The Makerlab is first and foremost a collective business framework for creative new media projects: Our manifesto will change with the company and we look forward to this evolution.


>> Ownership

Avoid silos; federate data - don't try to own data. Be transparent.

Focus on aggregating content and encouraging point source emitters

Foster an ecosystem where all participants get rewarded, support all attempts at bettering communication


>> Triple Open: Open Data, Open Code, Open Participation

Allow ownership across all parties involved in all projects, monetize collectively, distribute work-load collectively; ownership can be a liability and it is not always an asset

Let team members dictate and establish their own strengths on thier own, allow for flexibility and diversity in work styles

License free or open. BSD Licensing of code Creative Commons Licensing of content

Code sprints and social practice development


>> Design Practices

Brainstorming, sketching and iterative, agile concept development are encouraged

Provide support for ideation, respect and foster creativity and risk taking by taking smaller steps more often

Reward attempts to change the status quo and shift processes to serve client and user needs in novel ways

Keep lines of communication open, have design sessions once a week where designers can play and try out new ideas


>> Wiki Like

Everything should be a wiki Everything should allow reverting

Deputize participants to help groom the garden

Disambiguate related content; duplicate persons and the like with disambiguation pages

Support rich relationships to associate related materials

Filter, capture, and use existing social networks, online and off

Use Machine Methods to topic cluster – to add and improve human tagging and categorization

Cluster by Location and time, use peers, and personal profiles to filter views


>> Conversational

Encourage real time discourse, encourage collaboration and open-ended conversation

Be humane.

Be multi-modal and multi-gateway, multi-ligual and multi-faceted


>> Velocity

Abide by agile development practices

Focus on one thing at a time, ship early and often. Be your own most loyal user

Provide feedback mechanisms early on, for team and stakeholders

Iterate quickly and often, take feedback and criticism and turn good projects into great ones


>> Community

Focus on caring for our own communities first

Then and only then do you grow outwards from our own community

Remember to appreciate those around you, enocourage and validate the work of those around you