I co-designed this workshop with Damian and Daniel to test a simple hypothesis: that hands-on making with biomaterials, urban permaculture and open-source design would deepen public engagement in the Maker Change project. I hired the public makerspace TransfoLab, where I already have a good relationship, for just 16 euros for the evening.
After an icebreaker introducing the Bio-Tree project, participants rotated through three stations: designing tree concepts for 3D printing, mapping permaculture actions, and mixing biocomposite samples. We then came together for an open co-design session on where Bio-Trees could live, how people would interact with them, and how to keep the design open-source and replicable.
The aim was to build ownership as much as awareness. Value moves through knowledge-sharing and participatory design, using locally sourced materials and open-source principles so other cities and groups can adapt and improve the work.
