Ten years ago Waag opened one of the first Fab Labs of Europe in Amsterdam. On 4 November 2017 we celebrated this anniversary with a Talkshow and Makerfest in the Waag.
Waag Amsterdam opened its doors of the very first independent Fab Lab in Europe, 10 years ago in 2007. The "mother of makeplaces" is not only a place for hackers and nerds who want to play with machines, but a place in which a new vision of design and production technology has changed the role of the consumer rigorously.
The consumer became designer and producer at the same time, through accessibility of 3D printers, laser cutters and other machines. Previously these machines were only available to major manufacturers. In addition to the new technology, the new creator's mindset is crucial. Through the connectivity of the Internet, sharing knowledge and transparency in production chains ownership, earnings models and licenses were radically overtaken.
Fab Labs and social innovation
Due to breaking the existing production chains, it was possible to use digital manufacturing for social purposes. The shareholder is no longer the only decision maker. “Knowledge is shared and used, not patented”, says the mantra.
The Fairphone is a smartphone that tries to make the production chain transparent, fair and fully modular. This examples a successful project started in the FabLab. The goal is learn, make and share. Currently Fablabs have been found throughout Amsterdam in the so-called ‘Maakplaatsen’, which are linked to public libraries. Children have the opportunity to learn skills in order to prepare themselves for their future in the 21st century.
Magazine
In the light of the 10th anniversary of Fablab Amsterdam, we have composed a magazine with articles about the impact Fab Labs are aiming for, what role they can have and which changes they can create within the mindset of the profit industry, educational institutions, but also for individuals, such as children and -aspirant- makers. This magazine is part of an iterative process. Articles and other content will be added until the end of this jubilee year.
