The Maker Movement
The Maker Movement is a trend which emerged in the late 19th Century as individuals who created market products that have been recreated or assembled using broken or raw materials. ‘The work of today is the history of tomorrow, and we are its makers.” — Juliette Gordon Low stated, Founder of the American Girl Scouts. The aim was to create products which were unique and differed from those being mass produced at large factories. However, the movement allowed artists to express an exceptional sense of personality and individuality throughout their work.
“You do have to try, learn, and improve. You do have to put yourself out there and risk failure. But in this new world, you don’t have to go bankrupt if you fail because you can fail small. You can innovate as a hobby. Imagine that: a nation of innovation hobbyists working to make their lives more meaningful and the world a better place. Welcome to the maker revolution.” ― Mark Hatch, The Maker Movement Manifesto: Rules for Innovation in the New World of Crafters, Hackers, and Tinkerers
What Hatch is claiming is the inspiration behind the Maker Movement. The idea was to be creative and make things with different objects which would allow for pieces of art that had never been seen before. This idea is relative to today as many designers and artists work for themselves. We live in an age where ‘freelance’ is admired and often carried out, as designers are sick of commercial design. Peter Skillen states that ‘the ‘maker movement’ leads to a new pedagogy — ‘Tinkquiry’ — Tinkering + Inquiry’. This is a great way to describe the movement in a sense that portrays its inticate detail and uniqueness.
The movement has become so popular that even big brand names are funding the movement. ‘It’s all about the emotional tug of the maker movement,’ says Tom Bernthal, CEO of Kelton, a brand strategy consultancy. Levi’s is turning to people like Alice Saunders, a 29-year-old designer and history buff in Boston with a fetish for World War II duffel bags. The company promotes her product on their blog and sells them with a Levi tag attached to them. Levi is a known brand for supporting independent designers who are contributors to the maker movement.
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