industry spotlight Manufacturing
Can-do Texan
spirit finds
home in
Makerspace
movement
ers and lathes to welders and software
experts, this space allows its members to
create the products they want in their own
lives -- inventing, designing, imagining and
willing into existence what may be the
next “must-have” device, product or idea.
Along with the tools comes a supportive
community and technical experts who enjoy the art of creation enough to put their
own skills to work for your brain child.
Who can belong? Anyone with a dream
and a willingness to tinker. With barrier to
entry very low, the access to that next big
invention is within anyone’s grasp.
It’s a concept that has local businesses
nationwide taking note, says Robert Davison, a member of the board of directors of
Dallas Makerspace, a Dallas non-profit that
operates a makerspace location in the Carrollton area.
Dallas Makerspace
workshop.
“Makerspace is as
much social as
it is about making
things,” says
Rich Osman.
Making burgers
to feed the folks
at Makerspace.
Members of
Dallas Makerspace discuss
projects.
“The ability to experiment is huge. Large corporations are
even seeing the value in spaces like ours,” said Davidson.
“For example, in Detroit, Ford Motor Company sent employees to a local makerspace to just invent and create. The
ability to experiment brought out creativity in their employees, and they saw a 50 percent increase in patentable ideas
by employees.”
That can mean big pay-off for North Texas businesses, Davidson estimates, by leveraging human capital that exists but
doesn’t necessarily have an outlet to try new things. Corporate labs are off-limits to many employees, and everything
from safety to liability issues can preclude just any employee
trying out a new idea in the corporate environment. But
makerspaces encourage new ideas and provide a community of fellow makers who are willing to share their skills and
celebrate the creative process.
“Makerspace is as much social as it is about making
things,” says Rich Osman, president-elect of Tarrant Makers, the Fort Worth-area not-for-profit that fosters the
makerspace credo in Cowtown. “Our focus is making sure
that we do everything to enable the act of making with
the resources that we’ve got. We’re focusing on offering
classes and providing whatever support we can to develop
facilities. We’ve got a lot of very skilled people that the
libraries are finding very valuable, and we’re learning a lot
from what they’re doing. Currently, our focus is on the
education aspect.”
Tarrant Makers, which is in the process of finding the
funds or a corporate donor to provide a dedicated space, is
currently working with libraries, such as the North Richland
Hills Public Library, to offer classes and activities that allow
creativity to flourish. Utilizing existing public spaces to provide their expertise for free keeps Tarrant Makers excited
and interested. A monthly “show and tell” meeting brings
everyone together for a look at what’s new and what’s next.
It’s a meeting that is open to anyone.
Winter/Spring 2015
www.ntc-dfw.org
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