LATEST UPDATEs:

The BDW will be closed for spring break March 23 - 31. We look forward to seeing you on April 1 when we return!

Please check our calendar for workshops + monitor hours.

  • Interested in setting up a tour for your organization/group/class? fill out this form and we’ll schedule a tour with one of our monitors.

  • If you have any ideas or feedback for us, please reach out to us using this form - we’d love to hear from you! You can also email designworkshop@brown.edu at any time for assistance.

Last Updated: March 18, 2024

 

Our Mission:

 

The Brown Design Workshop is a student-run makerspace which aims to make the practices of design and creation more collaborative, open, flexible and accessible.

 

Who We Are

The Brown Design Workshop is a place to learn and make. We support new and resourceful types of learning where we iterate, create and collaborate. We strive to increase accessibility to knowledge, resources, and safe practices. We support each other in learning, we make mistakes and we improve because of them. We believe in accountability and support, striving to make a learning community that is welcoming to all.

Learn More

 

Get Involved

Whether you become a member through a class, join us for a specialty workshop or just to learn a new skill, there are plenty of ways to get involved! All of our materials and machines are entirely free to use.

 

Safety First!

See our policies to learn about how to safely operate in the space. These policies outline basic space operations.

Become a member

The BDW is for everyone! Learn more about what we do and what it means to be a member.

Visit the BDW

Our calendar has our workshop schedule and updated hours. This is the best way to get started as a user in the space!

 

Our Team

Our monitors are passionate about sharing skills and facilitating a safe and welcoming space where everyone has the tools to explore the joy of making. We teach workshops and offer guidance on best practices and tool safety. We have a wide range of interests and skills— check out our monitor bios to learn more.

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Our Space

The BDW has a diverse array of tools and machines. We also have quite a bit of material for use—leftover from research projects, coursework, and events in the space. We generally recommend bringing your own materials, but please come have a look at what we have stocked as well.

 

10k

Square Feet of workspace

Workbenches, rolly chairs, and machines sprinkle the open workspace of the BDW, where students convene to learn, design, and build.

 

50+

Student Employees

The work and input of students continues to progress the BDW with their leadership, enthusiasm, and dedication to the missions of the space.

 
 

9+

Years in the Making

The BDW, which started as a dream of faculty in 2013, now fully functions as a student-run makerspace.