It might be hard to believe, but the holidays are just weeks away, and maybe there’s already a perfect gift in mind for someone special — but it’s impossible to find just what you’re looking for.
Nebraska Innovation Studio, the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s makerspace at Nebraska Innovation Campus, may be able to help.
Innovation Studio’s Request a Maker service is now in its fifth year. By filling out a form online, potential clients can be matched with one of the many talented makers who utilize the space. The service was launched in 2019 in response to the many calls and emails staff received inquiring about hiring makers for projects. Since then, the service has only increased in popularity.
“Every year, Nebraska Innovation Studio gets busier as the holidays approach and members make special gifts for family and friends. The community can also take advantage of the incredible skills of our members,” said David Martin, executive director of Innovation Studio. “Request a Maker allows you to work with a maker to create the perfect gift.”
Lisa Tschauner, a community member, recently fulfilled a gift request of six clay coasters for a ninth wedding anniversary. She said she joined Innovation Studio to have a creative outlet and to get into ceramics again, but that she has had fun taking on a couple of projects that were very personal to clients.
“I don’t do it as a business; I just really enjoy the community Innovation Studio provides,” Tschauner said. “With the projects I’ve done, it’s largely been because they couldn’t find it anywhere else.”
Martin said over five years, Request a Maker has filled a need in the community by connecting people with ideas to the people with the knowledge and skills to make them happen.
“Nebraska Innovation Studio members have an incredible range of skills, whether it's something crafted out of wood or metal, laser engraved, embroidered, shaped from clay or 3D printed,” he said.
Aside from holiday gifts, Request a Maker has connected community members to makers who can fix what was thought unfixable. Trent Lovings, a junior architectural studies major from Omaha, has recreated pieces for a bicycle and a broken window.
“My favorite piece was replicating a broken chain guard for a bicycle, using a 3D scanner and printer,” Lovings said. “I also was able to help someone make a window guide for sliding window. I’ve done a lot of work modeling specific items like that, that they weren’t able to find anywhere else.”
Ben Kuspa, a community member and woodworker, takes on Request a Maker projects that pique his interest and are more challenging.
“Some I do to help pay for my membership, but most of the time I pick things that interest me, and sometimes I’ve done requests to help out a group or nonprofit,” Kuspa said. “Really, replicating things that already exist isn’t as desirable. For me, customization is the name of the game.”
Requests he has taken on have included a little free library, wood cones for a wood collector, and squirrel feeders for the former UNL student group NUTS — or Nebraskans for the Upgraded Treatment of Squirrels.
Martin, Kuspa, Lovings and Tschauner all noted that requests made online should be as specific as possible and that frequent communication is key to a successful project. Clients should also have realistic expectations for time and cost.
“I personally do a lot of one-on-one meetings with people, too, because I kind of like to meet people before I start to work for them. And I’ve found that works really well.” Lovings said.
