Note: This workshop is now full but to show interest for future workshops, join the waitlist.
Overview
A 4-day hybrid training for artists/enthusiasts. Online + In-Person. Beginner → Intermediate friendly
We are excited to have been asked by the Arts Council of Ireland / An Chomhairle Ealaíon to devise an intensive TouchDesigner learning programme, to help cater the needs of Irish artists' desire to become more savvy with building their own interactive installations.
This four-day hybrid training programme introduces artists and enthusiasts to TouchDesigner for real-time visuals and interactive hardware systems. The structure combines online foundational learning with in-person workshops, hands-on experimentation, hardware integration and project-based critique.
The programme is designed to feel accessible and artist-centred, with space for different learning speeds, questions and creative directions. This course is targeted at beginners but can be for practitioners with some prior experience who want to deepen their practice.
We want to thank the Arts Council of Ireland / An Chomhairle Ealaíon for funding this programme and University College Cork for supporting us through the use of their space.
The ticket received is for all 4 days. See dates for all four days below
Details
Dates:
- 7th Feb (Online)
- 28th Feb + 1st Mar (In-person)
- 14th Mar 2026 (Online)
Location: Online / University College Cork (UCC), Digital Humanities Room. How to find it.
Registration: Ticketed, 20 seats (Places are limited to keep the sessions focused and supportive)
Deadline: First come, first served
Price: Free (10 euro booking deposit which will be returned at the in-person workshop)
Notes: Bring your own laptop and make sure it can run TouchDesigner (check system requirements). No commercial license required. Make sure you have an accessible USB-A port on your machine.
Important
Please reserve the limited spaces for people who are able to commit to all four days, especially the in-person. If you can't make certain days, email us at conceptnullofficial@gmail.com and we will do our best to accommodate.
Accessibility
The space in UCC is wheelchair friendly. The online session will be live-captioned. If the materials cost is financially not possible for you right now, no problem. Just send us an email, and we can discuss other options.
Structure & Dates
Day 1 — Online (Live + Recorded) | Feb 7 | 12pm - 5pm (1hr break) An introduction to the TouchDesigner interface, dataflow and common operator types. Participants will build beginner generative and input-reactive systems, with breakout rooms for novice and more advanced support. The session is recorded, and participants will have access to materials for one month.
Day 2 — In-Person Workshop | Feb 28 | 12PM - 6PM (1hr break) A focus on generative visual creation and real-time workflows. The day centres on practical exercises and a supported project lab with instructor feedback.
Day 3 — In Person Workshop | Mar 1 | 12PM - 6PM (1hr break) Sensor-based interactivity using microcontrollers (ESP32) and basic sensor kits (included). Participants will extend their generative visuals by introducing physical inputs, prototyping interactive and hardware based ideas.
Day 4 — Online | Mar 14 | 12pm - 5pm (1hr break) Project review, group critique, debugging support and creative development discussion. A space to reflect, refine and discuss next steps.
Before Each Session
Beginner online (7th Feb) - Using the TouchDesigner 100 Series, we recommend working through the following sections to and familiarise yourself. 101: All Topics, 103: Topics 1-3, 104: Topics 1-4, 107: Topics 1-5. The more sections you can understand the easier the training will be.
In-person (28th Feb & 1st Mar) - Watch basics of coding video and familiarise yourself with the concepts of how microcontrollers understand code. Go back over beginner session recording and catch up on what you missed or didn’t understand. If you’re stuck, email us.
Feedback online (14th Mar) - Apply what you have learnt over the days and build a basic interactive piece. It should incorporate the screen as a visual output and the ESP32 as the sensor input. Bonus for webcam or audio integration