10/3/2015 MAKERSPACES: PRACTICES AND RECOMMENDATIONS Eric Joseph Van Holm 10/3/2015

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

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

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 4

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

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

7 Hackerspace Makerspace 119 Fab Lab

Unique Sample = 590 8

Final Sample = 253 9

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

Profile - Maker Works  Private Makerspace in Ann Arbor, Michigan  $90 for single adult  Professional staff on hand  Monday – Thursday 1pm – 9pm Friday 9am – 6pm Saturday & Sunday 10am – 4pm 11

Profile – Maker Works 12

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

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” 14

Legal status 15  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 16

Membership fees  Median monthly fee $50  9 free; highest fee $600  N =

Hours  N =

19 Size and Location

20 Size and Location

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.” 21

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 22

Ways Businesses Use Makerspaces  Prototyping  Dodo Case 23

Ways Businesses Use Makerspaces  Prototyping  Ideation  Danny Fukuba 24

Ways Businesses Use Makerspaces  Prototyping  Product Ideation  Skill Learning  Mark Roth 25

Products – Silly Walks Clock 26  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. 27

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 28