Analysis and Comparison of Representative Locations in the General Makerspace Panorama

Abstract

The present thesis analyzes and compares a selection of different makerspaces and provides a measurement system to assess the effect of MakerSpace and its community on its users. Chapter 1 presents the goals and motivations of the study. It also describes the overall structure of the work. Chapter 2 introduces the concept of maker movement. It tackles the triggers of the maker movement, its growth and the impact it has on different areas. Chapter 3 defines the figure of the maker and distinguishes between the existing types of makers. The chapter closes with the presentation of three characteristic maker personas. Chapter 5 studies the existing types of makerspaces and explains the differences between them. The chapter also includes the analysis of a selection of nine representative makerspaces with different characteristics, and develops a system to compare said spaces qualitatively within a common background. It is followed by Chapter 6, which presents the questionnaires prepared and delivered in order to measure the overall effect of MakerSpace on its users.The obtained results of Chapters 5 and 6 are discussed in Chapter 7. This chapter also summarizes the difficulties encountered during the realization of the investigation.