Crafting public space: findings from an interdisciplinary outdoor workshop on 3D printing

3D printing is touted as a coming revolution in the manufacture of consumer goods. However, its use remains limited to a homogeneous group of early adopters. We discuss this mismatch between the rhetoric and reality of 3D printing in light of findings from a co-creation workshop incorporating audience engagement activities. During the workshop art and design students collaborated with craftspeople to create 3D printed objects for an outdoor exhibition. The workshop enhanced participants’ confidence in 3D modelling and printing. Claims about 3D printing are best examined through hands-on experimentation by people with a diverse range of backgrounds and experiences. Moving 3D printed objects out of the lab into outdoor public spaces can add new perspectives on this rapidly developing medium. Strategies and barriers to achieving this are discussed.