91探花

What can students make at 91探花? At the Billodue Makerspace, an idea can become anything from an embroidered sweatshirt or stained-glass piece to a 3D-printed design, a piece of jewelry or a completely unexpected creation.

Under the direction of the Lemieux Library and McGoldrick Learning Commons, the—housed in the Sinegal Center for Science & Innovation—gives 91探花 students, faculty and staff access to tools, materials and guidance for hands-on creation. Sewing and embroidery machines, 3D printers, a laser cutter, electronics tools and other equipment allow users to make, repair and experiment, while workshops and trainings help those with little or no previous experience get started.

It’s also a place for individual projects and collaboration through workshops and club activities.  

“We serve as a third space for a lot of students and even some faculty and staff to gather, create and relax,” says Rachel Segrest, Makerspace Specialist. “We bridge gaps by providing our community members a safe place to experiment and connect.”

Segrest joined a few months after the Makerspace’s soft launch and helped develop the space into what it is today. Her approach focused on creating an environment where information could be shared openly and without judgment, bringing together people who might not otherwise cross paths and empowering student staff members to engage with the space in ways that reflect their own interests and skills.

Today, users of the space can explore both digital fabrication and more traditional forms of making. Alongside equipment such as 3D printers and a laser cutter, the space provides materials including paint, paper, adhesives, textiles, jewelry supplies and assorted pieces of wood, metal, rubber and plastic. Since May 2022, equipment and resources have been selected and expanded based on community feedback, staff expertise and gaps in what the Makerspace can offer.

For those who have never used the equipment before, learning is built into the experience. Users first complete an orientation to become familiar with the space and how to use the equipment (certain equipment and tools require additional training.) Trainings focus on machine operation and safety, while activity trainings teach those skills by having participants complete a small project. Workshops provide opportunities to learn or practice skills and sewing machine training is the most popular equipment training, followed by embroidery machine training. As users gain experience, some move beyond introductory projects to customize clothing with embroidery, vinyl or printmaking, while others use their skills to make their own gear.

Helping throughout that process are the Makerspace’s Student Creators. During a typical shift, student staff rotate among three primary responsibilities: working at the front desk, serving as the Maker who teaches workshops and assists with projects and handling machines and maintenance. Student Creators also take on stewardship roles that help manage different areas and resources within the space.

Working at the Makerspace can also give student staff an opportunity to explore interests outside their academic work. For Andrew Yang, that means finding a creative balance alongside his technical studies. His work can range from teaching classes and helping students with personal projects to organizing the space and monitoring supplies as Supplies Steward.

“I feel nervous when teaching, but I’m also glad that people are interested in the things we have to offer, and I feel proud to be able to teach these things,” says Yang, ’27 (Electrical Engineering).

For students, faculty or staff visiting the space for the first time, that support can make the experience more accessible. Yang points to orientation as an important starting point in understanding what the Makerspace offers. Student Creators provide guidance while encouraging students to participate directly and develop the confidence to work through projects themselves.

“The goal of the Makerspace is to give people the building blocks to create,” says Student Creator Krista Llantada, ’26 (Nursing). Llantada says she tries to show or explain how she would approach a project while encouraging students to take an active role in the process.

That hands-on approach has resulted in a wide range of student work. Llantada has seen embroidered hoodies, stained-glass pieces and projects using the soldering station, while Yang has seen students embroider snow pants for snowboarding and upcycle thrifted clothing. Llantada also points to spoon-ring making and sewing as activities that have generated particular excitement. For Yang, embroidery machines are among the resources students are often excited to discover because they are not machines most people have access to at home. He encourages students to take advantage of the Makerspace and all that it offers beyond just being a creative outlet.

Using Makerspace tools and attending workshops are free and most materials available within the space are provided at no cost. (The exceptions are the personal 3D-printing projects and certain materials that are available for purchase from the Makerspace’s small shop.)

Beyond individual projects, the Makerspace also serves student organizations and campus groups. Craft Club has met there for weekly activities, the Ski and Snowboard Club has used the space to wax skis and boards and the Vietnamese Student Association has used Makerspace resources to prepare merchandise and props for Xuân. For the Student Creators, those interactions are part of what makes the space meaningful.

“The community aspect of the Makerspace is my favorite and what essentially makes the Makerspace what it is,” says Llantada. “We try to foster a space where everyone is welcome to create.”

That emphasis on experimentation also gives students room to make mistakes and learn without the same pressure that can accompany academic work.

“University classes include tests and grades while the Makerspace offers life skills with no repercussions for getting things wrong,” says Makerspace Specialist Segrest. “Mistakes are just information along the journey of learning.”

For Segrest, some of the moments that stand out most are not necessarily the most elaborate projects, but seeing “the joy radiating from someone who is proud of themselves.”