“Why can’t every moment be a canvas? There are so many decisions you can make throughout the day that can be more creative.”
Re:Make 2013
After a full and satisfying day of craft shopping, Krafty Kath and I headed down to the Fort Mason Festival Pavilion for the first Re:Make event, hosted by Brit + Co. The focus of the event was to look at how technology has and continues to influence creative industries.
It was a packed agenda with presentations from leaders in home, food and fashion. Here are a few that, for me, stood out.
Brit Morin, Brit + Co.
Re:Make was the realization of Brit Morin, founder and CEO of Brit + Co. She observed that technology has increasingly influenced the craft and handmade movement. In her opening talk she spoke to the opportunities technologies like 3D printers are creating for individual makers and how technology, the maker movement, and a growing desire toward small shops and handmade goods all go hand-in-hand.
Chris Anderson, 3D Robotics
Chris Anderson, CEO of 3D Robotics, spoke to the democratization of tools for creation. The industrial revolution and its machines allowed us more time to use our brains instead of our brawn, giving way to an increasing pace of innovation. In his observations of the maker movement and technology, Chris said the home computer is to Generation Y what 3D printers are to the current generation – “anything you can imagine, you can make.”
Ayah Bdeir, littleBits
Ayah Bdeir, founder and CEO of littleBits, spoke of her desire to make access to electronic components – lights, sounds and sensors – more mainstream. From this desire spawned the littleBits product line that allows anyone to imagine and build ideas that can easily turn on or off, light up, move or make sound.
Jesse Genet, Lumi
Jesse Genet, founder and CEO of Lumi, is a young entrepreneur who tirelessly pursued an idea that ultimately led to manufacturing her own solution. In high school, Jesse wanted an easy way to silkscreen photographs onto fabric. After an exhausting amount of research and failed attempts she decided to solve the problem herself with Inkodye, a line of sunlight-activated dyes that allow you to transfer images onto any number of fabrics.
Randy Zuckerberg, Zuckerberg Media
Randy Zuckerberg, author of Dot Complicated, spoke about the importance of putting away the phone and spending time, intentional time, each week to remember what and who is important. It’s these times away from the screen, spent with those who inspire us most, when true creativity can strike refueling our maker spirit.
