The ‘Making Room’ exhibition created an interactive maker space in a London shop, engaging visitors in furniture creation during the London Design Festival. Through hands-on workshops, participants crafted various objects to foster community and creativity. The project aimed to showcase the experiential side of design, allowing individuals to take home their made items.
The ‘Making Room’ exhibition, held by designers Andu Masebo and Mikey Krzyzanowski during the London Design Festival, transformed a vacant shop on Brompton Road into an interactive maker space. Visitors participated in workshops to create furniture and other objects, which were displayed in the space throughout the nine-day event. The initiative aimed to not only furnish the area but also to foster conversations about creativity in design. By the end of the festival, the shop was filled with handmade items ranging from vases to lamps, allowing participants to take their creations home while showcasing the value of experiential learning in design. The exhibition featured workshops led by various designers, promoting hands-on learning experiences. Masebo highlighted the excitement of participants engaging with tools, noting their readiness to express creativity with minimal guidance. As the space evolved, it facilitated community events, performances, and social gatherings, illustrating the project’s goal to highlight the relational aspect of design rather than simply presenting static objects. Looking to the future, the curators expressed interest in expanding the ‘Making Room’ concept to other cities and online platforms, believing in its potential to inspire creativity in diverse environments. ‘The intention was give people the agency to make furniture and objects to be lived with, not just looked at,’ Krzyzanowski noted, emphasising the experiential aspect of the exhibition.
The Making Room exhibition was part of the London Design Festival, aimed to create an engaging and interactive environment where visitors could contribute to furniture design. This approach contrasts with traditional design exhibitions that focus solely on showcasing finished products, highlighting the collaborative process of making. The exhibition sought to open conversations between participants and designers, promoting inclusivity within the design sector.
The ‘Making Room’ exhibition successfully merged creativity with active participation during the London Design Festival, allowing visitors to explore their design skills in a communal setting. The initiative showcased the potential for design to be interactive and collaborative, while also envisioning future possibilities for similar workshops globally. By prioritising hands-on learning, the exhibition emphasised the importance of making connections within the design community.
Original Source: www.dezeen.com