Humanitarian makerspaces in crisis-affected communities

Abstract

Copyright © The Author(s), 2020. There is an increasing demand for humanitarian aid around the world. At the same time, the number of makerspaces has been growing exponentially. Recently, the humanitarian sector has become interested in how these new design spaces can help crisis-affected populations. Despite the emergence of humanitarian makerspaces, there is little research to date that documents their outcomes and impacts. A multi-case study approach is taken to analyze three makerspaces that support migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers in Greece. A maturity grid tool is used to show that humanitarian makerspaces are driving impact in six key areas. The study underlines how these makerspaces support different design activities and have different outcomes. It also considers the challenges which are preventing humanitarian makerspaces from achieving their ultimate goals, drawing attention to the need for an enabling ecosystem in both the local and humanitarian context. This research brings clarity to the poorly understood phenomenon of humanitarian makerspaces and highlights the important role of design in humanitarian interventions. It also reveals practical insights for humanitarian organizations who are considering setting up makerspaces in crisis-affected communities.