Outdoor Chair

Picture this: you’re sitting on the back porch on a cool autumn afternoon, a book in hand, a mug with some English Breakfast tea sitting on the table beside you. The sounds of birds chirping fills the distance, the leaves rustling when a cool breeze blows by and makes you lose your page temporarily. The blanket on your legs is soft and warm and you hear the distant sound of a lone car driving by.

Porch furniture can be surprisingly expensive and the old chair you got from that garage sale you dragged your partner to just isn’t cutting it anymore. Instead of resigning yourself to a fall indoors, task yourself to build a porch chair. Maker Angela Marie on YouTube walks you step by step through her process of creating a gorgeous porch chair for only $30 in lumber.

Outdoor couch

Also coming from YouTube Maker Angela Marie, a matching DIY outdoor couch. Picture all the backyard parties you’ll be able to host with one of these, the smell of campfire and apple cider filling the outdoor space as your friends gab excitedly about their plans to go to the pumpkin patch next weekend. This build will only cost you $30 in lumber as well and has a very similar make to the outdoor chair so, if you make one of those, you’re already halfway there. If you plan to build both the chair and couch, simply make sure you find matching cushions and finishes for the wood and you’ll end up with a DIY matching porch furniture set, all for less than the price of one porch chair.

Computer Desk

For those of us whose work-from-home situations have unexpectedly become a permanent fixture in our lives, a nice home office desk is a must. Maker Craig from the YouTube channel Build it Better has created a build for an L-shaped farmhouse-style computer desk, all for under $100. The build is sturdy, stylish, and is made entirely of 2×4’s and 2×6’s so it’s relatively easy to accomplish. Additionally, given the L-shape, it’s very easy to tuck into the corner of any room in your house.

Bookshelf

Any book lovers out there know the struggle they face when their bookshelf is getting dangerously full. It halts our lives in a way it doesn’t for many other hobbies because if we don’t have the space, we can’t buy any new books and that’s just a travesty. Have we read all the books currently on our shelves? Nope. Do we promise that we will before we buy new books? Yup. Do we ever keep that promise? Not once.

For the book lovers with little self-control, this easy six-foot bookshelf build by Home Depot is a life-saver. With an incredibly easy-to-follow cut list, material list, and video demonstration, you can easily and affordably add a new bookshelf to your home and, subsequently, head to Barnes & Noble to start to fill it out.

Bed Frame

Whether you’re looking to upgrade your current bed frame or perhaps looking to add one to your guest room, SEB TECH DIY has you covered! His easy 5-minute video tutorial gives you a nice visual of the make, while his handy Instructable (linked in the description) breaks down each stage of the build more thoroughly so you can be sure to get the dimensions and steps down perfectly. He was able to purchase all of the materials needed from his local hardware store and it’s perfect for a king-size mattress. SEB TECH DIY lists many other build instructions on his Instructable as well, including a modern planter, truck rack, snack tray, and wine rack.

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1) Ring Holder

For the friend who loves to accent their look with a few carefully placed rings, a ring holder is a great and easy to make a gift. Start by cutting a small piece of wood at an angle. Then take the small piece of wood and cut various slits into the wood. For example, cut a small slit into the top and then into the top left corner. Make sure the hole only goes a few centimeters into the wood and not far enough to cut completely through. Take the piece and sand the edges and cover it with polyurethane and let it dry. And you’ve very easily created a rustic artsy ring holder. They’re so easy you could make one for everyone on your list.

2) Wood/Stone Necklace

If you have someone in your life always looking to add new and handmade jewelry pieces to their collection, making them a necklace is the perfect gift. Start by cutting a very thin piece of wood. Once cut, drill two holes into two of the corners of the square wooden piece. Coat the piece in polyurethane and let it dry. Then take a stone of your choice and cut off a triangular piece. It may be helpful to pick a stone with some colors to add a pop of color to the piece. Sand down the edges of the stone piece using a sanding wheel. Superglue the stone piece to one of the bottom corners of the wooden piece that doesn’t have a hole. Then run a chain through the top two holes and you’ve got a stylish rustic necklace to give to a friend.

3) Wooden Floating Frame

Get your friend or family member a poster with a fun print, maybe some cool art from their favorite movie, or just something motivational. Then, make it more personal by building the frame yourself. Start with a 1×3 inch pine board at 8 feet. Set your saw to a 45-degree angle and cut and add two inches to the measurement of your print. So, for example, if your print is 16×24, then cut your wood pieces to be 18 and 26 inches. Line up the pieces and use wood glue to connect each of the pieces, holding them together for a few seconds to make sure they stick. If you want to add an extra layer of security, use a nail gun to connect the pieces while they dry. Cut four 8 inch pieces of wood, also at 45-degree angles.

In addition, cut four wood rings or use something small to elevate the wood pieces. Use wood glue to glue the four wooden pieces into the corners of the frame, positioning the wood rings beneath to allow them to be slightly raised into the frame. Let the pieces dry and then paint over the wood with the wood stain of your choice. Use dual-sided hanging tape on the four 8 inch pieces and then place your print into the frame. You can even engrave the frame to give it a more personal touch.

4) Balanced Wine Bottle Display

Two 45 degree cuts that are 8 inches apart and then one and one quarter inch hole that is drilled 5 and ⅞ from the bottom. After everything has been cut, sand the whole and the outer edges of the wood. Then simply finish the wood however you’d like, you can do anything from charring the wood to simply adding a stain. Then test out the gift to make sure it works. Place the piece so that the side with the hole is facing up and so that the bottom piece is flat on a counter. Then place the top of a wine bottle into the hole and watch as it seemingly defies gravity.

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1) Design a Treehouse

Whether or not you have kids, treehouses can be a fun and creative place to escape. In this challenge, you’re tasked with designing your perfect treehouse. What type of tree would you use? What type of wood would you use for the construction? What would the design look like and how would you make it sturdy? What would the interior of your treehouse look like? How would you decorate it? You’re tasked to design the exterior and interior of your treehouse. Then make a step-by-step list of how you’d accomplish the design, the supplies you need, and the cost. Not only is your maker mind moving again, but now you have a working design that you can work on anytime.

2) Design a Roller Coaster

For thrill-seekers out there, roller coasters can be addicting. What would your ideal roller coaster look like? What would it be made of? Would the safety bar go over your head or over your waist? Would it start with a super high incline or would you go upside down right away? Close your eyes and picture beat by beat what your perfect ride would look like. This activity does involve a little research. Figure out what you’d build your roller coaster out of, what the car itself would look like and what the ride itself would look like and create a sketch.

3) Remodel a Room in Your Home

You love your home, but there’s always that one room that you have secret dreams of transforming. Perhaps it’s a spare room that currently acts as a storage space that you’d like to transform into a library. Or maybe you think your kitchen would function better with a little tweaking. Once you’ve picked your room, give it a design overhaul. What supplies would you like to store or have in the room? When relocating those items, where could you put them so that the room functions best? If you’re adding or building new pieces of furniture, what will they be made of? Similarly to the treehouse idea, sketch out a design of the room and then write down step by step how to make it happen as well as the cost and supplies you’ll need. Don’t be surprised if you suddenly find yourself inspired enough to start knocking down walls.

4) Remodel a Room in a Friend’s Home

This one is especially fun because you’ll get to work with a friend. Choose a friend and ask if there’s a room in their house that they have dreams of remodeling. If they say yes- ask them more about it. What would they like to do with it? What exact items would their dream room consist of? How big is the room approximately in their house? Would they need to repaint or add/remove carpet? Once they provide you with all of the necessary details, sketch them out a blueprint and a plan the same way you did for your room. Not only have you just flexed some creative muscles, but you’ve made their dream all the more possible.

5) Invent a Social Distance Sport

Another fun one because it may eventually serve as a fun way to stay in touch with your friends. You’re tasked to invent a sport that people can play together while still social distancing. Ask yourself questions like- what is the goal of the sport? Will it include a points system? How many players will you need? Will you need to be physically together or can it be played while everyone is in their respective homes? Will there be teams? What materials are needed? What are the rules? Once you invent your game and flesh it out, test it on some of your friends. Before long you may have some rivalries building and you may be face-timing your friends much more often to keep score.

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1) Add some new furniture pieces

Start a summer DIY project to give your house the new furniture pieces you’ve been searching for. Instead of heading over to Ikea, build yourself that cozy ottoman you’ve been wanting… using an old tire? You can create a new bookshelf purely with wooden crates and using mending plates and nails to connect the crates and wheels at the bottom. Use a ladder and pieces of wood to create a new shelving unit that could serve as a bookshelf or even a display for your succulents if you’re more of a green thumb. Set a goal for yourself this summer to fill your home and outdoor space with all new furniture handmade by you!

2) Remodel Your Bathroom

If you’re a maker looking to undertake a big summer project, consider a bathroom makeover. Makers such as Modern Builds have been able to accomplish a full bathroom renovation with a budget of roughly $500. The construction includes stripping away some of the tiling and countertop, spackling the drywall, adding a wooden panel wall, new countertop, new glass sinks, new shelving, a new showerhead, and shower rod. This project does involve disconnecting the water supply for your sinks and removing your showerhead briefly so make sure your house has a backup bathroom you can use in the meantime!

3) Kitchen Makeover

Another huge summer project you can undertake as a Maker is remodeling your kitchen. Give it a sleek modern look like makers’ Lee & Bri DIY. To give their countertops a modern granite look they started by covering the countertops with a black primer. Then you use three colors of paint and dab them on with sponges to give them a textured look. Next, they took their gloss and applied it over the paint coating. They also created beadboards, attached them around specific areas of the kitchen using glue and a nail gun, and walk their viewers step by step through painting their cabinets and walls.

4) Make some gifts for your friends

If you’re a woodworking Maker, put your skills to the test by setting a goal to make all of your friend’s gifts this summer. Whether you have friends who have a birthday coming up or just want to get them something for the fun of it, there’s nothing quite like a gift made with your own two hands. Perhaps your boyfriend needs a new ‘catch-all’ bin so that they stop losing their phone and keys around their apartment. Maybe your friend, who is now working from home, needs a stylish place to store all their writing utensils. Maker DIY Montreal gives viewers a step by step walkthrough on how to make wooden gifts for any of your friends or family.

The post Maker Projects to Complete This Summer appeared first on Inventionland.

AMIE CHEN

For gamers, digital artists, and coders alike, there is nothing more satisfying than a well-designed UI (user interface). Amie Chen has had much success with her UIs over the years, helping multiple startups and larger companies appeal to their clientele with an easy-to-understand interface. Among her programs are Pretzel, which shows keyboard shortcuts depending on which app is the current focus. She’s also the mind behind Stitches, an HTML template generator with CSS functions. In an interview with Maker Mag, she told them “making products is a byproduct of getting to a good solution, and getting closer to a good solution is what gets me out of bed every day.”

ARIELE ALASKO

On the opposite end of the spectrum of “digital to traditional” lies Ariele Alasko, a woodworker from Brooklyn. What began as a hobby quickly spiraled into a full-time job, with Alasko dedicating her time to crafting both functional and decorative pieces. One of her specialties? Brushes shaped like a “U” with bristles on both sides. But she’s also made cutlery, tables, mobiles, and wall hangings. Her Instagram is updated regularly with pictures of her woodwork as well, some of it for sale. (Occasionally, the updates are of her dog, Mazie.)

MENGLY HERNANDEZ

Most people find repetition to be… well, repetitive. But Mengly Hernandez relishes in it. According to her website, it’s “a meditation through which she explores and mends traumatic memories.” Beyond personal healing, it results in beautiful patterns and designs full of color. Her craft manifests in art installations and sculptures using a mix of fibers and textiles. She’s even dabbled in performance art. While none of her work is for sale, don’t think she’s just letting it sit in a gallery: much of it adorns her home or her body (or that of her children).

SARA VIEIRA

Hailing from Portugal, Sara Vieira is well-known for her unique, front-end apps and advocacy for mental health. In 2018, she released the popular app “Is There Uber In,” which informs travelers whether there’s a ridesharing service available in a certain location. As for mental health, her presentation “Your Brain Does Not Have a Fix Flag” uses pop culture references and easy-to-understand language to tackle a very serious issue. Her retelling of her own struggles with panic disorder and depression are blunt, but the writing and multitude of GIFs make it enjoyable.

JESS EDDY

Continuing our international tour is Jess Eddy, based out of Sydney, Australia. She’s worked on several projects over the years. Among these are “UI Goodies” and “Get a Room.” The former is a catalog of resources for designers and developers build a user interface. The latter allows users to easily book a conference room. In 2018, she told Maker Mag “to me, indie making is about empowerment. It’s not about waiting for someone else to bring a solution or asking for permission. It’s observing your environment and looking for areas to improve upon or innovate it.”

LAUREN HOM

Here’s a fun motto for you: “work hard, snack often.” These are the words that Lauren Hom has dedicated her life to. You’ve probably seen her lettering before- some of her past clients include Starbucks, YouTube, and TIME Magazine. The McCafé products at McDonald’s? That’s her! And true to her motto, her Instagram frequently features her delectable looking “Hom Noms.” Also worth checking out is her “Flour Crowns” series, where she dons delightful headwear… made of bread. Who says female makers can’t be stylish?

LISA HOLBROOK LEWIS

Lisa Holbrook Lewis is a female maker from Oregon who specializes in handmade goods. Her main passion are stump prints. Using stumps or logs found during hikes, she dips them in ink and stamps them to paper. The result is a one-of-a-kind piece of art. But that’s not all she can do with wood. She’s also crafted stools, candle holders, end tables, and planters from scavenged wood. While her Instagram hasn’t been updated for a while, her website “Light & Ink” still has plenty of prints available for sale.

LIMOR FRIED

Known as “Lady Ada,” Limor Fried is more than just an icon among makers. She’s empowering other makers to bring their creations to life. (Much like Inventionland!) Her company, Adafruit, was founded in 2005 and quickly became a staple for the NYC maker scene. In 2016, she was named a White House Champion of Change. Two years later, Forbes Magazine deemed her one of America’s Top 50 Women in Tech. She’s still proud of her honor with Wired Magazine, however, being the first female engineer to grace the cover.

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If you don’t want to spend your hard earned cash on the latest in VR tech, which can be anywhere from $100 to upwards of $800, there’s a DIY for that. In fact, thanks to DIY makers who put their tips out there, you’re able to make your own smartphone compatible VR headset for less than $20?

Here’s all you need for the project: Cardboard (obviously), Velcro strips, tape (packing and scotch), a pair of Biconvex lenses, a head strap, glue, and your smartphone. That’s all, folks! As for additional tools, you’ll only need scissors (which we assume you already have in your house… somewhere), a cutting board (again, you hopefully already have this because you’re a person), and a box knife.

If you saw the word Biconvex and had a small stroke, don’t worry we’ve got you covered. There are several available options for these lenses available on Amazon in a varying range of sizes. Luckily they’re super affordable, if you only need one pair it’s less than $7! If you want to shop around for other options, the creator from Creativity Buzz gives this advice in the description, “You can use any easily available convex lens. If the focal length is low, like 35mm to 50mm then performance is good. However, those are not easily available. So use the lens from small magnifying glass or toy binocular. Those are having a focal length of 100mm to 120mm.”

The velcro strips are also very easy to find, but you could also easily cut up ones you already own if you don’t want to buy a whole pack (you’ll only need one).

The YouTube channel that brings us this innovative masterpiece is called Creative Buzz, which was originally started by Akash Vaghani, a Youtuber from India. The channel first began as an outlet for his love of engineering and a part-time way to pay off his college fees as he studied Civil Engineering. Now the outlet has grown into full-time work with high-quality equipment and more than 800,000 loyal subscribers. They’ve even created a Facebook Page and website for fans who want to continue to follow and support their maker-friendly projects.

After you complete this inexpensive and easy DIY, you’ll be ready to leave our reality behind and explore the virtual worlds available to you. As a pro-tip, the Maker who created this DIY leaves us with some helpful tips on some smartphone compatible VR apps to try with our brand new headsets, “When looking for apps for Google Cardboard I recommend searching Google Cardboard, durovis dive, and virtual reality in the app store in order to find the most results. My favorite apps are Insidious VR, Google Cardboard, and Roller Coaster Simulator.”

We’re trying to level our excitement, but we can’t control ourselves. Get out there and get gaming, fellow Makers!

The post DIY VR Headset Made of… Cardboard? appeared first on Inventionland.

1) Build a bookshelf with ladders and wood

Would you believe that all you need to create your very own bookshelf is two ladders and planks of wood? Step one, buy two ladders. Step two, buy planks of wood that are thin enough to fit within the steps of the ladder and long enough to reach them both when they’re opened. Make sure you measure before you buy the wood. Step three, place the planks of wood within the ladder steps. Now you’ve got a new place to display your books. Extra points if you paint the ladders or wood!

2) Sharpie Mug

Have you seen those adorable customized mugs all over Etsy? Well, it’s really easy to make one of your own. All you need is a coffee cup, a sharpie, and an oven- that’s it. Simply take the sharpie and write or draw whatever you want on your cup. Once whatever you wrote or drew on the mug is dry, pop the mug in the oven and bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Viola! You now have your own customized mug (and maybe even the beginnings of your own Etsy shop, too).

3) Color Your Keys

Do you spend a good five minutes at your front door, struggling to hold all of your belongings as you flip through your various keys? Rather than buy key covers, try this simple DIY project to help. Simply take nail polish in various colors and paint a different color on the head of each key. That’s it. Much easier to find the one purple key than one of the ten silver keys you have.

4) Bathroom Basket

If you want a cute storage bin to display your various soaps and candles, but don’t want to spend money on a wicker basket, there’s a very easy and inexpensive way to make your own. Simply take a cardboard box and a piece of frayed, rustic rope. Using a hot glue gun, glue the rope along the bottom edge of the box. Continue to spin the rope around and glue, working your way up to the top of the box. Once you reach the top, snip off the end of the rope and make sure the pieces are secure. Next, take an old white tank top and cut at the halfway mark. Glue the top two halves together, then fold them over the top of the basket. Now you have a rustic bin for all of your bathroom display needs. Check out the video below to see the steps in more detail:

5) Imprint a photo onto wood

To display a photo with a more rustic feel here’s a super easy way to imprint a photo onto wood. Simply cover the wood with gel medium and place the paper photo face down on its surface. Smooth our all the bubbles firmly and let it dry overnight. In the morning, dab the photo with a wet cloth and gently rub the wetted paper residue off. Cover with Mod Podge and let it dry. And now you’ve got a rustic wooden photo to display however you’d like!

6) Wooden Pallets to Couch

This one may sound beyond your capabilities, but we promise it’s super easy. Simply start by taking some old wooden pallets and painting them with white paint. Then you stack them strategically in a corner of your house and place cushions on top. Suddenly you have a super cute couch and some storage space to boot!

7) Blanket Ladder

Supplies:

– 16 feet of wood and 8-foot furring strips
-Eight (2 and 1/2 inch) wood screws.
-Wood glue
-Stain (Minwax in Dark Walnut)
-Saw (if you don’t own a chop saw you could easily do this project by hand with a hacksaw)

First, cut one 5-foot piece of wood from each of your 8-foot pieces, so you have two five foot pieces. Then cut four 18 inch pieces of wood from the remaining wood. Lay them out on the ground to make a ladder. Put them 12 inches apart and measure 18 inches from the ground and leave 6 inches at the top so that you can hang the blanket from the bottom bar. Dab a little bit of wood glue on the end of each bar then attach with a screw from the outside of each side piece going straight into the center of the end of each bar. Stain it the color of your choice and let it dry and air out completely.

The post Easy DIY Tips and Tricks to Make a Maker Out of You appeared first on Inventionland.

CHOCOLATE MAKING

Chocolates already sell like hotcakes around Valentine’s Day, but did you know it’s popular to make your own in some parts of the world? In Japan, Valentine’s Day is reserved for women presenting gifts to men. (Men return the favor on White Day, held one month later.) One of the most popular gifts is homemade chocolate, which already works as a different and heartfelt present. However, making chocolates together with your significant other could also work as a fun date, whether alone at home or at a class.

POTTERY

If the 1990 film Ghost taught us anything, it’s that couple’s pottery is one of the most romantic date ideas in history. If you’d like to recreate the iconic scene between you and your date, many pottery classes are offered around or on Valentine’s Day. A quick search should help you find a session held near you. For a more intimate experience, purchase some clay and sculpt together at home. Make sure the clay is oven-safe or can otherwise be hardened without a kiln.

GOGGLEWORKS DATE NIGHTS

For those in and around Reading, PA, the GogglleWorks Center for the Arts facility is offering special Valentine’s Day classes for couples. These include fused glass and ceramics and offer drinks and snacks during the two-hour program. Also included in the price are a studio tour and unique molds for your heartfelt project. There’s even chocolates and a champagne toast to really make the evening pop! (No pun intended.)

JEWELRY MAKING

It’s surprisingly easy to make funky and one-of-a-kind jewelry using materials around the house. Some supplies may need to be bought, but most are easily found at craft stores. Use guides available online or the aid of an instructor to craft a wearable masterpiece. Then, if the moment is right, use your newly-minted jewelry or another piece entirely to ask that eternal of questions. Or don’t- do what feels right for you as a couple. No pressure.

MAKE A CUSTOM PERFUME/COLOGNE

This is another option that works either at home or as a class. Our sense of smell is linked closely with our memory, so try making a perfume with elements that remind you of your partner. Their favorite flower or food, or maybe something that reminds you of your first date with them. Alternatively, you could make scented candles, if colognes and perfumes aren’t your style.

PAINTING

Painting is a fantastic date idea as it can be modified to fit any couple. Keep things simple at home with a few brushes and a couple of episodes of The Joy of Painting with Bob Ross or take a class with other groups. Bring out the wine or champagne for a little extra fun. For the especially daring, body paints are a wonderful way to bring some sensuality and intimacy to your artwork. Speaking of wine…

WINEMAKING

Well, it may be difficult to age an entire bottle of wine in time for Valentine’s Day, but sealing one away on the day itself could be an interesting date of its own. As a couple, prepare the wine for fermentation or bottle it and put it in storage. On a special date in the future- your anniversary, for example, or even next Valentine’s Day- enjoy it together as a testament to your enduring romance.

What are your ideas for maker Valentine’s Day dates? Let us know in the comments!

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But what is the maker movement? It’s the technological side of DIY, with an emphasis on creating new hardware and tinkering with the old. There is some overlap with hacker culture, but hackers are more concerned with software rather than physical tech. Everything from robotics and 3D printing to metalworking and arts-and-crafts have their place in the maker movement. As the name implies, it’s about creating something new, rather than depending on the old. It’s about creativity and invention.

Obviously, none of these activities are new. Inventors and creative types have existed since the dawn of humankind. But the maker movement is the first time such a large and dedicated base is devoted to invention and production. Previously, inventors were considered odd and quirky, operating outside of normal trends. Now, they’re everywhere, and seen as visionaries. Revolutionaries, even. It all depends on who you ask.

That said, these modern inventors still face many of the problems their predecessors did–namely, securing funds. Not everybody is able to become an eccentric billionaire with a mansion full of strange devices. This is where Kickstarter comes in. An individual or group comes up with a product, technological or otherwise, and builds a prototype. They’re unable to convince any companies to buy and produce their product. Instead, they turn to Kickstarter, where anybody interested in their idea can invest in making it a reality and gain a few perks along the way.

Kickstarter was founded by Perry Chen, Yancey Strickler, and Charles Adler in 2009. It was an immediate success, with the New York Times calling it “the people’s NEA.” Reportedly, more than $4 billion in pledges have been made, across more than 250,000 projects. The very first successful Kickstarter was darkpony’s “Drawing for Dollars,” which exceeded its goal of $20 by 75%. Compare this to the most successful project, the Pebble Time smartwatch, which made over 4000% of its funding. Humble beginnings, indeed.

For the most part, it’s a win-win scenario. Inventors can promote their product and offer incentives for higher donations. Interested consumers can pay what they want, often getting an early version of the product in return. The inventors get funding, the consumers get the product. With Kickstarter’s policy of money only going to the host if the project is completely funded, there’s an extra layer of security in case of failure. And failures there have been- most notably, Central Standard Timing, which raised more than a million dollars before being canceled due to mismanagement.

Still, for every bomb, there’s one that manages to succeed. This has opened the door for hundreds, if not thousands of members of the maker movement to bring their creations to life. While this does saturate the market to a degree, it’s also allowed for some amazing advancements in just a few years. For example, coding was once a hobby for only the most dedicated computer nerds, requiring advanced knowledge of multiple programming languages. Now, kids can learn to code their own websites or games using toys or online tools. This, in turn, inspires a new generation of the maker movement.

Kickstarter and similar sites are not exclusive to the maker movement, nor are they the root source of the cause. Rather, the two coexist and work together to improve lives. Quite literally in some cases- a successful Kickstarter might help both the inventor pay their rent and result in a device that helps those with a disability. Yes, the platform has flaws, and the maker movement isn’t devoid of failure either. For every success story you hear, there’s at least a dozen more that have flopped.

The maker movement will only continue to grow over the next decade as new generations with interests in technology and creativity come of age. Some may even be so young as to not remember a time when Kickstarter was commonplace. There’s a new era of self-made millionaires out there, just waiting to be discovered. You just need to find the right link to their page.

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What’s the difference between a MakerBar and a Hackerspace?

In short, there really isn’t one. Think of a Hackerspace as a smaller subsection of the Maker movement- something that is a Hackerspace can also be called a MakerBar, but the reverse isn’t always true. Essentially, a while a MakerBar focuses broadly on any DIY project, a Hackerspace focuses solely on DIY projects involving technology. So, while a MakerBar may include woodworking, a Hackerspace will solely include things like 3D Printing, Laser cutters, programming, digital art, etc.

Where did they come from?

According to Makerspaces, the origins of hackerspaces can be traced back to 1995 Berlin where the world’s first hackerspace, C-Base, was launched. It was originally started as a community for computer programmers to come together and meet, work, and share infrastructure. At the time, “hack” originally referred to making technology do something it wasn’t meant to do. Over time, however, 3D printing and CNC routers became more affordable to the point where these spaces became part of the Maker Movement.

What are the benefits?

There are several benefits to the spread of these spaces. The first was shared among their original founders at C-Base: these spaces create a community. It allows programmers or digital artists to share their interests and ideas with one another in a safe space. It even allows them to collaborate with one another on projects and learn new skills. In a New York Times piece, Mitch Altman, founder of Noisebridge in San Francisco, states of his hackerspace: “It’s a community supporting people in exploring and doing what they love. That’s the main thing, and you can feel it.”

Mr. Dougherty, of Make magazine, echoed the same sentiments on the benefits of hackerspaces. “The big value is community. A hobby starts as a very personal thing. As soon as you express that interest, you begin meeting people who share that interest. It can really help with motivation.”

Not only do Hackerspaces provide a much-needed sense of community to tech workers, but it also saves a lot of them time, money, and space. When the Hackerspace community originally began to spread, they weren’t popping up in rural areas with large houses and plenty of space. They were solely popping up in urban areas. This is because Makers in Urban areas are severely lacking the space to create. The ideal situation is to be able to tinker away in one’s garage, but people in Urban areas like New York City barely have enough living space for themselves, let alone all of their various tools.

A lot of Hackerspaces operate similarly to how a gym will. You can sign up and pay a monthly membership fee for unlimited use of the facility and its tools. This gives a lot of city Makers not only a space to work in, but also access to all of the tools they need without having to actually go out and purchase them themselves.

In addition, these spaces also serve as great networking opportunities for engineers and inventors. They’re great places to meet like-minded individuals and find others to collaborate with. In fact, business-like Pinterest and MakerBot have grown out of Hackerspaces.

Root Access, a hackerspace that runs out of Fresno, CA, it an excellent example of all of these benefits at work. The space is open for members to use freely and they also teach beneficial classes such as Electronic Hobbyist, Intro to Soldering, 3D Printing, and more. Andrew Runner, an employee with Root Access, spoke to us regarding the benefits of Hackerspaces, stating, “We see a group of people that haven’t had a space to meet besides work or tech conferences. People who do net security, robotics, and cutting-edge tech but didn’t have a venue to meet people of shared interests. People gain skills that are obscure and difficult to learn on your own. Our community provides friendly help in a not usually social scene. Jacob Joaquin has dazzled us with his group, Art Code Tech, fusing code and creativity on a monthly basis.”

Along with the Maker Movement itself, these spaces continue to spread through urban and rural areas, bringing a much-needed sense of community, collaboration, and resources along with them. And the owners of these spaces continue to work hard to teach new skills and pass their expertise along to their fellow creative professionals. Say what you will about Hackerspaces and the Maker Movement in general, but they certainly aren’t hacks.

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