran, University of Cambridge
Price – Free