We are GIG
Written by Ricardo Ruiz
The mathematics building of TU Berlin, May 23 and 24, 2026. A heat wave pushed temperatures to records, and inside the corridors of a concrete campus, several hundred people from dozens of countries gathered around circuit boards, knitting machines, flow batteries, and looms. For the first time in its history, the Open Hardware Summit came … Continue reading “Distributed Roots in Berlin: GIG at the Open Hardware Summit 2026”
Written by Melanie Chan
Join us for a latest GIG community Call exploring how open hardware designs can be connected to the people and places that can actually make them. Discover how open standards and distributed manufacturing infrastructure can strengthen local production ecosystems, humanitarian response, and community resilience. GIG is pleased to welcome back Nathan Parker, a long-time GIG … Continue reading “GIG Community Call: Open Hardware Manager – Connecting Designs to Distributed Manufacturing”
Written by Geraldine de Bastion
Reflections from the make-a-thek Central Eastern European Study Tour The EU-funded make-a-thek project integrates modular makerspaces into public libraries to promote circular approaches to fashion and craft. In June 2026, we conducted our first make-a-thek study tour through Germany, Czechia, and Poland to explore regional circularity practices and build long-term collaborations. During this tour, we … Continue reading “From Industrial Memories to a Circular Future for Heritage Craft, Textile Production and Fashion Design”
Written by Ricardo Ruiz
A sewing machine 300 metres from a refugee camp in northern Greece. A farmhouse in Alsace, dating from the end of the 17th century, with a bell that still calls people to communal dinner. A row of benches in Vilnius made from the demolished pillars of a Soviet-era trade union mansion. Three scenes, three countries, … Continue reading “Make-A-Thek Community Call: Crafting Connected Communities”
Written by Melanie Chan
Co-hosted with the European Crafts Alliance (ECA), our upcoming make-a-thek community call explores how craft and maker culture contribute to community building, resilience, and social inclusion. Together, we will look at how creative initiatives become spaces for civic engagement, shared learning, and collaborative production – through the lenses of People, Place, and Resources. To ground … Continue reading “15th July 2026 Community Call: Crafting Connected Communities (ECA x GIG )”
Written by Melanie Chan
This year, re:publica’s motto “Never Gonna Give You Up” centered on resilience, solidarity, and fighting for a better future amidst ongoing global and technological crises. At a moment when democratic values, open knowledge, and community infrastructure all face serious pressure, the Makerspace was a dynamic interface on the ground connecting these critical topics. Curated for … Continue reading “Making together: The Makerspace at re:publica 2026”
Written by Melanie Chan
Somewhere between freshly roasted coffee, invigorating workshops, and the formation of a midday Capoeira circle (😲), something clicked into place. An annual highlight for the GIG community, this year’s GIG Week was a reminder of why the network exists: not to simply talk about changing the world, but to be surrounded and inspired by people … Continue reading “Building community resilience: GIG weekend 2026”
Written by Ricardo Ruiz
Somewhere in a library in Punggol, Singapore, a machine the size of a small suitcase is pressing dots into a sheet of aluminium — dots that a blind person can read. The machine did not come from a manufacturer. It was built from 3D-printed parts, stepper motors, and a solenoid, following instructions available for free … Continue reading “From Bhutan to Singapore: spreading an open-source Braille printer across Southeast Asia and to the world”
Written by Melanie Chan
The Makerspace remains the heart of the ever-growing re:publica conference. While we talk about big tech and the next breakthrough, we know that nothing truly grows without a community behind it. For us this is certainly the case, with the GIG community growing over the past 12 years, bringing together tinkerers, grassroots innovators, and social change … Continue reading “The Makerspace returns to re:publica!”
Written by Ricardo Ruiz
The fashion industry has a waste problem. Every year, 92 million tonnes of textile waste is generated globally, while garment use has decreased by 36 percent since 2000, meaning clothes are being made faster and discarded sooner than ever before. Waste is built into the process from the start, where roughly 15% of fabric used … Continue reading “Local Hubs, Global Impact: The Blueprint for a Sustainable Fashion Revolution”
