Fablabs in design education

DS 76: Proceedings of E&PDE 2013, the 15th International Conference on Engineering and Product Design Education, Dublin, Ireland, 05-06.09.2013

Year: 2013
Editor: John Lawlor, Ger Reilly, Robert Simpson, Michael Ring, Ahmed Kovacevic, Mark McGrath, William Ion, David Tormey, Erik Bohemia, Chris McMahon, Brian Parkinson
Author: Mostert-van der Sar, Manon; Mulder, Ingrid; Remijn, Leo; Troxler, Peter
Series: E&PDE
Institution: 1: Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences, Rotterdam Netherlands; 2: Delft University of Technology, Delft, Netherlands
Section: Rapid Prototyping
Page(s): 629-634
ISBN: 978-1-904670-42-1

Abstract

The third industrial revolution, triggered by Internet communication and renewable energies, can be experienced in so-called FabLabs that empower users to ‘make almost anything’. Although this does not change the need for designers to have making and prototyping skills, there is no doubt the revolution impacts the design profession in terms of skills required and design methodologies and practices. So, what does this mean for design education? In the current work, we elaborate upon the role FabLabs can play in design education. We developed an elective course and reflect upon the lessons learned in this particular course, but also how the peer learning enhanced a lab community. Interestingly, the FabLab became an interface to the city, a creative hotspot open to practicing, making, co-creation and participatory design skills.

Keywords: FabLab, education, making, prototyping, tools, DIY

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