Bio material lamps

As key part of the Maker Change project is the journey towards more circular ways of making. In this workshop we explored exactly that, participants came together at FAB Casa del Mig and FAB Casa Rellotge for a workshop that was equal parts creative, hands-on, and genuinely eye-opening.

The session kicked off with digital tools: participants learned to design their lamp panels using Illustrator and Inkscape, getting to grips with vector design before bringing their work to life through digital fabrication and laser cutting. 

But the real magic came from the materials, plant-based bio-materials made from simple, at-home recipes that anyone can try.

Makers discovered how everyday ingredients can be transformed into innovative, colourful panels that glow beautifully when lit. No factory, no plastic, just curiosity and a bit of kitchen chemistry. They also learned how to make these recipes at home, so the experimentation doesn't have to stop here.

And true to the spirit of circular design, nothing was wasted. The laser-cut off-cuts became the starting point for a second round of making of models, jewellery and keychains, showing how scraps can always become something new. Repurposing isn't an afterthought; it's part of the process.

Everyone left with a finished lamp carrying their own design, new digital and fabrication skills, bio-material recipes to try at home, and a clearer sense of what it really means to make more consciously. Small steps, but real ones and exactly what Maker Change is all about.