DTLA Mini Maker Faire Shuts Down Fifth Street with Record Attendance
Despite a bit of rain, a record crowd of 10,000 (including a family of five who drove from Utah to be a part of the festivities) made their way to Central Library for the fourth annual DTLA Maker Faire on Saturday afternoon. More than 115 makers were on hand to show off their innovative and ingenious creations, from a series of different robotics exhibits, to replica dinosaur fossils that were created using a 3D printer, and even a Conceptual Fashion Show, which closed out the afternoon.
Expanding on the footprint of last year’s Maker Faire, this year’s event saw makers throughout the library, in the Maguire Gardens and, for the first time, out on Fifth St. in front of the library. With the street closed to traffic, a number of new makers were able to participate in their first Maker Faire, showing off a Mazda Miata that had been converted from gas to electric, the Students Think STEAM Initiative’s Airstream Trailer and a pair of arenas that featured full-on robot battles.
In addition to the dedicated work of countless librarians, volunteers and other staff members, this year’s DTLA Maker Faire was also supported by the following sponsors: Google, Norby, Mattel, The Broad Foundation, Microduino, We Are Giants, the team from Councilmember Huizar’s CD 14, and the Library Foundation of Los Angeles.
Meet the Makers: Norby, Microduino, and Mattel
DTLA Mini Maker Faire 2019 is happening this Saturday, December 7, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m at Central Library. Our Makers are getting ready to showcase their projects, inventions, craftsmanship, and creativity. Check out some of our must-see Makers.
Microduino
Microduino is aimed at bringing easy-to-use electronic hardware to makers, designers, engineers, students, and curious tinkerers of all ages and levels. Microduino will be presenting the world’s smallest series of Arduino-compatible smart modules that are small, flexible, stackable, powerful, and can be used to create a limitless amount of DIY projects.
Blurring the Digital with Physical Play
Mattel will be bringing a novel Hot Wheels playset that had been modified to blur the line between digital and physical play. Makers will show you how to do it and the process that it took to make things flow naturally. Mattel will also be showcasing a Fisher Price Power Wheels Jeep customized for kids with disabilities, bringing the power of play and mobility to kids that have been hospitalized.
Norby Robotics
Norby is an interactive learning companion for kids aged 5+. He teaches English, math and coding through stories, games and puzzles. Through positive feedback and encouragement, Norby helps build confidence and keeps kids emotionally engaged in learning.
Download the App Today!
DTLA Maker Faire will be using Whova again to help you navigate all the fun at this year’s Faire. Please register on Eventbrite before downloading the app. On Whova you can view the schedule and maps, build your personal agenda, view food vendor discounts, connect with other attendees, and more. Download the app and use the invitation code LAMMF2019 to get started today.
Meet the Makers: Joan and Rich from Nonscriptum
Ahead of DTLA Mini Maker Faire 2019, we are spotlighting a few of the Makers who will be joining us December 7. Nonscriptum is a two-person partnership that writes books about and trains people in maker technologies. They have been developing math and science models using 3D prints to explain a wide variety of math and science concepts. We reached out to Joan and Rich and asked them to tell us a bit more about what they do and what they will be showcasing at this year’s Faire.
DTLA Mini Maker Faire is free, open to the public, and fun for everyone! Register today and visit our Facebook event to RSVP.
Meet a Maker – Fashion Designer James Paul Ancheta
Ahead of DTLA Mini Maker Faire 2018 we are spotlighting a few of the Makers who will be joining us December 1. James Paul Ancheta is an eco-conscious fashion designer who previously worked for Vivienne Westwood. We met up with him to discuss the environmental impacts of fashion design, how he came to join the Maker Movement, and what he hopes attendees will take away from Maker Faire.
DTLA Mini Maker Faire 2018 takes place Saturday, December 1, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Central Library in Downtown Los Angeles. This event is free, open to the public, and fun for the everyone! We encourage attendees to register on our Eventbrite page. Check out the schedule of talks, performances, and workshops to help plan your day at the Faire.
*Please note that space is limited for all ticketed workshops. Tickets will be assigned on a first come, first served basis at check in.
Meet a Maker – Barb from Crash Space & reDiscover Center
Ahead of DTLA Mini Maker Faire 2018 we are spotlighting a few of the Makers who will be joining us December 1. Barb is a DTLA Mini Maker Faire veteran and returns this year for her third appearance. She is on the Board of Crash Space and works as a Director of Programs for reDiscover Center. We caught up with her to discuss her journey in joining the Maker community, why public libraries are a natural fit for the Maker Movement, and the importance of children becoming Makers.
DTLA Mini Maker Faire 2018 takes place Saturday, December 1, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Central Library in Downtown Los Angeles. This event is free, open to the public, and fun for the everyone! We encourage attendees to register on our Eventbrite page.
Water Computers, Plastic Recyclers, & Earth Air Studies from Space at DTLA Mini Maker Faire 2018
DTLA Mini Maker Faire 2018 takes place Saturday, December 1, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at our historic Central Library in Downtown Los Angeles.
This event is free, open to the public, and fun for the everyone! We encourage you to register on our Eventbrite page and visit our Facebook event to show the world you are attending.
We have many creative Makers showcasing their projects, inventions, craftsmanship, creativity, and sharing in the do-it-yourself (DIY) and do-it-together (DIT) spirit this year. Here’s a look at some of our favorites:
Anderson’s Famous Water Computer
- Who they are: Glen Anderson worked as a chip designer for years in Silicon Valley and loves inspiring the next generation of computer enthusiasts.
- What they do: Glen has built a computer from plastic boxes, rubber flaps, vinyl tubing, and ping pong balls. It is an educational model of the NMOS digital logic family, powered purely by water, and recirculates using human or electrical power.
- Why they rock: Glen’s water computer shows how computers work from the lowest level up to the addition of small numbers. It involves hands on interactivity with participants plugging and unplugging tubes into spouts with flowing water. Participants and spectators will be able to see the computer react in response to actions.
Closed Loop Plastics
- Who they are: Closed Loop Plastics founders Will Amos and Aldrin Lupisan are recent graduates of UC Irvine’s Environmental Engineering program. They started CLP to help reduce plastic waste and provide materials for prototypes and manufacturing at the same time.
- What they do: Closed Loop Plastics is an innovative recycler that takes post consumer plastic waste and turns it into engineering grade materials for 3D printing and other forms of manufacturing.
- Why they rock: Trillions of pounds of plastic are thrown away in the United States every year polluting land and ocean. Closed Loop Plastics invests in research and development of cost efficient equipment to enhance the recycling infrastructure in the U.S.
Show me the light!
- Who they are: Karen Yuen is the NASA Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 (OCO-2) Science Data Applications Lead, Project Communications Manager, and the NASA Deputy Program Associate for the upcoming OCO-3 on ISS.
- What they do: OCO-2 is NASA’s first mission studying Earth’s atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) and solar induced chlorophyll fluorescence (SIF) from space.
- Why they rock: Karen will be sharing her expertise about spectrometers and how they work. Participants will be able to see how different colors show spikes in the monitor and learn how this data is valuable to researchers.
Reserve your free tickets for DTLA Maker Faire 2018 today to see all our amazing makers in action!