The document discusses the future of making things and the role that cities could play in supporting making. It notes that making is not isolated from pressures like capitalism and consumerism, and can sometimes lead to or hide behind consumerism. The document suggests cities should engage and educate citizens, encourage corporations to be better citizens, financially support small independent makers, and help build new visions of the future by supporting small open projects. The role of cities is to foster making for conservation and opening closed markets, not for profits or investment.

1. Sense & Sensibility:
The future of making things
@iotwatch
alex@designswarm.com

2. First UK distributor of the
Arduino (2007-2010)
Product & interaction
designer
Founder Good Night
Lamp & consultant
designswarm

3. NB: I know as much as you
do about the future.
I know nothing about how
you live.

5. Nations are rarely islands.
Everyone has a neighbour.

6. ‘Making’ is not an island,
isolated from the pressures
of capitalism and consumerism.

7. It leads to consumerism

8. It is hiding behind a story
of education and
development.

9. It is hiding behind crowdfunding
and investment.

10. It is hiding behind a story
of invention.

11. And it doesn’t always work.

12. Or worse.

13. So where does making belong?

14. Where politicians won’t go.

15. For conservation of the few.

16. Where open means opening up
a closed slow market.

17. Because we have the power of ideas,
we need to be careful about where
we bring them to life.

18. What is the role of the city?

19. Engage and educate citizens.

20. Get corporations to be better citizens.

21. Financially support making small,
open things.

22. Build new visions for the future.

23. Support making small, open things.

24. Thank you.
@iotwatch
alex@designswarm.com