Fablabs in Higher Education

Fablabs as Hands-on Learning SpacesFrank Kresin / Research Director

institute for art, science & technology

Collaborations between- Users- Designers- Programmers- Artists & Scientists

Publish or Perish => Demo or Die

USERS AS DESIGNERS

OPENSOURCE / CONTENT / DATA

HARDWARE

3D PRINTING

OPEN DESIGN - technology

3D LASERCUT OBJECT - UNKNOWN

3D CNC STRUCTURE - FABLAB BCN

3D PRINTED WHISTLES - FABLAB UTRECHT

BLUEPRINT - JORN VAN ECK

3D PRINTED ARCHITECTURE - D SHAPE

FAB @ HOME

3D BIOPRINTING- ORGANOVO

3D FABLAB HOUSE - FABLAB BCN

3D PRINTED OBJECT - HUNG CHE LIN

OPEN DESIGN

OPEN SOURCE HOUSE C_MM_N - OPEN SOURCE CAR

OPEN DESIGN

FABLAB @ WAAG SOCIETY

FABLAB TOOLS

http://www.arduino.cc/

FABLAB @ NORWAY

FAB LABMission

Fablabs are a global network of local labs, enabling invention by providing access for individuals to tools for digital fabrication.

AccessYou can use the Fablab to make almost anything (that doesn't hurt anyone); you must learn to do it yourself, and you must share use of the lab with other uses and users.

EducationTraining in the fab lab is based on doing projects and learning from peers; you're expected to contribute to documentation and instruction.

Personal Power Planthttp://www.instructables.com/id/personal-powerPlant/

SelfCity Wearablehttp://fablab.waag.org/selfcity

MooiMuishttp://fablab.waag.org/mooimuis/

ChocoPIhttp://amsterdam.fablab.nl/node/1719/ & http://chocopi.blogspot.com/

Design for your future self – PICNIC’11

• q

LemonBowhttp://www.lemonbow-swimwear.com/

FabFihttp://fabfi.fablab.af/

open prostheticshttp://amsterdam.fablab.nl/node/1943

PRINCIPLES

The best producer is the actual user

He/she can learn to build (almost) anything

Share blueprints & stand on the shoulders of others

A network of Fablabs over the world (more than 60)

Connected by video conferencing links

“Once you start drawing or making things,you open up new possibilities of discovery.Doodling, drawing, modeling.Sketch make things, and you're likely toencourage accidental discoveries. At the mostfundamental level, what we're talking aboutis play, about exploring borders.”

DESIGN THINKING

• Design Thinking is a practice & process to solve problems and develop and improve situations, products or services by using applied, practical creativity.

• The intention of Design Thinking is improve the quality of life – on a big and a small scale.

DESIGN “STANCE”

1. Empathy

2. Integral Thinking

3. Optimism

4. Experiments

5. Collaboration

DESIGN THINKING FOR EDUCATORS

http://www.designthinkingforeducators.com/

http://www.designthinkingforeducators.com/

CASE: UVA

• February - May 2010• Collaboration UvA – Waag Society• Professor: dr. Michel Avital• Course: Information and Innovation• Department of Economics• 50 students• Using Fablabs & Design Thinking to teach students

how to innovate.• Proces precedes over results• Challenge: design a product or service for

Sustainable Urban Living in a Digital Age

More info: http://avital.feb.uva.nl/Courses_dev/info+innovation.html

• Develop IT-enabled solutions in novel situations• Practice collective thinking and teamwork• Gain an insight to the way things around you work • Be creative, generate and evaluate ideas, design everything

better • Thrive on your success rather than be bogged down with

constraints• Increase the impact of your ideas by persuasive communication • Learn to see the whole picture with the systems approach • Apply and enhance your research skills

LEARNING GOALS

Pictures: http://www.flickr.com/photos/34773415@N05/sets/72157623552461797/

PROCESS

• Theory lessons• Introduction to the Fablab & Design Thinking• Presenting the Assignment• Developing Paper Prototypes• Research User Preferences and Constraints• Developing Prototypes• Feedback on Results & Process

http://www.flickr.com/photos/34773415@N05/sets/72157623552461797/

Sustainable Fitnesstrainer

http://group09.wordpress.com/

Testimonials

• "I can honestly say that the course was the most interesting and most enjoyable of the classes I have taken...I plan on putting the project that was completed in this class on my resume.”

• "Challenging course, a lot of self-directed thinking...Lot's of practical, hands-on experience.”

• "Wow, this was a challenging class. Not so much in the sense of quantitative work, but as it requires me to figure out how things really work. I learned so much.”

• "Good learning environment and good teamwork. It was an excellent opportunity to experience project development in a safe environment.”

WHAT DO STUDENTS LEARN?

• Sharing & Collaborating• Product development• Prototyping Processes• Innovation Processes• User Research• Mindset of the designer: solving problems• …

QUEST

• How can Fablabs & hands-on design-thinking be employed by your company or institution?

• What do you need for this and what are the gains?

Frank KresinResearch DirectorWaag Society

@kresinwaag.orgfrank@waag.org