6 universities, 12 students and 3 companies
Whether in a publishing house, a media company or an agency – technologies can change the future of media. We bring together companies that are eager to experiment with talented students from Hamburg’s universities and let them develop prototypes together in the Prototyping Lab. The teams work on real technological challenges faced by the companies and are supported by renowned industry experts.
In past labs, students have been experimenting with XR technologies and Artificial Intelligence for the content industry. Together with our partner companies, they have developed prototypes for challenges like: How can AI be used to optimize printing decisions at a publishing house? How can existing content be adapted and exploited for VR applications? How can AI support music editors in selecting new songs?
From automation to content creation, Prototyping Lab 2021 was all about how artificial intelligence can improve processes and products in the content industry. Our four partner companies brought the following challenges: What treasures can be discovered with Big Data analytics in editorial archives? Can AI be used in branding? How can AI be used to optimize printing decisions in a publishing house? And lastly: How can we cleverly enrich digital content with metadata?
Curious? Check out the Prototyping Lab 2019:

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Update
The Prototyping Lab will take place again in 2024. If you want to take part in the following lab, contact us.
Partner companies and their Challenges
In the Prototyping Lab, we work together with Hamburg-based media companies. As partners, they bring a current practical challenge to the lab. The students then work in interdisciplinary teams on a functional prototype that solves the challenge. They bring a fresh perspective and a willingness to experiment that is often lacking in companies. This way, they also gain exciting experience in the development of technological innovations. A win-win situation!
These were the challenges of Prototyping Lab 2021:
- Knee Deep in Content and Data: New Content Dimensions and Products through Metadata Analysis (presented by DER SPIEGEL)
- Metadata is key: How can we use AI to enrich our content with detailed metadata? (presented by Tiger Media)
- Modular Branding: A new, AI-supported way to interpret brands and create meaningful, user-oriented experiences? (presented by FORK)
- To print or not to print: AI-based decision tool for book production (presented by Carlsen Verlag)
- Testbarer Prototyp
- Wissenstransfer durch neue Perspektiven und agile Arbeitsweisen
- Kontakt zu talentierten Studierenden
- Employer Branding
- Kostengünstiger Technologie-Check
- Hohe Medien- und Event-Präsenz
- Einbindung in eine innovationsstarke Community

RMS Challenge
How does conversion work in the world of online audio?
Radio has evolved into a multichannel medium as part of the digital transformation. One of the central questions in this digital world is that of advertising impact. How do we measure the conversion of a digital audio spot? How do we prove that an audio spot turns a listener into an interacting person?

Carlsen Challenge
AI-based lettering of comics
To translate foreign comics into German in a way that saves time, staff and money, Carlsen needs an AI that:
- precisely identifies the speech bubbles
- recognizes their size and shape
- that correctly inserts the translation broken down into paragraphs as continuous text in a visually appealing way.

Jahreszeiten Verlag Challenge
Content and data: AI application for food trend topics
At Jahreszeiten Verlag, new digital products are to be developed on the basis of data. In a first step, an AI application will be developed for the food area that identifies new food trends. In a second step, the findings from the AI application will lead to the development of a new product for the food division of Jahreszeiten Verlag.
Your dream team
An innovative prototype can only be created with a motivated team. That’s why we work with our partner universities to select the most committed students who are interested in developing prototypes. Based on previous knowledge and interests, we form interdisciplinary teams of coders, designers, project managers and business minds.
But it’s not just your previous expertise that counts when it comes to being selected: Your willingness to experiment and your team spirit are just as important to us.
- Zertifiziertes Praxisprojekt, für das du ECTS bekommst
- Wertvolle Projekterfahrung für den Berufseinstieg
- Monatliches Stipendium von 500 Euro für jedes Teammitglied
- Persönlicher Kontakt zu namhaften Medien- und Digitalunternehmen
- Wissensaustausch in interdisziplinäre Teams und Weiterbildung durch Workshops
- Exzellente Referenz in deinem Lebenslauf und einen Fuß in der Tür unserer Partner*innen
What happens after the lab is decided by you and the team. Whether you want to start a job or spin off a company – we support you with our follow-up programs.
The next Lab takes place in the winter semester of 2024.

OUR PARTNER UNIVERSITIES
Unser Fahrplan
Programm-Archiv
Contact
Cigdem Boom-Aker
Program manager
T +49 40 / 23 72 435 60
Cigdem.Aker@nextmedia-hamburg.de