Grant: Engage Grants Program

This research project will develop a system that captures and visualizes workflows in fabrication studios. As*part of the Maker Movement, a growing number of people visit fabrication studios, community spaces with*software and hardware technologies (CAD/CAM software, 3D printers, laser cutters, electronics etc.) to engage*in the creative production of interactive projects such as building toys, instruments, installations, and*appliances. However, novice makers often face several challenges for engaging in such do-it-yourself (DIY)*activities. The workflow for building DIY projects is complex, nonlinear, and an interconnected process*involving multiple steps such as modeling, identification of tools, setup, building, and verification. Existing*software tools such as Autodesk Inventor, AutoCAD and Fusion 360 help makers with specific individual steps*in the process such as designing products. However, there is a lack of tools that make visible the entire*workflow of the making process in fabrication studios. As a result, novice makers often struggle to*independently walk-up-and-use the facilities in fabrication studios. In partnership with Autodesk Research, our*goal is to develop a system to create tangible representations of workflows in a fabrication studio. In the*short-term, such a system can support and guide novice makers to walk-up-and-use facilities in fabrication*studios to make anything. In the long-term, such systems will empower everyone to become makers and in*turn, create means for people to become economically self-sufficient, creative, and producers of technology and*knowledge.