Intro to VR Workshop with Vancouver’s Experts
April 1st & 8th, 10am – 6pm / Blusson Hall, SFU Burnaby
If you want to learn more about Virtual Reality and create your own successful game,
or you’re an intermediate developer, this workshop is for you.
You’ll walk away with new tools and techniques to create world-class games using VR.
- Learn key concepts of VR from industry experts to create your own game
- Use the latest VR techniques to engage players & build a fanbase
- Create a successful VR game & get group feedback
- Connect with a community of game developers, enthusiasts, and industry experts in Vancouver
- MedApps is a series of technical workshops that tackle health issues. We’ll target chronic pain issues during this workshop. Medical and prior VR experience is not required!
Registration is now closed
- Get your own Google Cardboard (or similar VR device) for hands-on VR experience to test your game and keep after the workshop!
- Understand how to solve real-world problems using game development by connecting with VR & Chronic Pain Experts
- Create a chronic pain puzzle game using basic Unity programming based on the latest research
- Learn to orient a player in virtual space and build an interesting game environment
- Make an impact with your game as our Experts are at the forefront of creating world-class games and research
- Light snacks and drinks are included in the workshop!
- No prior Unity/VR experience is necessary; however, the workshop is most suitable for people who have some experience with programming.
With Instructor Daniel Nascimento
Dan Nascimento
Founder of Bitten Toast Games
Daniel Nascimento was involved in creating Duralde’s Mission, a VR experience that was featured in the Vancouver International Film Festival’s VR Rises exhibition amongst other events in Vancouver. His company, Bitten Toast Games, has released 3 titles to Steam, including Spacecats with Lasers VR (HTC Vive). Daniel has taught VR workshops across Canada. See more…
Our Expert Panel Also Features…

PhD, PGCEA, BA (Hons), R.N.
Dr. Garrett is an Associate Professor at the University of British Columbia, School of Nursing. He was a renal Clinical Nurse Specialist for 15 years before becoming a nurse educator. He holds a PhD in information Science, and prior to his current appointment he was Department Head of Critical & Specialist Care at Oxford Brookes University in the U.K. See more…

Product Manager, Unity Technologies
Over the past 18 years, Mike has worked with some of the biggest companies in the world building games with Unity for a wide variety of platforms. From DeNA to Namco Bandai, he has shipped over a dozen titles with Unity and worked with some of the biggest brands in the world. He recently joined Unity to help drive the Animation, Video and Cinematic teams as Product Manager.
Day 1 (Apr 1st)
9:00am – Registration
10:00am – Introductions & Opening Remarks
11:00am – Learn VR Programming (Part I)
1:00pm – Lunch
2:00pm – Learn VR Programming (Part II)
5:00pm – Networking & Form Groups, then go home!
At the end of the day, you can form a group to hack on your game over the week!
Day 2 (Apr 8th)
9:00am – Registration
10:00am – Chronic Pain Talk by Dr. Bernie Garrett / Get Feedback from Instructor
10:30am – Expert Panel – Ask Anything!
11:30am – Learn VR Programming (Part III)
12:30pm – Lunch
1:30pm – Learn VR Programming (Part IV: Building into Cardboard Device & Lab Time)
4:00pm – Networking & Project Expo
5:00pm – Have Snacks, and Workshop is Over!
Get feedback on your progress and ask anything you want during the Expert Panel. Lab Time is a flexible time where the Instructor and Mentors are available to help on anything you’re working on!
Any questions or concerns? We’re happy to help at contact@designlablive.com.
“We are all created equal in the virtual world and we can use this
equality to help address some of the sociological problems that society has yet to solve in the physical world.”
– Bill Gates
FAQ
What do I need to bring?
You will need to bring a laptop and your phone to follow the lessons. You’ll get a Google Cardboard (or similar) device to test on, and we’ll send you details to set up your environment before the workshop.
How long is the workshop?
The MedApps series is a two-day workshop, on April 1st and April 8th.
What is the workshop like?
This is a hands-on VR (Unity) workshop, so you’ll be in a classroom setting where the Instructor and TAs will be available to help during the lessons! There’s also a panel on the second day, where you’ll get to ask our Experts anything you like, and get feedback on your project.
Do I need to know Unity?
Nope! We don’t expect our students to have a background in Unity. However, having some programming background will be very helpful.
What are we making during the workshop?
You’ll be guided along a lesson to create a game for chronic pain patients. Then, during Lab Time on the second day, you’re free to form a group to work on challenges for this game, or create a new game; our Instructor and TAs are available to help with anything during this time.
I’ve signed up! What now?
You should receive an email about workshop details from Design Lab. If you haven’t received it by Friday Mar 31st, please email us at contact@designlablive.com and we’ll get it sorted out!
About Design Lab
Design Lab is solving problems in different areas using technology. We recently produced lumohacks, a 300-person hackathon in Vancouver, to improve a cancer patient’s life, and we are currently tackling healthcare problems using technology.
All proceeds of the enrolments go towards running the workshop. By signing up, you agree to the Terms & Conditions.
If you have other questions or concerns, please get in touch at contact@designlablive.com.
Thank you to our media partner, Hacker Nest – “HackerNest is a nonprofit organization and movement that builds local tech communities around the world. We believe they are the cornerstones of economic development: we want more people to get into tech so they can afford to live healthier and happier.”