My Studio is a Factory

We are entering an era of production where the atelier / studio and the factory / laboratory are increasingly blurred as the proliferation of prosumer (professional + consumer) machines enter the public sphere. What this means for those working in the field of digital media and physical computing practices is that we have more toys at our disposal. The sewing machine can be seen as a first instantiation of bringing the “factory” home as illustrated in the delightful Secret Life of Machines TV series from the 80s/90s. Today our atelier / studios are filled with specialized equipments, in my case: computer, printer, sewing machine, soldering irons and electronics prototyping material, and I have my eye on a few more technologies which can now be bought / made for home use: CNC Kits, 3D Printers and Laser Cutters! Outside of the home / studio Fab Labs (fabrication laboratories) – which began at MIT – have emerged as important places of production which put specialized technology in the hands producers. Having access to the technology is key to empowering artists / makers in developing innovative methods, works of art, and technologies.