From the 9th to the 13th of September 2017, DIKU organised the second edition of the MakerWeek for Communication and IT Master students. The MakerWeek was hosted by KUB Nord and took place in their amazing Infosal. In the weeks before the MakerWeek, the students had been working in collaboration with different companies, such as Politiken, ISS World and Falck. These companies have identified a problem and the students are helping them addressing them through concept development and innovation methods.

The goal of this week is to develop concepts and represent possible solutions – or different ways to think about the problem- through physical prototypes. To this end, we have developed a method that brings the students through a five-day prototyping journey. In concrete, during the first two days, students learn how to 3D print (and how to create 3D models) and how to work with microcontrollers (and connect them to actuators and sensors). On the third day, they develop prototypes as exploratory devices through critical design approaches. The following day focuses on prototypes as minimum viable products, exploring prototypes from a business perspective. Finally, on the last day students explore prototypes as communication devices and create a video that summarises their concepts. During this week, students learn how to use the tools (e.g. microcontrollers, 3D printers) and, most importantly, how to leverage this knowledge to develop innovative concepts.

This was the second time that DIKU organises the MakerWeek and it has been a great success. For pictures and more information about this and last year’s MakerWeek, visit the UCPH MakerSpace FB page. We look forward to the 2018’s edition! In the meantime, stay tuned for more FemTech.dk activities on opening perspectives in computing.