This paper sheds light on the new possibilities for user research activities facilitated by access to makerspaces. We present four case studies of user research conducted in two university-based makerspaces as examples of makerspace-driven user research. Further, by comparing the cases to three classical user research activities, namely observation, prototyping, and user journey mapping, we highlight the main aspects of this new context of user research. We find that accessibility to makerspaces enables user researchers to build low-fidelity yet high-functionality prototypes for exploring users’ preferences and motivations in controlled and repeatable ways. These prototypes fall into the category of experience prototypes, but they have greater functionality than the prototypes previously used in this field. Thus, a user researcher can explore a topic more systematically and in a more hypothesis-driven manner. In summary, this study encourages stakeholders in the early stages of product development to consider a makerspace as a resource for user-related requirement elicitation rather than for only specific product iteration.

There is an increasing demand for humanitarian aid around the world. At the same time, the number of makerspaces has been growing exponentially. Recently, the humanitarian sector has become interested in how these new design spaces can help crisis-affected populations. Despite the emergence of humanitarian makerspaces, there is little research to date that documents their outcomes and impacts. A multi-case study approach is taken to analyze three makerspaces that support migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers in Greece. A maturity grid tool is used to show that humanitarian makerspaces are driving impact in six key areas. The study underlines how these makerspaces support different design activities and have different outcomes. It also considers the challenges which are preventing humanitarian makerspaces from achieving their ultimate goals, drawing attention to the need for an enabling ecosystem in both the local and humanitarian context. This research brings clarity to the poorly understood phenomenon of humanitarian makerspaces and highlights the important role of design in humanitarian interventions. It also reveals practical insights for humanitarian organizations who are considering setting up makerspaces in crisis-affected communities.

An essential part of any space in which physical prototyping and prototype-driven product development is being conducted is the education of its users in the necessary skills to fully utilise the material resources of the space. This paper describes how two different skills were transferred between five projects in our research laboratory, TrollLABS. Based on the observed skill-transfers in the production of PCBs and use of RF-communication in mechatronics projects certain tendencies emerged: How the use of forced vocal experience sharing; And in-person transferring of skills has impacted the acquired skills of the learner. The observations further show that through the guidance of a more experienced user the learner is able to make “skill-jumps”: Intermediate skill steps, as well as underlying detailed knowledge, are skipped and the learner is able to reach a high skill level in a shorter time than the original acquirer of the skill. Furthermore, skills are retained in the space through cross-generational collaboration and communication. This article aims to share these insights and provide a starting point for answering some of the challenges of modern maker spaces.