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Makerspace communities and ecosystem strategy: co-creating social and operational infrastructure
Thesis   Open access

Makerspace communities and ecosystem strategy: co-creating social and operational infrastructure

Mary Kahle
Master of Science (M.S.), Drexel University
Jun 2023
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/00001690
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Abstract

Social research Co-design Design ecosystems Design--Research Diversity Equity Inclusion Interdisciplinary--Collaboration Makerspaces
Makerspaces have emerged as institutions with the potential to foster optimal environments for accessible STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) education, cross-/inter-disciplinary collaboration, economic growth, and entrepreneurial support. With access to resources, tools, and skill-based programming, these spaces could create more equitable futures of maker education and reintroduce systems of local manufacturing while encouraging more sustainable production practices. However, these places face many barriers to long-lasting success including universal standards of operating, mismatched resources to community needs, scalability, accessibility, and focused efforts to support diversity, equity, and inclusion. This research aims to capture a holistic view of the issues facing makerspaces at various scales. This study deploys multiple qualitative design research methods for more thorough data collection, contributing to the existing research pool, with the aim of guiding important future research areas. Through literature review, interviews, observational studies, collage analysis, and participatory/co-design workshops, the co-development of an ideation card deck emerges as a boundary object for all stakeholders within the makerspace ecosystem to use when addressing the systemic barriers preventing makerspaces from reaching their potential.

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