Maker Faire Hong Kong 2018
Call for Makers
Dr. Clifford Choy
School of Design, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
mccliff@polyu.edu.hk
14 May 2018

Maker Faire Hong Kong
• 1st Featured Maker Faire Hong Kong (Nov 28 and 29, 2015)
• > 30,000 visitors
• 2nd Featured Maker Faire Hong Kong (Apr 7 and 8, 2017)
• > 40,000 visitors
• 3rd Featured Maker Faire Hong Kong (Jul 7 and 8, 2018)
• Target: ~50,000 visitors
• Organizer: PolyU Design
• Co-organizer:
• Faculty of Applied Science & Textile (FAST)
• Faculty of Construction and Environment (FCE)
• Faculty of Engineering (FENG)
• Faculty of Health and Social Sciences (FHSS)
• Programme Director
• Dr. Clifford Choy, School of Design, PolyU

Maker Faire Hong Kong
https://youtu.be/ORLPihFNNOw

What is Maker Faire?
• A family-friendly festival of invention, creativity and resourcefulness
• For makers to gather, show what they have made, and share what they have learned
• To demonstrate what is possible
• To exchange knowledge and ideas
• To inspire others
• Part of science fair, part of fun fair, part of country fair
• NOT “Book Fair”, “Computer Fair”, “Animation-Comic and Game Fair” in Hong Kong
• NOT a trade fair dominated by traditional sales and marketing
• NOT an invention show, NOT a technology expo
• NOT a competition

What is Maker Faire?
• First launch in Bay Area, USA, in 2006
• In 2017, 42 Featured Maker Faires in different
major cities around the world, including Hong
Kong

Why Maker Faire? (1)
• Promote Maker Culture
• What is “Making”
• Turning ideas into tangible/perceivable form
• “Vision” to “execution”
• Driven by intrinsic interests, not extrinsic rewards
• Fun? Needs?
• Learn, create, share
• Ground up innovation, learn by doing, empowerment
• Sustainable human development

Why Maker Faire? (1)
• Do-it-yourself (DIY) with others
• Not just in local communities in old days, but through Internet to collaborate with
people around the world
• Do-it-yourself (DIY) with technology
• Do-it-with-others (DIWO)
• Not just with hand tools, but with digitally-enabled tools
• Impact on
• Education
• Well-being
• Economy

Maker Movement
• Growing culture of hands-on making, creating, designing and
innovating
• Despite its diversity [in makers’ interests], the movement is unified by
a shared commitment to open exploration, intrinsic interests and
creative ideas
• When I talk about the maker movement, I make an effort to stay
away from the word “inventor” – most people just don’t identify
themselves that way. “Maker”, on the other hand, describes each
one of us no matter how we live our lives, or what our goals might
be.
Peppler, K., Bender, S. (2013) Maker movement spreads innovation one project at a time. Kappan, v95, N3,
pp22-27. Retrieved from http://www.kyliepeppler.com/Docs/2013_Peppler_Maker_Movement.pdf
Dougherty, D. (2012). The Maker Movement. Innovations, v7, n3, pp11-14

Maker Faire Hong Kong (28-29 Nov 2015)

Youth in Innovation, San Mateo Innovation Week 2016, 19 May 2016

What do you expect in Maker Faire?
• Makers show-and-tell their works/projects
• Presentation
• Demonstration/Performance
• Hands-on activities
• Workshops
• Experiential Session
• Contests/Competitions

http://flashgamer.com/arduino/comments/maker-faire-oslo
http://newsnyork.com/obama-joins-inventors-at-white-house-maker-faire/
http://mommypoppins.com/content/maker-faire-
new-york-whats-new-for-nyc-kids-at-this-hyper-
creative-festival
http://boingboing.net/2010/08/02/my-favorite-makers-a.html
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-
2486775/Robot-rock-band-Z-Machines-features-
guitarist-78-fingers-drummer-21-sticks.html

Supports Three Broad Stages of Makers
• Zero to Maker
• Arouse interest of those with no experience in making to become a maker
• In Maker Faire: Through hands-on activities, through workshops, through inspiring
talks, through inspiring works from other makers
• Maker to Maker
• Sharing of knowledge between makers
• Collaborate and access to others’ expertise
• Work together on shared platforms
• In Maker Faire: Through show-and-tell their projects, through offering hands-on
activities and organizing workshops, through interact with visitors and other makers
• Maker to Market
• Some creations of makers have commercial appeal and get into the market
• In Maker Faire: Through presenting their journey to other makers, through collecting
feedbacks from visitors on their creations
Hagel, J., Brown, J., Kulasooriya, D. (2014) A Movement in the Making. Retrieved
from http://dupress.com/articles/a-movement-in-the-making/

Some Categories of Makers
Electronics Planting
Robotics (e.g. hexapod, biped, …) Farming
UAV (e.g. quadcropter) Personalized Motorized Mobility Device
RC model (e.g. racing car, plane,
helicopter)
Sports
Construction toys/systems Modeling
Toys and play Recycling/upcycling
3D printing/additive manufacturing Craft (metal, glass, ceramics, clothes)
Digital fabrication (CNC, Miller, laser cut) Printing
… and more

How does this relate to STEM?

STEM Education in Hong Kong
• According to EDB (2015, Dec):
• We aim to further develop among students a strong knowledge base in step
with the latest changes in these disciplines, and strengthen their ability to
integrate and apply knowledge and skills, so as to nurture their creativity and
innovation, collaboration and problem solving skills, which are essential
skills and qualities required in the 21st century. The learning activities of
STEM education also help students develop the essential qualities associated
with an entrepreneurial spirit.
• Should consider STEAM, Make and Design as well !!!!
Educational Development Bureau (2015, Dec) On-going Renewal of the School Curriculum – Focusing, Deepening and Sustaining: An
Overview. Retrieved from http://www.edb.gov.hk/attachment/en/curriculum-development/renewal/Overview_e_2015Dec.pdf

STEAM
Yakman, G. (2008). STEAM education: An overview of creating a model of integrative
education. In Pupils' Attitudes Towards Technology (PATT-19) Conference: Research
on Technology, Innovation, Design & Engineering Teaching, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.
• STEM + Arts
• Arts - “ How society develops,
impacts, is communicated
and understood with its
attitudes and customs in the
past, present and future “
• Society, culture, belief,
religion, politics, …

Design
• Design is the competence to change existing situations into preferred ones.
Design then, is the human capacity to serve the needs of people and give
meaning to life through objects, communications, environments and systems
John Heskett
• Design is what links creativity and innovation. It shapes ideas to become practical
and attractive propositions for users or customers. Design may be described as
creativity deployed to a specific end.
Sir George Cox
• Design is about understanding users and finding elegant solutions to meet their
needs

How to make?
What can be made?
What to make?
Why to make?
STEM, STEAM, Make and Design
• Knowing possibilities with personal and
digital fabrication technologies (strength
and limitations with each ”technology”,
what can be done by combining multiple
of those)
• Develop tacit knowledge in using
different materials, tools, processes
• Understanding “users”, identifying opportunities
• Evaluate, identify issues and improve
STEM/STEAM
Design

History and Review:
Maker Faire Hong Kong 2015

www.makerfairehongkong.com

http://www.makerfairehongkong.com/2015/?about/

Maker Faire Hong Kong 2015 (28-29 Nov 2015)

Maker Faire Hong Kong 2015 (28-29 Nov 2015)

Maker Faire Hong Kong 2015 (28-29 Nov 2015)

Maker Faire Hong
Kong 2015 (28-29
Nov 2015)

Some Facts on Maker Faire Hong Kong 2015
• www.makerfairehongkong.com/2015
• More than 200 makers participated
• More than 170 exhibits/activities/workshops/talks show-cased/delivered
• Estimated 15,000 per day on average visited
• 4 local primary schools, 8 local secondary schools, and 1 international
school participated; more schools are interested and will join next year
• Makers come from HK, Taiwan, mainland China, Japan, France, Barcelona,
UK
• From embroidery to robotics, from amateur/hobbyists to professionals

Some Observations (in 2015)
• Most HK people have no concept on a “fair” during which people share
their works and knowledge
• General impression - “Fair” is about selling things only
• We have makers who are good at crafts and would like to apply technology,
but don’t know how. We have makers who are good in technology, but
don’t know how they can be used to create objects which are useful and
appealing.
• Many teachers have difficulties in understanding why they have to
participate in Maker Faire
• This is not a competition. Why join? What benefits? What they may gain?
• Many teachers do not talk to those in different disciplines
• Many teachers do not know what is “Design” (thought that it is only about
making things prettier), and haven’t heard of “Design Thinking”

History and Review:
Maker Faire Hong Kong 2017

Maker Faire Hong Kong 2017, 8-9 Apr 2017

Some Facts on Maker Faire Hong Kong 2017
• 8, 9 Apr 2017 (Sat and Sun)
• 15 star events, 153 maker exhibits, 31 workshops, 27 presentations, by
makers from HK, Macau, Taiwan, Singapore, Japan, Barcelona, Germany,
Canada and USA, with categories: Coding, Robotics, Art & Craft,
Construction kits, Sustainability, Fashion, DIYBio, IoT, Schools, ROV, go-
kart, and more
• >40,000 visitors, >80 schools participated, >366 schools/NGOs
outreached
• Visited 7 different districts through “Makers’ Day” as pre-show
promotion, collaborating with 6 primary/secondary schools in those
districts
• www.makerfairehongkong.com/2017

Some Observations (in 2017)
• More teachers, principals and parents have better understanding towards
the what and why of Maker Faire, and maker culture
• ”Makers’ Day” was very effective in promoting Maker Faire and maker culture
• Many schools and teachers attended Maker Faire Tokyo 2017, Maker Faire Taipei
2017 and Maker Faire ShenZhen 2017 (which were after MFHK2017)
• HK Government is spending more resources on STEM education
• Seems to be focusing on problem solving and coding, but should be extended to
STEAM, Make and Design
• There are already some discussions in education sector on similarities and
differences in STEM, STEAM, Make and Design
• Many schools are focusing on “performance-based” competition, less on
“creativity-based” ones

Maker Faire Hong Kong 2018

Maker Faire Hong Kong 2018 : Goals
• 7 and 8 Jul 2018 on PolyU podium level, and Jockey Club Innovation Tower 3rd and 4th Floor
• Organizer: PolyU Design
• Co-organizers: four faculties in PolyU – FAST, FCE, FENG, FHSS
• Goals:
• Connect university students with primary/secondary schools or even kindergartens for
STEM/STEAM/Maker/Design education
• Promote students (and teachers and parents as well for younger students) at all levels of education to
contribute in Maker Faire Hong Kong, especially university students
• Promote design education to teachers in primary/secondary schools
• Communicate relevance of maker culture to different professions in Hong Kong and encourage them to
participate
• Bring in makers from the region and worldwide to inspire
• Connect educators in maker education in the region and worldwide

How can Makers contribute?
• Maker Exhibit (show-and-tell/display, hands-on activity,
demonstration)
• Workshop
• Performance (on stage, mobile)
• Presentation

Maker Exhibit (1)
• Show-and-tell interesting make-things, creations, inventions or
art/craft, or demonstrate interesting works/experiments
• Share your story and experience in making
• Get feedback from visitors
• May be able to find collaborators to improve your work
• You can
• Show-and-tell/display your make-things
• Demonstrate your make-things
• Let others to experience your make-things
• Offer hands-on experience to your visitors

Maker Exhibit (2) - Show-and-tell
Kniterate, Maker Faire Bay Area 2016

Maker Exhibit (3) - Show-and-tell
Maker Faire Tokyo 2016

Maker Exhibit (4) – Show-and-tell
Maker Faire Tokyo 2016

Maker Exhibit (5) – Show-and-tell
Maker Faire Tokyo 2016

Maker Exhibit (6) – Display of Make-things
(mobile)
Maker Faire Bay Area 2017

Maker Exhibit (7) - Demonstration
Woodwork, Maker Faire Tokyo 2016 (https://youtu.be/f9qgkZ018mk)

Maker Exhibit (8) – Demonstration
Exhaust Cannon, Maker Faire Tokyo 2016
https://youtu.be/99JVKRnhZPQ
Tesla Coil, Maker Faire Tokyo 2016 (https://youtu.be/SDiip-i9iV0)

Maker Exhibit (9) - Show-and-Tell +
Demonstration
Chocolate Factory, Maker Faire Bay Area 2017

Chocolate Factory, Maker Faire Bay Area 2017

Maker Exhibit (10) – Experience your Make-
things
Robava, Maker Faire Tokyo 2016 (https://youtu.be/xHJeg5fnaKE)

Maker Exhibit (11) – Experience Your Make-
things
Maker Faire Tokyo 2016

Maker Exhibit (12) – Experience Your Make-
things
Maker Faire Tokyo 2016

Maker Exhibit (13) – Hands-on Activity
• Teach participant how to make at your area
• Usually fewer participants and take shorter time to complete than
Workshop
• Drop-in rather than pre-scheduled session
• Possible to charge material fee
Maker Faire Taipei 2016

Hands-on Activity
Soldering Workshop, Maker Faire Bay Area 2016

Hands-on Activity
Lithography with laser-engraved glass, Maker Faire Bay Area 2016

Hands-on Activity + Competition
Hebocon, Maker Faire Hong Kong 2016

Presentation (1)
Maker Ed, Maker Faire Bay Area 2016

Presentation (2)
Maker Faire Hong Kong 2017 Maker Faire Bay Area 2017
Individual presenter
Co-presenter

Presentation (3) – Panel Discussions
Maker Faire Bay Area 2017

Performance (2)
Lens making, Maker Faire Bay Area 2016 (https://youtu.be/ZQVdpAOZwOM)

Performance (1)
Maker Faire Bay Area 2017 (https://youtu.be/JuBobd0ugI0)
Maker Faire Bay Area 2016
https://youtu.be/BffJ3fOM46A
Mobile Performance On Stage Performance

Workshop (1)
• Engage participants in hands-on activities to
make something they can take away
• Run for longer time than “Hands-on
activities” in Maker Exhibit, may be 1 to 2hr,
and support more participants
• Possible to charge material fee
Making and STEM, SciFest 2018, Hong Kong Science Museum (30 Mar 2018 – 2 Apr 2018)

Workshop (2)
Making and STEM, SciFest 2018, Hong Kong Science Museum (30 Mar 2018 – 2 Apr 2018)

Themes
• Sound and Music
• Chinese character and printing
• Paper Casting
• Automata, Mechanical toys
• Geodesic dome
• LPWAN, IoT
• Goldberg Machine
• Electric vehicle
• Underwater robots
• Robot soccer
• Microbit
• FischerTechnik
• Makeblock
• ….

3rd and 4th floors

CD – Maker Exhibit booth area

CF – Maker Exhibit booth area

DE – Maker Exhibit booth area

EF – Maker Exhibit booth area

Tang Ping Yuen Square

Outside Core J

Suen Chi Sun Memorial Square

Entrance

P core

JCIT 3rd floor

JCIT 3rd floor

JCIT 3rd Floor

JCIT 4th floor

How Schools Can Participate?
• Maker Exhibit
• Award-winning work
• Creative work
• From students, from teachers
• Demonstration
• Hands-on Activity, Workshop
• Volunteers during MFHK2018

Call for Makers
• Welcome new ideas on inspiring general public and younger generation on
possibilities and values of Making
• Application forms in http://makerfairehongkong.com/2018/join/maker/
• 1st deadline: 16 May 2018
• 2nd deadline: 30 May 2018
• 3rd deadline: 6 Jun 2018
• Subject to availability after 6 Jun 2018
• Contact:
• Dr. Clifford Choy
• Address: v902g, School of Design, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
• email: mccliff@polyu.edu.hk
• Mobile: (852) 90296782