AI is changing our industry.
What happens now?
AI is already changing the way we design, create, communicate, sell and deliver work.
But what happens next?
Join us at Future Studio, we'll explore what AI means for the future of businesses in our sector, from graphic design, print and web to SEO, search marketing and digital services.
Discover what we're seeing inside our own studios and across our network, the challenges businesses are facing today, the changes we believe are coming next, and where we think the biggest opportunities lie.
Most importantly, we'll show you what we're doing about it.
What to expect at a Future Studio event
You'll get a first look at our vision for a new kind of AI-powered studio, where intelligent tools work alongside your team to handle more of the repetitive, time-consuming work that gets in the way of running and growing your business.
See how we're developing Oodles, our AI agent, to become a genuine digital member of your team who can take care of many of those everyday tasks you'd rather not be doing.
BTW, this won't just be slides and predictions…
Through practical workshops and real-world demonstrations, we'll show you how studios are already using AI to tackle everyday scenarios – from handling a new enquiry and processing an order to managing workflow and solving technical problems.
The event builds up to a live Q&A featuring people experienced in AI, software and running creative businesses, discussing where our industry goes next and answering your questions about the opportunities and challenges ahead of us all.
You'll leave knowing where the industry is heading, what other studios are already doing about it, and which tasks you should be handing to AI when you get back to your desk.
But Future Studio isn't just about showing you our plans…
We want your input to help us shape them.
You'll have the opportunity to tell us where you think AI could make the biggest difference in your business, what you'd like Oodles to do next and how we should develop our platform to help creative businesses, like yours, become more productive, more profitable and more enjoyable to run.
See what's possible today. Discover what's coming tomorrow.
Help us build the Future Studio.
Meet the Q&A panellists
Vadim Adams is Co-Founder & CEO at Wolf Logic, a UK software development company delivering bespoke software, integrations, and IT strategy for businesses across sectors including healthcare, manufacturing, and geospatial systems. He leads Wolf Logic's technical vision, software architecture, and AI strategy.
Wolf Logic works hands-on with organisations navigating what AI can realistically do for their business — separating genuine opportunity from hype. Vadim can bring that same practical lens to the creative sector.
Gavin Cockerill is CEO at Software Circle plc, a leading acquirer and operator of software businesses across a variety of sectors, including Graphics and E-commerce.
The group runs 11 software businesses and has a market cap of £80m at the time of writing.
AI is changing how software is built and what software can do for customers. Gavin can help provide a ground-level view on how AI is actually being used, and where it's making a real difference. What it means for data security, day-to-day operations, and how customers are served.
Carl Drinkwater is Owner of 29degrees, a web solutions company helping small and medium-sized businesses manage legacy software systems, WordPress development, and security audits.
Since 2009, 29degrees has worked at the sharp end of keeping older systems running securely while helping businesses grow — often untangling code and infrastructure nobody else wants to touch. Carl can offer a practical, on-the-ground view of how AI is changing this work: where it's genuinely speeding up development and problem-solving, where it introduces new security risks, and what it means for SMBs who don't have in-house technical teams to manage that shift themselves.
Raj Arora is Owner at Nettl of Stockport, where he helps local business owners bring their ideas to life online without the technical headaches. He has experience in design, digital media, and web development, with a particular focus on making emerging technology simple, approachable, and useful for everyday teams.
He is passionate about keeping the human touch at the heart of technology and has spent years helping people feel excited rather than overwhelmed by new tech. Within his own studio, Raj uses practical AI tools to save time and free up mental bandwidth, such as meeting note-taking assistants and project planning workflows.
Chris Lowe is Managing Director of Nettl Systems, where he runs the business day-to-day across the partner network and the company-owned studios.
He has spent his career in graphics, web and print, with a particular focus on how technology changes the way a studio actually works. Most recently, he has worked with the team to drive the development of Oodles, the AI built into the heart of Nettl's system rather than bolted on the side.
He is passionate about letting software do the legwork, taking the admin and the clicks, so studios get their time back for creative work and client relationships.
Chris Nyland is Studio Manager and Digital Marketing Specialist at Nettl of Gloucester, where he helps businesses improve their online presence through SEO, PPC, website development and digital marketing strategy.
He has extensive experience in digital marketing, with a particular focus on SEO, PPC, AI-driven search, technical optimisation and helping businesses generate measurable results online.
He has worked across hundreds of marketing campaigns and website projects and delivered SEO and PPC campaigns for businesses across a wide range of industries. Chris is passionate about how AI is changing website fixing, search and digital marketing, and how businesses can use new technologies to adapt to stay visible as search evolves.
Drew Daltrey is Systems Analyst at Nettl Systems, where they design improved solutions to help Nettl partners operate more efficiently. Working across the Nettl System, Drew focuses on how the platform's workflows, automation, and AI tools translate into real time and cost savings for creative businesses on the ground.
That vantage point gives Drew a close-up view of where AI genuinely removes friction for creative teams — from automating routine admin to speeding up proposals and production — and where it still needs a human hand. On the panel, Drew can offer a practical, systems-level perspective on how creative agencies, designers, and printers can build AI into their day-to-day operations without disrupting what already works.
Get involved in the Q&A
Submit your questions ahead of the events to ensure they're discussed on the day.
You can also vote on the topics that are most important to you in our poll.
Birmingham
Manchester
Reserve your place today
Secure your place by booking a FREE ticket for one of these locations:
Birmingham
Thursday 1st October 2026
14:00 – 18:00
Location: Nettl of Birmingham, B3 1TR
Manchester
Thursday 15th October 2026
14:00 – 18:00
Location: Manchester Art Gallery, M2 3JL
See what's possible today.
Discover what's coming tomorrow.
Help us build the Future Studio.
Why attend?
Understand what's coming
Get our view of how AI will change print, design, web, SEO and creative businesses over the next few years.
See what other studios are experiencing
Hear the trends, challenges and opportunities we're seeing across our own studios and wider network.
Pick the brains of people already doing it
The room is full of owners running print, design, web and signage studios, several of them already using AI on live jobs. Grab them for a chat and learn from their first-hand experience.
See AI doing real work
Watch practical examples based on genuine everyday studio tasks, tasks you do every day, rather than horizontal generic AI demonstrations.
Discover what AI can do for you today
Identify tasks currently consuming your team's time that AI can already help reduce or eliminate.
Meet your newest team member
See where we're taking Oodles and how an AI agent can increasingly work alongside your team.
Do more with the team you've got
Explore how AI can increase capacity and productivity without increasing overhead.
Take ideas back to your business
Leave with practical workflows and ideas you can start experimenting with immediately.
Get ahead of the change
Understand where we think client expectations, search, design, production and service delivery are heading.
Ask the difficult questions
Put your questions directly to our panel about AI, jobs, pricing, creativity, margins and the future of the industry.
Help decide what we build next
Tell us which tasks you want Oodles to take care of and influence our development roadmap.
Meet the team
Managing Director
Commercial Director
Operations Manager
Technology Manager
Commercial Executive
Partner Manager
Partner Manager
Studio Director
Studio Director
Product Manager
Geek