Maker spaces offer a space to bring together people who love making things. These are programmers, engineers, builders, designers, artists, bakers, and anyone who values creativity and innovation.
While some makerspaces focus on projects that are STEM related, others are more geared towards arts and craft projects. Regardless of the focus, makers create in makerspaces to learn skills that they can apply to their everyday lives.
Design Thinking
Design thinking is a creative process that uses a variety of technological methods and tools to identify, create and solve problems. Its principles include a user-centric focus, rapid prototyping and quick iteration.
Maker spaces in education can range from dedicated areas within schools to groupings of flexible furniture pieces that can be used for short-term projects. Employers may choose to build labs stocked with maker equipment like 3D printers, laser cutters and hand tools to promote flexibility and collaboration among employees.
Students can learn to explore objects and systems in a variety of ways by using cognitive strategies such as Parts, Purposes, Complexities. These strategies help students uncover the design-like workings of things, helping them understand the malleability of materials and how they can be manipulated to meet specific needs or goals.
Problem Solving
Problem solving skills are a critical part of our everyday lives. They enable us to identify trends in the world and to understand cause-and-effect relationships.
We can also use problem solving to anticipate future events and to change the environment for the better. These abilities help us develop a sense of agency.
The maker movement is a community of creators, innovators, engineers, tinkerers and hackers who share a common desire to design creative solutions to real-world problems. They often work collaboratively to create products that range from keychains to 3D printed puzzles, and robotic limbs.
While many maker spaces include technology, the most valuable skill is a mindset that solves problems in new ways and makes them real. This is an approach that employers have highlighted as one of the most in-demand skills in 2025.
Collaboration
Collaboration is a complex process that requires a variety of skills. This includes a clear definition of roles, strong communication skills and a high level of commitment to the project.
In addition, it’s important to establish a set of expectations for participants in maker space. This can help ensure that the process is as smooth and productive as possible.
Studies have found that collaboration is most successful when individuals have very clearly defined roles. This helps ensure that each person’s contributions are fully recognized and appreciated.
Creativity
Making is a creative process that encourages students to explore and experiment with new ideas. In maker spaces, this can include designing digital projects, completing physical projects, or using recycled materials to create unique products.
When young people use a maker space, they are able to learn and develop skills that they can use in their adult lives. They also have the opportunity to make connections with other members of the community and get their creative juices flowing.
The best maker spaces provide high tech tools that can help students complete their projects. However, there are also no-tech maker tools that can inspire creativity and learning.
Motor Skills
The ability to use your hands and fingers to manipulate objects is a vital part of being a maker. Hand tools such as screwdrivers, pliers and hammers provide children with an opportunity to develop their fine motor skills, which can be applied in everyday life.
Fine motor skills include the coordination of small movements in the hands, wrists and other smaller muscles. These skills are often developed during everyday activities, such as coloring, writing, turning pages and using electronic devices.
Gross motor skills involve larger movements of the arms, legs and body parts such as running and crawling. They develop gradually during infancy, toddlerhood and childhood.