Made Simple: Exploring Creativity in Low-Tech Design

October 28, 2025 After experimenting with paper weaving and quilling, I wanted to explore something a bit more personal and expressive, which led me to zine-making. Zines (short for "magazines" are small, homemade booklets that combine mix of text and images in creative ways. They can take many forms including personal diaries, art collections, or even mini how-to guides. Typically, each zine is crafted from a single sheet of paper, folded to create connected pages. Zines are an accessible form of art and storytelling that offer a simple but powerful way to express ideas, share experiences and experiment creatively. They can be distributed for free, sold at a low cost, or traded with others, which makes them an inclusive medium for communication and creativity.  I decided to make an eight-page mini zine titled Makerspace Moments, capturing snippets of time I have spent in the space, and reflections about the creative process. Supplies Used: sheet of paper scissors  gluestick ...

October 11, 2025 Last week, I began this series with paper weaving, which is based on structure and repetition. This week, I wanted to explore something, a bit different, less rigid, and more flexible. This led me to quilling, a paper art I was first introduced to in kindergarten, when we made small tress for our parents during the winter months. I recently came that project while helping my parents clean out their basement, and it has held up surprisingly well after all of these years. Quilling, also called paper filigree is a craft that transforms thin strips of paper into intricate designs through rolling shaping and gluing. What fascinates me about this method is that it is both methodical but freeform all at once. Each coil is very precise, but together, they form compositions that feel truly magical, a balance between control and creativity. In the makerspace context, quilling fits perfectly with accessible creativity by taking everyday materials and using them in unexpected ways...

A makerspace is a creative space where creativity and curiosity come together through hands-on projects. It's a setting designed for people to experiment, design, and build using shared materials and tools.  I will explore how creativity can take shape through low-tech making using paper, cardboard, yarn, and other everyday supplies. By focusing on simple, hands-on projects, this blog will look at how basic materials can inspire focus, problem-solving, and thoughtful design. Often, great ideas start with a few basic tools and the willingness to create. 

Paper Weaving Paper weaving is one of the simplest ways to introduce hands-on creativity in a makerspace. Using only paper, scissors (or a paper cutter) and glue/tape, creators can explore color, pattern, and structure while learning the basic design structures. The process is fairly straight forward, weaving strips of paper over and under to form a grid, but it is surprisingly engaging. The activity encourages focus and problem-solving as makers weave strips of paper into grids. Choices such as spacing, colors, and texture make each piece unique. The process is simple but effective, promoting observation, coordination, and patience. In the makerspace setting, paper weaving is low-tech and transforms simple materials into something personal. It is approachable for beginners but still rewarding for those that want to experiment with texture or form. You can start to see as the project takes form, how design choices can add personality, and the structure becomes a story-telling piece thr...