Making things in Fab Labs: a case study on sustainability and co-creation

Fleischmann, Katja, Hielscher, Sabine, and Merritt, Timothy (2016) Making things in Fab Labs: a case study on sustainability and co-creation. Digital Creativity, 27 (2). pp. 113-131.

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Abstract

Digital fabrication laboratories (such as Fab Labs) are a global initiative of workshops that offer open access to technologies to produce objects from beginning idea to final production. Fab Labs encourage open and free knowledge-sharing among 'experts' and the general public. Claims are being made about community-based digital fabrication workshops transforming practices of design, innovation, production and consumption, while describing positive impacts on the environment and social goals. Research that examines such claims is sparse. This paper explores realities of using digital fabrication technologies within a Fab Lab. It draws on a case study that describes practical outcomes of a design workshop in which a multidisciplinary team engaged in issues of sustainable design and processes of co-creation to design and fabricate a prototype. This experience provides insight into the impact of digital fabrication technologies within a sustainable and co-creational design context and critical reflections are presented.

Item ID: 43049
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 1744-3806
Keywords: Fab Lab; sustainability; co-creation; digital fabrication technologies
Date Deposited: 16 Aug 2016 00:10
FoR Codes: 33 BUILT ENVIRONMENT AND DESIGN > 3303 Design > 330310 Interaction and experience design @ 100%
SEO Codes: 97 EXPANDING KNOWLEDGE > 970112 Expanding Knowledge in Built Environment and Design @ 100%
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