Maker Cities
Maker Cities
Play the game. Make the future of your city.
The steam engine sparked the Industrial Revolution, the assembly line transformed industry, and standardized shipping catalyzed a truly global and interconnected economy. Now new ways of making are transforming our world once again.
The tools to make literally anything are increasingly available to anyone. Open source electronics platforms, 3D printing technology, and community makerspaces with sophisticated industrial tools are rewriting the rules of production to enable anyone to be a maker. This global culture has a name—the maker movement.
Makers are Solving Urban Challenges
The DIY ethos of making isn’t limited to creating physical objects—stuff. Makers are starting to reimagine the systems that surround them. They are bringing the “maker mindset” to the complex urban challenges of health, education, food, and even citizenship. Makers will make the future of their cities.
Our Technology Horizons Program created Maker Cities, an open and collaborative online game, to generate ideas about how citizens are changing work, production, governance, learning, well-being, and their neighborhoods, and what this means for the future. How will individuals, grassroots efforts, and community groups use emerging technologies and work together to solve problems in your city? What can you learn from makers in other cities nearby and around the world?
The Maker Cities game
In 2013, the Maker Cities online game was place to share your ideas and vote for your favorite Maker City futures. Players can respond to Maker Cities Challenges or play any idea about what makes a Maker City. Everything contributed will be added to a public database that can be freely accessed by anyone, anywhere. We need EVERYONE to join the Maker City movement!
In the Media
- "Magic Makers" Documentary Producer Melissa Jun Rowley talks about Maker Cities in Make Magazine
- The Information Daily publishes "Citizens Will Make the Future of Cities," by IFTF researcher Jason Tester
- Boing Boing covers Maker Cities
- IFTF researcher Nic Weidinger's "Maker Cities" blog post on Future Now
- IFTF's Rebecca Chesney writes Makers will Create the Future of Cities on Future Now
For More Information
For more information, please contact John Clamme | jclamme@iftf.org