The concept of the atelier plays an essential role within the educational approach of NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences. In these ateliers, students, together with teachers, researchers and the professional field, design groundbreaking new solutions. But, what exactly is an atelier? Some people talk about a studio. Others talk about a workshop. Still others talk about a living lab, a design factory or an innovation hub. This publication tries to map out the developments in the field of ateliers in NHL Stenden. By comparing different approaches we want to gain more insight into the critical success factors in the development of new studios. The research was coordinated by the Open Innovation Research Group, part of the research group Innovation in Education and Research.