2016

FABLABS

FABLABSThe South African government has realised the potential of personal fabrication, and as a result, has installed Fab Labs all around the country. Local Fab Labs are expected to promote innovation.

But our labs don’t have a vast database of instruction materials from which to make or learn about the process of fabrication. Another problem is that users do not necessarily use the provided machinery in combination in order to realise the full potential of the facilities (which is... to make just about anything). As a result, users leave the facilities with a limited understanding about the potential of the labs, and do not use it to maximum benefit.

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THE BRIEF

Summarise the overarching aim of the project.

Students were required to resolve the design of a prototypable artefact (Fab Lab community), to inspire innovation (attract users to the Lab) and to showcase the potential of the laboratory machinery. The aim is to empower communities that have access to Fab Labs by allowing potential Lab users to recreate these artifacts, which in the process of making, allows them to evolve the item or create spin offs, as well as understand what the potential of the Fab Lab facilities are.

THE BRIEF

Group 1: Let’s make robots!

Electronic projects may seem hard – and robotics projects even impossible. Students were asked to design and make a simple robot to introduce a young audience to the potentially easy aspects of robotics and electronics. And then figure out how to upscale their designed artefact so that it becomes a social activity. Primary things to be learned here include: the use of the Fab Lab machinery, the basics of robotics, electronic components and soldering techniques.

THE BRIEF

Group 2: Let’s make furniture!

This group was required to create a multifunctional collapsible chair, that can work in multiple contexts (such as pubs, schools, homes etc). Things to be learned here include: the use of the Fab Lab machinery, ergonomics, appropriate materials selection, the crafting of 3D forms from 2D substrates.

THE BRIEF

Group 3: Let’s make a tool that makes people lives better!

This group was asked to design an object that made the lives of informal plastic recyclers better. Conversations with target group were required, and the underlying daily need that this audience required needed to be addressed. The resulting design solution then had to be made in the FabLab, so that other people who faced similar problems could remake the artefact, and learn about the FabLab facilities in the process.

THE BRIEF

Group 4: Let’s make a security system!

Students in this group were tasked to research South Africa’s most pressing security issues - with a particular focus on the residents of Thokoza and Tembisa – and then design a solution to address this

THE BRIEF

Group 5: Let’s make something with a FabLab intern!

Some of the interns that work in FabLabs have developed some fantastic design products. Students in this group were required to work with them to help upscale and potentially market their ideas.

THE BRIEF

Group 6: Let’s make an empowerment tool!

This group was required to design and prototype an empowerment tool for women. How could they help, say, a young woman learn about replacing the tire on her car, when she does not have access to a car?

THE BRIEF

Group 7: Let’s make kitchen products!

Beautiful tools for making pap are not readily available in most of our home-stores. This group was task with designing and refining a desirable multifunctional pap-making tool.

THE PROCESS

Students conducted a site visit – to better understand the facilities made available by the FabLabs, as well as to experience the community that surrounds the lab.

THE PROCESS

They were then tasked to research the underlying problem (as set out in the brief), as well as the underlying need of each of the communities that would engage with their design challenge.

Groups then underwent a brainstorming process, to generate as many ideas as they could in response to their research, And finally, began prototyping their design solutions in the FabLab.

THE OUTPUSGroup 1: Lets make robots!

This group produced a simple and easy to build robotics platform, that introduces children to the basic concepts used in electronics.

The outcome also intends to make this a social activity – friends can fabricate toy robots too – and race them.

THE OUTPUSGroup 1: Lets make robots!

THE OUTPUSGroup 2: Let’s make furniture!

This group produced a collapsible and multifunctional chair, aimed at schools and children in Thembisa. It was inspired by Lego, Tetris and dominoes. The seating system is based on cubes that hug and kiss XOXO

THE OUTPUSGroup 1: Let’s make furniture!

THE OUTPUSGroup 3: Let’s make a tool that makes people lives better!

This group produced an automatic one-way ratchet and pawl brake system for trolley wheels, to make the lives of informal waste recyclers lives easier. Their conversations with this this audience, said that their most pressing concern was pulling their laden trolleys uphill. Once they started, they couldn’t stop, as their trolleys would run back down hill, and potentially damage anything in its wake.

THE OUTPUSGroup 3: Let’s make a tool that makes people lives better!

THE OUTPUSGroup 4: Let’s make a security system!

Inspired by radio controlled cars, this group developed a remotely activated alarm system, that consist of a switch-controlled - door stopper (activator), and a bedroom lamp/alarm that activates once the door-stopper is triggered.

THE OUTPUSGroup 5: Let’s make something with a FabLab intern!

This group helped an intern refine and improve a toy go-cart, that he was in the process of developing, while this project was on the go.

THE OUTPUSGroup 5: Let’s make something with a FabLab intern!

THE OUTPUSGroup 6: Let’s make an empowerment tool!

Group 6 developed a public art piece installation on the road leading to the FabLab. These structures can be decorated with beadwork, crochet work etc. The aim is to attract women to the labs, and to expose them to the potential use of the facilities.

THE OUTPUSGroup 6: Let’s make an empowerment tool!

THE OUTPUSGroup 7: Let’s make kitchen products!

Group 7 understood that high-end design is not only about keeping things simple, but also keeping it inspirational. They designed a multifunctional kitchen utensil that would be able to make 3 different kinds of pap. They had decided that the utensil had to be designed in such a way that it leaves potential for the item to grow and evolve

THE OUTPUSGroup 7: Let’s make kitchen products!

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EVALUATION

While the FabLab community provides incredible opportunity for design innovation, as well as the opportunity to actually realise a fabricated artefact, the amount of time required to fulfil the needs of the brief is perhaps inefficient.

Most students undergo a steep learning curve (some students experience electronic-based project for the first time) – and as a result are unable to complete and craft their design solutions to a professional standard.

THANKS

A huge thank you to Neville Govender – without whom most of the FabLabs in the greater Johannesburg vicinity would not exist. Also a big thank you to Fabio, our Columbian friend who is currently helping to improve the Fablab facilities, and finally, to the people of Tembisa, Thokoza and Tsakani, for letting us invade their communities for he duration of the 10% project.