March 28, 2019March 28, 2019 by Samantha McClary

Highlighting the FabLab: A Fabulous Resource

The UIUC FabLab is filled with unique resources not available anywhere else on campus. Even so, this semester is the first time many people in our course stepped foot in the building. I wanted to use my “Once a Semester Activity” to highlight this phenomenal place, the people inside who make it so accessible, the amazing projects that are done in this building on a regular basis, and how this location has been an asset to our course.

First Time FabLab Goers

The basics of the FabLab can be found on their website, but I think personal anecdotes are also useful in understanding the place itself. For me, the first time I entered the FabLab was in November 2017 when I was speaking with the staff about setting up a space for Stay Glassy. Stay Glassy is a part of the Illinois Enactus non-profit, creating products from glass waste. This was incredible of the FabLab to offer some of their space to student makers who had never known this space existed previously. Everything about the building is about enabling others to make what they want by giving them the skills and equipment to do it on their own. I felt this from the moment I entered the building, and while this was a niche reason to visit in the first place, I think that is common in what draws many people from campus. When you are looking for a specific tool, this place will catch your eye. When you are looking for a creative outlet, this place will catch your eye. When you are looking to make something, this place will catch your eye. While our BADM357 course brought many students for the first time, many students stumble upon this location on their own pursuing their own passion projects

Surveying some of the individuals in the FabLab, I found a common thread. Each had come either for a course, through an organization, or to work on an individual passion project. While each specific reason was different, there were many common feelings. A lot of students felt overwhelmed walking in for the first time. This was fueled mainly by the sheer number of resources, being in a new space for the first time, and being surrounded by people they had not met before. The inside of the building is also quite a juxtaposition to the outside, and the transition can be a lot. However, after overcoming the initial shock, understanding the layout, and learning the etiquette, all of the students I interviewed said they loved coming back. Going to a new place with tools you don’t know how to use can inherently be overwhelming, but the culture of the space is welcoming and fun. It is open to experimentation and artistic expression.

FabLab Etiquette

When you enter the FabLab for the first time, you may be overwhelmed as well. For that, I’d like to present a list of “What to do as a Newcomer” that will perhaps ease your transition to the space.

Sign In – When you first arrive, you should sign-in on one of the tablets near the door. Signing in does not notify anyone but rather helps the FabLab keep track of who is coming and going from their facility. You don’t have to write in a particular reason for being there or fill all of the fields, but signing in is a courtesy.
Find a Staff Member – There is an electronic board across from the main door that lists the staff on hand. While you may not see any of them immediately, it’s also very possible there are staff members around that aren’t listed on the board. The best thing to do is ask the first person you see if they can point you to a staff member. Many people in the FabLab are return visitors and can likely point you to someone if they themselves are not staff!
Ask for a Tour – Wandering is great, but inefficient. The FabLab is filled with tools, and it’s likely you won’t know what they all do at first glance. Asking a staff member for a quick tour as a first-timer is a very easy ask and useful even if you are going in for one very specific task. Then if you ever need to go again, you’ll be familiar with the layout and the space’s capabilities!
Test Yourself – Try a new example tutorial to test yourself on a new tool! If there’s a tool you are interested in but have no idea how to use it, check the tutorials page on the FabLab website. They have step-by-step instructions on anything from using SewArt to embroider clothing to creating silicone moulds to solar powered USB chargers. Starting here to learn a tool or technique is a great choice, and you can ask staff if you get stuck on any particular part.
Pay for Materials or Tool Time – Some of the equipment and materials requires payment. Everything is very inexpensive for how incredible the resources are! Details about rates are posted around the shop by the machines they apply to while materials can be bought from a staff member. The FabLab accepts cash and card so it’s very accessible!
Sign Out – Congratulations! You completed your first FabLab visit and hopefully overcame the first-time jitters while learning something new! On your next visit you can keep exploring, learning, and pointing out staffers to newcomers who see you as a senior FabLab-er.

Who’s at the FabLab?

The FabLab is filled with passionate individuals. In my visits, I have met people creating things for class, for fun, for profit, for their mom, for anything! There’s no good reason to not hang out at the FabLab! The FabLab is a community space, and they truly turn no one away. It is not just a student resource. It is open to community members and regularly hosts programming for kids in the area. One of the biggest users of the FabLab in the summer is summer campers! FabLab staff organizes many weekly camps all summer long to introduce kids to the space and teach them some really awesome skills. They also organize workshops for undergraduate student groups and you can browse the topics here.