Makerspaces: Practices and Recommendations
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Presentation Transcript
Makerspaces: Practices and Recommendations Eric Joseph Van Holm
The Potential of Makerspaces • Built by Jack Dorsey and Jim McKelvey at TechShop, Menlo Park
Context and Contribution • Catalog characteristics of Makerspaces • Provide recommendations for new establishments
What is a Makerspace • Physical locations • Diverse participants • Artists, engineers, blue-collar, mothers… • Broad set of tools and capabilities • Culture of openness • Not an incubator
Why Makerspaces Matter • Lower the costs of innovation • Utilize the latent creative potential of communities • Provide opportunity for development of new products
Data Collection Hackerspace.org 513 Makerspace.com 208 FabLabs.io 52
Makerspace 119 85 3 1 Hackerspace 425 Fab Lab 46 2
Data Collected • Reviewed Websites for: • Legal status • Membership terms and fees • Hours • Location and Size • Tools • Classes offered
Profile - Maker Works • Private Makerspace in Ann Arbor, Michigan • $90 for single adult • Professional staff on hand • Monday – Thursday 1pm – 9pmFriday 9am – 6pmSaturday & Sunday 10am – 4pm
Profile – Mothership Hacker Moms • Nonprofit Makerspace • Berkeley, California • $80 Monthly fee for 24 hour access
Profile – Mothership Hacker Moms • Access to industrial tools at Ace Monster Toys (Oakland, California) • Offers childcare and education programs for children of members • Created “Failure Club” to build mutual support members to “invent products, change careers, start businesses, make money and learn new fields”
Legal status • N = 253
Differences • Private spaces are (on average): • Larger in terms of space and memberships • More likely to have professional staff • More likely to offer prototyping services • More expensive for memberships • Extreme example: TechShop
Membership fees • Median monthly fee $50 • 9 free; highest fee $600 • N = 203
Hours • N = 173
Relationship to small businesses • “The Lawrence (Kansas) Creates Makerspace is an economic development organization based on the principle that economic development starts with the individual…” • Decatur (Georgia) Makers • “it makes sense to have our local maker space be one that is intentionally kid and family friendly.”
Relationship to small businesses • 61 of 248 use “business”, “incubator”, “company” or “co-working” in purpose statement • Dozen co-working studios offering access to industrial tools
Ways Businesses Use Makerspaces • Prototyping • Dodo Case
Ways Businesses Use Makerspaces • Prototyping • Ideation • Danny Fukuba
Ways Businesses Use Makerspaces • Prototyping • Product Ideation • Skill Learning • Mark Roth
Products – Silly Walks Clock • Built at 7Hills in Rome, Georgia
Recommendations - Governments • Act as a facilitator • Support meetings • Offer space • Make zoning flexible • Create publicity • Organize a Maker Faire • Public event that celebrates arts, crafts, science, and making. Like a science fair for adults.
Recommendations - Community • Be patient • Spaces often take two years to establish • List yourself online • Reach out to other Makerspaces • Be creative finding (and making) tools