Be A Maker Space
images/be-a-maker/hero.jpg
The brief
Betty Brinn set out to create a makerspace where kids and families could build, take things apart, and tinker with real tools and materials. We were part of the second wave of museum makerspaces, so we could learn from the spaces that came before us, but every space and every city has its own challenges.
My role
I designed the space, sourced the reclaimed materials used to build it, and assisted with fabrication. I also sourced all of the tools and equipment and developed the space's programming for its first two years.
The challenge
Building the space was only half the job. The harder part was making it feel inviting, so visitors understood they were welcome, and encouraged, to explore, make, disassemble, and tinker, rather than treating it as something to look at.
How I delivered
Working with a network of other museum makerspaces, we refined the programming over time until the space found its rhythm. Highlights included building a 14-foot burro piñata with 2,000 kids over three weeks, helping produce Milwaukee's first Maker Faire, and bringing our programming to after-school providers to extend the space's reach beyond the museum.
The result
The space became a lively, well-used part of the museum and caught the attention of national programs.
From sketch to install
- Photo: Design drawings or layout
images/be-a-maker/step1.jpgDesign drawings or layout - Photo: Reclaimed materials and the build
images/be-a-maker/step2.jpgReclaimed materials and the build - Photo: Kids making and tinkering
images/be-a-maker/step3.jpgKids making and tinkering - Photo: The 14-foot burro piñata
images/be-a-maker/step4.jpgThe 14-foot burro piñata