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Makerspace
A place with all the tools you need for your creativity and hands-on-learning.
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When you walk into NextFab’s Philadelphia makerspace, you’ll find more than just state-of-the-art equipment and spacious studios. You’ll discover a thriving community of creators, makers, and entrepreneurs who’ve found their creative home.
Since 2009, NextFab has been on a mission to break down barriers and provide access to the technology, tools, and community that makers need to bring their boldest ideas to life. Whether you’re launching a handmade business, exploring new crafts, or pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with digital fabrication, NextFab offers a pathway to help you grow.
For many members, access to professional-grade equipment is a game-changer. Milan Marshall and Malik Tyler of Ivy Eye put it simply: “The access to professional equipment has been transformative. We’ve been using a home sewing machine, but now we can use the industrial machine. All these different things that will make everything easier to have a process.”
Javier Lopez of Obliqua Madera discovered NextFab’s practical solutions to everyday maker challenges. “I mostly use the sanding spaces and their filtration system because woodworking produces a lot of dust. I tried sanding at home, but the smoke alarms went off!” he laughs. Living just four blocks away, he’s made NextFab part of his daily routine.
For Paige Sato of M.A.B.E.L., the space itself is essential. “The cutting tables are essential for my work, as I need space to spread out quilts and plan my designs. The majority of what I do requires opening up the quilt, looking for damage, moving pattern pieces, and cutting. I can’t do that on the floor.”
Ask any member what their favorite part of NextFab is, and you’ll hear the same answer again and again: the people.
“Everyone is so kind there, I can ask anyone anything, and they’ll teach me,” shares Milan and Malik. “Everyone is so willing to help.”
Aaron Tyler Anderson of Lighten Up Lab agrees. “Everybody is so helpful. I have studio mates there for me when I have questions about the process, need to borrow tools, or want to discuss things like color theory or welding. If you need something, there’s someone here who knows something about it.”
Winter Scarlett of Nothing Unwanted captures the spirit perfectly: “I’m around so many people who create and make beautiful things and are in genuinely good spirits. They’re super positive and want to make things happen. The maker part really creates the vibe. Everyone wants to execute on cool ideas. It’s a community of practice, super social, with no meanies. Everyone has a good, generous vibe.”
For makers working from home or starting their creative businesses, NextFab provides something invaluable: a dedicated space to focus and grow.
“I’m happy about having a dedicated space to work on stuff,” says Malik Tyler. “For my other job, I work from home, so I’m always at home. Having a house where you chill, work, and do creative things is overwhelming. NextFab can be a creative zone.”
Paige Sato describes the motivating atmosphere: “It’s like going to the gym – seeing others work hard pushes me to stay focused. When I first came here, I wondered if it might be a place where no one wanted to talk, so I watched. I saw that people bring in leftover Halloween candy and have coffee together. There are people working all over on different things, it’s heart-filling.”
The combination of knowledgeable staff, supportive community members, and exposure to different disciplines creates endless opportunities for learning and growth.
Maria R. Schneider’s journey exemplifies this. “I found NextFab by walking by and taking a tour when in University City, and found lasers. Because of that, I moved from paint and canvas to lasers.” Over five years, she mastered new skills and transformed her artistic practice. “Sometimes I’ll pass by and see someone doing something and ask why, and you learn something new that you didn’t think of. It’s not copying or replicating, but inspiring to think maybe you can do something else.”
Bradford Davis of Bradford Davis Ceramics appreciates how NextFab mirrors academia’s collaborative spirit but with a hands-on approach. “People here come from all backgrounds and experiences, but they are all doing, sharing, interacting, and forming a hodgepodge community. That’s very powerful.”
Perhaps one of the most touching aspects members mention is the freedom to explore without judgment. Aaron Tyler Anderson puts it beautifully: “People here encourage exploring and don’t try to pigeonhole you. The things I’m working on are so strange, and no one bats an eye!”
Mason Holden of Friday Furniture sums up the NextFab experience: “Being around a creative community of other people doing similar things at a similar scale is helpful – it’s inspiring, and some people ask practical questions. There’s a networking element to it. The staff are really nice. It has a good atmosphere that’s facilitated by the staff.”
At NextFab, you’ll find the equipment you need, the expertise to guide you, and a community that genuinely wants to see you succeed. It’s where ideas become reality, and where makers become part of something bigger than themselves.
Ready to join the community? Sign up online now or come take a tour and see what NextFab can do for your creative practice.
Written in Partnership with FORMATION. Media