Open, Small-scale Fabrication: A Catalyst for Educating Communities about the Creation of Products

Abstract

We introduce an experimental platform called Project Provenance that connects small-scale makers with people in their local community to share information about the products they make. The findings from a series of interviews with both digital fabricators and more traditional craftsmen are presented. A strong desire to promulgate ‘making stories’ was discovered. This paper also explores associated technologies, particularly product supply chain transparency through open linked data. There is potential for promoting small-scale urban fabrication, made increasingly viable through digital methods, by connecting makers with people in their cities. This could enable ‘making education’ at all ages, employment and empathetic connections within different sectors of local communities