Rapid prototyping is an exciting aspect of industrial design, but few of us individual designers can afford the machinery to make it happen. If you're lucky, your school or workplace has invested in the machinery and you get to play with it. Or you can wait for a TechShop to open up in your city.

Another good option, for those in Europe this summer or inclined to travel there, is to take the Creative Prototyping Skills Training course at the Howest University Industrial Design Center in Belgium. For a reasonable 365 Euros, you get a five-day course (including meals and prototyping materials):Are you interested in tasting different prototyping tools such as quick & dirty prototyping for idea generation, laser cutting, 3D printing, product photography, wood turning, welding techniques, plastic shaping processes, textile experiments, foam modeling, arduino electronics and finishing techniques for 3D models? Be prepared for an intensive week, surrounded by professional coaches. Take your time and enjoy our group.

Not included in the price is accommodations, unless you're the camping type. (If you bring a tent, the IDC lets you pitch it in their park for free.) For registration info and more details, click here.