INNOVATIVE PROTOTYPES CREATED BY WOMEN

The Maker Woman project is organized by the Robisz.to As- sociation in cooperation with the Orange Foundation. It takes place in the FabLab powered by Orange studio in Warsaw. The 36 participants gained theoretical knowledge and practical know-how on how to create the prototype of a new product. They learned the basics of prototype design, programming, operating CNC machines, laser plotters and 3D printers. As- sisted by mentors, they created websites, photographed their products and learned the key facts about running a company.

“I cheer for all our participants. I believe the skills they gained, combined with their own creativity, will become great assets in their future. Technology is becoming an integral part of our ev- eryday lives and using it wisely, and with ingenuity, could change our lives for the better. You can see it happen in the FabLab,” said Ewa Krupa, head of the Orange Foundation at the finals of the third edition of Maker Woman, on July 10 in Warsaw.

“FabLab is a place where you don’t need a design background to start de- signing. Thanks to the technologies avail- able there and with the support of other people, you can turn even the boldest ideas into reality. Many participants of Maker Woman started from scratch and now they can proudly say they are ‘mak- ers’ and can design and create a complex item, including one connected to an app,” added Maciej Naskręt from the Robisz.to Association.

Some of the most notable designs include a 3D printed prosthetic hand designed by Magda Zaraś. The hand is three times cheaper than products on the market. Zaraś is now developing the product with the Amazing Woman grant she received from the French Orange Foundation.

Another innovative prototype, cre- ated by artist Anna Wójcik, is a breath regulator. A small handheld object that you watch as it increases and decreases in size at a rhythm controlled by an app. The device helps people suffering from stress or insomnia regulate their breath. Prototypes created as part of the Maker Woman project are all innovative solu- tions in health, interior design, children’s accessories, art and culture.