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Makerspaces: Practices and Recommendations

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.

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Makerspaces: Practices and Recommendations

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  1. Makerspaces: Practices and Recommendations Eric Joseph Van Holm

  2. The Potential of Makerspaces • Built by Jack Dorsey and Jim McKelvey at TechShop, Menlo Park

  3. Context and Contribution • Catalog characteristics of Makerspaces • Provide recommendations for new establishments

  4. 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

  5. Why Makerspaces Matter • Lower the costs of innovation • Utilize the latent creative potential of communities • Provide opportunity for development of new products

  6. Data Collection Hackerspace.org 513 Makerspace.com 208 FabLabs.io 52

  7. Makerspace 119 85 3 1 Hackerspace 425 Fab Lab 46 2

  8. Unique Sample = 590

  9. Final Sample = 253

  10. Data Collected • Reviewed Websites for: • Legal status • Membership terms and fees • Hours • Location and Size • Tools • Classes offered

  11. 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

  12. Profile – Maker Works

  13. Profile – Mothership Hacker Moms • Nonprofit Makerspace • Berkeley, California • $80 Monthly fee for 24 hour access

  14. 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”

  15. Legal status • N = 253

  16. 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

  17. Membership fees • Median monthly fee $50 • 9 free; highest fee $600 • N = 203

  18. Hours • N = 173

  19. Size and Location

  20. Size and Location

  21. 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.”

  22. 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

  23. Ways Businesses Use Makerspaces • Prototyping • Dodo Case

  24. Ways Businesses Use Makerspaces • Prototyping • Ideation • Danny Fukuba

  25. Ways Businesses Use Makerspaces • Prototyping • Product Ideation • Skill Learning • Mark Roth

  26. Products – Silly Walks Clock • Built at 7Hills in Rome, Georgia

  27. 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.

  28. 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

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