Hack Sprint: What If Data Could Speak for Us?

A 180-minute Creative Technology Sprint led by Benjamin Winstone, Octopus Immersive

Bath Digital Festival is built on conversation. This session, delivered by Benjamin Winstone of Octopus Immersive, gives those conversations a pulse. With the overarching idea of ‘Tech For Good’, we’ll spend a few hours exploring a simple question:

“What if we used data not just to measure, but to express, question, and advocate?”

The Approach

This is a hands-on creative technology sprint…

We’ll set up as a working space. Whiteboards out, sticky notes in play, laptops open. Food on the table to keep things moving.

Guided by Benjamin Winstone’s experience at Octopus Immersive, you’ll work in small teams, shaping roles as you go. Some people will build, some will shape ideas, some will focus on how things are communicated. Most will do a bit of everything.

We’ll be using accessible, AI-supported tools and vibe-coding platforms, including tools like Lovable, to move quickly from idea to something tangible.

What to bring? Creative problem solving and a laptop.

What We’ll Explore

• Using data to tell personal or collective stories, helping quiet voices to be heard
• Finding ways to make things visible or understood
• Where creativity and data intersect
• Practical takes on “technology for good”
• How AI & creative technology can support community engagement or solve community-level challenges

Some ideas will stay rough. Others will take shape. Both are useful.

Who It’s For

Anyone interested in technology for good, creativity, or the space between the two.

You don’t need to be deeply technical. Some of the best ideas can be demonstrated on post-it notes without the need to code. If you’re curious, and up for contributing to a shared piece of work, you’ll find your way into it.

Part of the Festival

The ideas that come out of the session will be captured and shared as part of Bath Digital Festival, offering a snapshot of how people are thinking about data right now—shaped in part by the creative direction and facilitation of Benjamin Winstone and Octopus Immersive.

Info: Welcome & Theme Intro. Quick "Fire-starter" examples of data-art/advocacy.

Info: Rapid Team Formation. 6 tables, 5 minds each. Claim a "Catalyst Card" for the team to get ideas flowing.

Info: Working Lunch. Sticky notes hit the boards. Defining the "Story" before the "Tool."

Info: Deep Sprint. Using tools like lovable, LLMs, or low-tech prototypes to build "The Voice". Vibe code, program with post-it notes or any other ‘fail fast’ methods you’re familiar with.

Info: The Reveal. Each team has 3 minutes to show how their data speaks.

Info: Closing thoughts, "People's Choice" prize, and next steps for the ideas.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

The Studio, 10 Palace Yard Mews, Bath, United Kingdom

Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.

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