03-07-2025
MCIT celebrates youth innovations in digital manufacturing
QNA
Doha
The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT), through its Studio 5 initiative, organised the closing exhibition of the Parametric Lamp Hackathon under the title 'STLight'. The event underscores the Ministry's continued commitment to nurturing emerging talent and promoting a culture of digital fabrication within an interactive environment that connects design with emerging technologies.
The exhibition featured six student-developed projects, each designed and fabricated using parametric design and 3D printing and integrated with Internet of Things (IoT) technologies for lighting control. Visitors were able to engage with the models directly by adjusting lighting intensity, color, and temperature, demonstrating the real-world possibilities of merging design and technology.
The exhibition is the culmination of the Parametric Lamp Hackathon, an event organised by Studio 5 last April. The hackathon brought together 14 university students, aged 19 to 24 years, from diverse academic backgrounds. Participants underwent comprehensive training in digital design, 3D printing technologies, and IoT applications, delivered by Studio 5's team specialising in technology, engineering, and digital fabrication.
Through this hands-on training, students developed innovative concepts for smart lamps that combine aesthetic appeal with advanced functionality, while emphasising sustainability and energy efficiency.
Commenting on the exhibition, Section Head of the Digital Competencies at MCIT and Project Manager of Studio 5, Nouf Abdulaziz Al Haddad, stated that the exhibition embodies an innovative educational experience aimed at bringing concepts such as digital fabrication and IoT closer to youth and the broader community through tangible models that demonstrate how technology can be embedded in contemporary design. She emphasised that the exhibition is aligned with Studio 5's broader vision to raise public awareness of emerging technologies and to empower students with practical skills that may not be readily available in traditional academic environments.
The five-day exhibition, titled 'STLight', was held in cooperation with the Qatar's hub for innovation and entrepreneurship in design, fashion, and technology located in Msheireb, and the educational platform of the Qatari-Italian design studio FROMM.
