Redfront is delighted to be working with the RSA to build on the work we’ve been engaged in over the past year developing ideas and approaches for a more open and active participation in maker spaces. We are now focussing on how best we can apply this in the South West.
During 2013, along with visits to maker spaces across the UK and abroad, we’ve also been writing and speaking on the topic of “Design for Open Making”. This included a talk by Simon at the launch of London’s new Open Institute, and a blog post outlining some of the principles of designing for open participation. In her role as SW Fellowship Councillor, Phillippa Rose has also been working with The Great Recovery Programme on national RSA policy development around stimulating an open maker culture.
This work connects with our core values of open, collaborative design, experimentation and connecting people. We’re looking forward to taking this project forward in the South West and sharing practical insights as we go.
We’re bringing our work together under the banner of MakeSouthWest so that we’re able to maintain a single point of access for anyone interested in engaging with the project. Over the next few months we’ll be consulting existing maker spaces in the South West, helping to build the network, and developing online resources to support new ideas and experiments around making.