As we gear up for DEVELOP3D LIVE 2026 at Warwick Arts Centre on 25 March, Stephen Holmes takes a look at some of the highlights planned for the bumper one-day event, packed with design and engineering technology and know-how
It seems crazy to think that we’re right in the middle of a technological and industrial revolution, and that once again designers and engineers are going to be on the front lines of huge change.
AI technology is updating and improving day-by-day, with new companies and fresh opportunities launching every week. In the past year we’ve seen software vendors go from talking up the potential of AI in their toolsets to launching real-world applications, assistants and standalone tools that are already transforming traditional product development workflows.
DEVELOP3D LIVE 2026 looks to help guide you into the water before the big waves of change begin. We’ve expanded our talks on AI to reflect this, with a dedicated track from some of the companies we’ve identified as ones to follow. They’ll touch upon how CAD, simulation, visualisation and generative design is powering ahead today, and what lies in wait just around the corner.
Couple this with talks from companies creating new tech at the bleeding edge of what’s possible on our Startups stage, and the chance to kick the tyres of the software and ask further questions in the exhibition zone, and you’ve an amazing opportunity to take away the latest knowledge and perhaps a competitive edge.
But simply learning a handful of new names and marvelling at AI is not enough, hence DEVELOP3D LIVE presents the holistic view – from concept to manufacture. We know that any knowledge gained is useless without context, so we’ve packed the schedule with incredible designers and engineers that are racing to bring new products to market faster than ever before.
‘Agile’ has always been a buzzword, but now the software and hardware powering workflows is making this an attainable reality – allowing small agencies to punch well above their weight, and giant OEMs to finally shake off some of the constraints.
DEVELOP3D LIVE 2026 is going to be an event that not only introduces your design and engineering teams to new technologies, but it will showcase where this can all fit into your existing processes and systems. Huge change is happening, and it’s a lot to take in, so let this event be the one to help you to see what is possible.
Be part of the changes underway. Don’t miss out. We look forward to seeing you at DEVELOP3D LIVE on 25 March. To register FREE now, click here
Stephen Holmes Editor DEVELOP3D
www.develop3dlive.com
Text-to-spaceship with NASA
NASA is already invested in how AI can take design requirements and generate optimised structures that are lighter, stronger and delivered in days instead of months. Ryan McClelland, deputy chief AI officer at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, will present its Text-to-Spaceship vision, and how language-defined needs flow through these automated systems, accelerating mission development by an order of magnitude.
He’ll give an idea as to how this has scaled through a secure, cloud-deployed ecosystem of AI-accessible design, analysis, and manufacturing tools — some elements of which you might already be using today. From initial brackets to full payload designs, Text-to-Spaceship is a near-term reality for the next generation of spacecraft that will redefine how we explore the universe.
Technology futures
Some of the biggest, most recognisable and mission critical technologies again head to DEVELOP3D LIVE to provide updates and give a glimpse into what the future holds.
Expect to hear the latest updates, customer insights from real world use, plus some tantalising glimpses of how the software you use today is evolving.
Get the very latest news from the likes of Solidworks, Siemens, Onshape, Autodesk and HCL Software as their executives appear in back-to-back sessions on our main stage. HP will also showcase the latest developments in hardware, with its AMD-based HP ZBook Ultra G1a and Z2 Mini G1a.
Avant Design
Avant Design, the design studio behind the Longbow EV sportscar, will give an insight into its fast-paced digital workflow.
Having developed a wide swathe of transport projects, this talk will highlight how elements like VR and visualisation are key to their practice. Learn how spatial design tools can be integrated into your own workflows and better maintain design intent and transform stakeholder engagement.
Angel Guerra
Angel Guerra, an automotive design consultant who collaborates with luxury and hypercar brands, heads to DEVELOP3D LIVE following the unveiling of his latest creation, the Garagisti & Co GP1.
Guerra will explore how real-time visualisation and VR have transformed his design workflow, with projects like the Rimac Nevera and Bugatti Mistral to call upon. He’ll also give some insight on how the strategic use of demo projects and social media positioning can help designers attract high-end clients and stay relevant.
Node Audio
Luxury audio has for too long relied on dated materials and processes. This is where Node Audio has stepped in and ripped up the rulebook.
Using additive manufacturing the company has created internal forms that allow the sound to travel unimpeded, creating rich bass levels in far more compact cabinets. Meanwhile, the use of 3D printed gyroid infills has allowed the team to replace traditional wadding materials, while adding further functionalities to the product.
Learn how this team of product designers are transforming what’s possible with an agile approach and willingness to trial the latest tech.
The AI stage
For the hot topic of the moment, we’ve put together an overview of CAD, generative design, simulation and visualisation to give you an idea of what AI can offer in these fields, and where it is likely to head next.
With speakers from Tech Soft 3D, CDS, SimScale and a special overview of AI tools for visualisation and rendering by Jesper Mosegaard of Figurement, there’s a tonne of knowledge to be shared.
Depix – AI rendering
With products now expected to be launched in months rather than years, the ability to get into the meat of the design process faster is one area where AI has made incredible progress.
Depix is one of the best examples, offering not only quick-fire generative AI renderings that maintain the integrity of your initial design, but the ability to use its powers to enhance and accelerate multiple elements of the design workflow based on the designer’s intent.
Learn more in this DEVELOP3D article.
The fabrication stage
With the latest iterative prototyping and manufacturing methods key to working out the details and speeding up time to production, it’s exciting that we have several companies speaking about just that on our Future Fabrication stage.
Kaikaku will delve into the development of its restaurant automation technology, a robotic system including many desktop FDM 3D printed parts. Conflux will showcase how F1-grade, super thin-walled metals 3D printing technology is being harnessed to build heat exchangers for automotive and beyond.
The startup stage
With so many exciting new companies in the product development space, we joined forces with Threaded! to bring you a two-hour showcase featuring ten of the most highly-rated startups with products capable of boosting your workflow in 2026.
From Compute Maritime transforming how ship designs can be generated, to Authentise’s end-to-end automation for additive manufacturing, and Productive Machines’ AI-driven CNC machining optimisation software – there’s something new here for the entire product development workflow.
The viz stage
As an industry sector that has been shaken up by generative AI, we look at whether prompts will ever undo real human skills, or will the human eye win out?
This track features excellent presentations from the likes of Presume, a viz agency that crafts incredibly lifelike product renders that imbue an astonishing level of tactility and material realness. We also have technology focussed talks that will delve into where AI can come into play while maintaining traditional skills.
The engineer of 2030
AI is dissolving engineering software complexity, believes Rhushik Matroja, CEO of CDS, whose talk explores what happens when AI handles the mundane and enables superhuman design space exploration.
Drawing on CDS’ deployments across aerospace, defence, and automotive, it presents the engineer of 2030: a data-driven analyst whose value lies in asking the right questions, not clicking the right buttons. With glimpses of recent R&D advances it will show what engineering practice looks like when the procedural layer disappears entirely.
