At WATA Factory, we’ve just held our very first Ibérica Labs – and honestly, we couldn’t be happier with how the day went. It was a day full of learning, teamwork, and truly special moments.
As has become tradition, we kicked things off in the morning with an Andalusian breakfast that gave us just the boost we needed to start the day full of energy: toast with olive oil, Serrano ham, a good coffee and fresh orange juice. It was also a perfect moment to catch up and get in the right mindset for the day ahead.
The event was officially opened with a welcome speech from our CEO, Germán T. He shared his vision for the future of the company, spoke about the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead, and explained how this new format aligns with our way of working. Ibérica Labs is set to become a central element in strengthening our shared learning culture – a key part of our identity.
Since we had some new interns joining us, we kicked things off with a fun and original icebreaker: each person was handed a roll of toilet paper and told to take as many sheets as they liked – without knowing that for each sheet, they’d have to share something personal about themselves! It led to lots of laughs and was a fantastic way to get to know one another better.
Afterwards, we split into two groups based on our areas of expertise:
- QA, Design and Project Leads:
In the Accessibility Lab, we focused on how to make our applications truly inclusive. It wasn’t just about knowing the regulations, but about putting them into practice – identifying and removing barriers that stand in the way of an accessible user experience.
If you’d like to uncover potential accessibility issues in your digital products, we’re happy to help with a specialised accessibility audit. Get in touch – we’ll support you every step of the way!
- Developers:
They dived into the Kubernetes + Bitbucket Lab, working on making our CI/CD processes even more efficient. They learned how to use our own Bitbucket Runners deployed in a Kubernetes cluster – to improve integration and automate deployments. They also explored orchestrating components directly in K8s and using Helm to manage preconfigured packages. It was a perfect blend of theory and practice, helping to take our infrastructure to the next level.
Session 1: Fundamentals and Principles
The first session laid the foundation for everything that followed.
The developers began with a theoretical introduction to Kubernetes, presented by Pedro G. They learned how to manage containers more efficiently and discovered how the Headlamp tool can support orchestration and monitoring of these containers. The goal was to understand the layout of the dashboard and how to use it confidently.
At the same time, the Accessibility team, led by Eva P., explored the fundamentals of European accessibility standards. Eva gave us a comprehensive overview of what it means to meet those standards – from selecting pages for auditing, to documenting barriers and producing effective reports.
The key question was: How do you test a website from the perspective of someone with a disability? The challenge was to put ourselves in users’ shoes and critically examine the site for potential obstacles.
After this first, information-packed session, it was time for a well-earned coffee break – a moment to reflect, chat, and recharge before heading into round two.
Session 2: Hands-on Practice and Specialist Tools
The developers began setting up their projects in Kubernetes. They created the necessary files in the repositories, learned how to manage them, and saw how each piece fits into the container orchestration puzzle.
Pedro guided everyone step by step, making sure the tools and concepts were clear and well understood.
Meanwhile, the Accessibility team focused on conducting audits across a range of digital formats – from websites and PDFs to mobile apps and accessible design. We examined our own internal processes and tools developed specifically to analyse and improve the accessibility of our products.
This was a highly practical session where we put our solutions to the test and saw their real-world impact on creating more inclusive user experiences.
Ibérica Labs Logo: Shaping Our Identity
As the creative team we are, there was of course also space for branding.
Our designer Raquel C. presented several logo concepts for Ibérica Labs, and after a team vote, we chose the one that best represented us.
It was fantastic to see everyone getting involved in the creative process – and now we finally have a logo that reflects the identity of this new event format.
With the creative part wrapped up, it was time for lunch – and what a lunch it was!
We enjoyed an Indian feast together that left no wishes unfulfilled: curry, rice, chicken tikka masala, tempura vegetables, lentil dishes with rich sauces, and a variety of breads. For the brave among us, there was also a good dose of spice – and the star of the meal: lamb in sauce. Absolutely delicious! The perfect fuel to keep us energised for the afternoon sessions.
Session 3: Putting Knowledge into Practice
The third session was the most hands-on of the day.
The developers applied what they’d learned by building working environments in Kubernetes. They explored new features in Headlamp, worked intensively with containers and bridged the gap between theory and practice – solving real problems and finding new ways to optimise their projects.
On the accessibility side, we focused on evaluating our own applications and assessing their compliance with accessibility standards.
We learned how to apply our internal methods and processes to analyse each parameter, identify improvements and generate detailed reports.
This session helped us sharpen our internal approach to accessibility, ensuring that every project we develop meets the highest standards of digital inclusion.
A Sweet Send-Off
After a day full of focus and hard work, it was time to relax over a light snack featuring handmade sweets from a local bakery.
We used the moment to pause, unwind and simply enjoy each other’s company.
See you at the next Ibérica Labs!
