TY - JOUR
T1 - A Systematic Review on FabLab Environments and Creativity
T2 - Implications for Design
AU - Soomro, Sohail Ahmed
AU - Casakin, Hernan
AU - Georgiev, Georgi V.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
PY - 2022/6
Y1 - 2022/6
N2 - Fabrication laboratories (FabLabs) and makerspaces are used to transform ideas into tangible products. Used in a design–learning context, they can enhance cognitive and creative skills. Creativity is the pivotal ability to produce innovative outcomes in makerspaces, and several studies have attempted to understand the role of makerspaces and creativity in specific fields. However, a comprehensive study offering a holistic view of the contributions of the makerspaces as built environments that foster creativity is lacking. Therefore, we conducted a systematic literature review on FabLabs, makerspaces, and creativity to address this research gap. While the review was performed using five major databases, only peer reviewed journal articles were considered. The findings revealed that makerspaces help to develop per-son, product, physical, and social environments, as well as process aspects of creativity. Moreover, mak-erspaces induce problem solving, collaborative, and communication skills; they also offer appealing environments and technologies for developing creative solutions to real-life problems. We identified and analysed five major themes dealing with technical skills, technological and environmental elements, STEM learning, and skill development, and elaborated upon their importance for enhancing creativity in FabLab and makerspace environments.
AB - Fabrication laboratories (FabLabs) and makerspaces are used to transform ideas into tangible products. Used in a design–learning context, they can enhance cognitive and creative skills. Creativity is the pivotal ability to produce innovative outcomes in makerspaces, and several studies have attempted to understand the role of makerspaces and creativity in specific fields. However, a comprehensive study offering a holistic view of the contributions of the makerspaces as built environments that foster creativity is lacking. Therefore, we conducted a systematic literature review on FabLabs, makerspaces, and creativity to address this research gap. While the review was performed using five major databases, only peer reviewed journal articles were considered. The findings revealed that makerspaces help to develop per-son, product, physical, and social environments, as well as process aspects of creativity. Moreover, mak-erspaces induce problem solving, collaborative, and communication skills; they also offer appealing environments and technologies for developing creative solutions to real-life problems. We identified and analysed five major themes dealing with technical skills, technological and environmental elements, STEM learning, and skill development, and elaborated upon their importance for enhancing creativity in FabLab and makerspace environments.
KW - collaborative learning environment
KW - creative physical environment
KW - creative process
KW - creative skills
KW - creative social environment
KW - creativity
KW - design
KW - fabrication laboratories
KW - makerspace
KW - technology
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85132201031&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3390/buildings12060804
DO - 10.3390/buildings12060804
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AN - SCOPUS:85132201031
SN - 2075-5309
VL - 12
JO - Buildings
JF - Buildings
IS - 6
M1 - 804
ER -