projectsmaking

Projectsmaking is a term used to describe an approach to creating and delivering projects as crafted, observable artifacts. It blends elements of project management, design thinking, and maker culture. Proponents emphasize tangible outputs, iterative development, and collaborative authorship, viewing each project as a material practice rather than merely a schedule of tasks.

Origin and usage: The concept arises in maker culture, design education, and open research communities in the 2010s and 2020s, where hands-on making and learning-by-doing intersect with agile methods. The term is used variably, sometimes describing a mindset, sometimes a set of processes, and sometimes a community practice.

Core practices include ideation and scoping that consider feasibility and impact, collaborative design, rapid prototyping and testing, documentation, and dissemination. Work is often iterative, with short build-test-reflect cycles; success is judged by demonstrated function, user value, and knowledge gained as well as by delivery on time and budget.

Relation to related fields: It overlaps with project management, design thinking, and craft-based disciplines, but foregrounds making as an embodied activity and material outcomes. Tools can include lightweight project-management methods, open-source collaboration, and maker-space infrastructures.

Applications and challenges: Used in education, community projects, product development, and civic technology. Challenges include measuring value beyond financial ROI, coordinating diverse participants, and ensuring sustainability and ethical considerations. The term remains informal and context-dependent, with no universal standard definition.