critical making

Are you passionate about creativity, technology and maker education? Visit the FabLearn Conference in September.

 

Behind all the maker spaces at the public libraries in Amsterdam lies a tireless team of manufacturing coaches.

 

Last week I was part of Steamconf 2018 Barcelona where innovative teachers and educators gathered.

 

Cultural institutes and schools and increasingly interested in maker education. Waag offers workshops throughout the country.

 

After last years' Textile Academy, we now announce a new program made in collaboration with FabTextiles and Academany: the first edition of the Fabricademy, a new textile academy. It will begin at the TextileLab of Waag and other selected laboratories worldwide on the 26th of September 2017.

 

The 'Critical Making' project has delivered a position paper as an outcome of three earlier held meetings. A full pdf version (that includes references) is also available.

 

The Dutch research council NWO has awarded a 500.000 euros grant to a consortium headed by Prof. Dr. Janneke Wesseling (Leiden University) as main applicant and Dr. Florian Cramer (Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences) as co-applicant. Waag is one of the partners in the consortium.

 

On 13 May 2015, the first Amsterdam Smart Citizens Lab was held. More than 50 citizens, scientists and technicians gathered to gain more insight in their city. By measuring the city themselves in the next months, to investigate and get into action based on the results.

 

One Architecture and Waag both are researching how digital (fabrication) technologies can change the field of architecture. 3D design, scanning, printing and milling, social networking, all these and other technologies are changing how we make things, fitting to our local contexts and personal needs.

 

How attached are makers to their objects and what are the effects of digital DIY on the environment?

 

Recently, I visited two exhibitions on the design of life. First I went to 'Project Genesis' during the Ars Electronica festival in Linz, and after that I visited the exposition 'Biodesign' at the Dutch Architecture Institute in Rotterdam. The cross pollinations between design, art and bio technology are exhibited more often these days, and I was curious if these two could surprise me.