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.

1. 2016
FABLABS

2. FABLABS
The 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.
Include 2pics

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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

10. 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.

11. 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?

12. 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.

13. 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.

14. 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.

15. THE OUTPUS
Group 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.

16. THE OUTPUS
Group 1: Lets make robots!

17. THE OUTPUS
Group 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

18. THE OUTPUS
Group 1: Let’s make furniture!

19. THE OUTPUS
Group 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.

20. THE OUTPUS
Group 3: Let’s make a tool that makes people lives better!

21. THE OUTPUS
Group 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.

22. THE OUTPUS
Group 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.

23. THE OUTPUS
Group 5: Let’s make something with a FabLab intern!

24. THE OUTPUS
Group 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.

25. THE OUTPUS
Group 6: Let’s make an empowerment tool!

26. THE OUTPUS
Group 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

27. THE OUTPUS
Group 7: Let’s make kitchen products!
Spoon Phehlo Pin

28. 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.

29. 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.