Connecting with Campuswide Makers: Inside the 2026 Maker Network Conference

While attending a conference on the East Coast, Siebel Center for Design’s Assistant Director of Lab Equipment and Operations, Neil Pearse, connected with the IDEA Lab’s Stuart Turner and Celenia Graves for the first time. But how was it that two professionals working in the same field, at the same university, had never met before? And if they had not both attended that conference, would they have crossed paths at all?

Those questions sat at the heart of the Maker Network Conference, an effort to connect faculty, staff, and partners working across Illinois’ growing maker ecosystem. The University of Illinois is home to an impressive collection of maker spaces, but many operate in parallel rather than in conversation. The Maker Network aims to bring those efforts together, building relationships that make it easier to share resources, expertise, and support across units.

A Campus-Wide View of Making

The morning unfolded, with quick presentations from representatives for several campus maker spaces, sharing how their facilities operate and who they serve.

• At Siebel Center for Design, Neil Pearse highlighted the people and processes that keep SCD’s Shop and Media Studio running. Training, production schedules, open hours, and equipment maintenance are supported by a mix of full-time staff and student employees, reinforcing the idea that access to tools works best when paired with guidance and care.
• The IDEA Lab offered a complementary model. Stuart Turner and Celenia Graves described the IDEA Lab as an immersive technology and digital scholarship hub supporting work across disciplines. With on-site facilities, loanable technology, and a makerspace where staff can assist with production, the IDEA Lab meets users at different stages of experimentation.
• Turning toward empathy and inclusion, Deana McDonagh and Susann Sears shared how their work at the (dis)ability Design Studio centers on improving quality of life for people with diverse needs. Recent projects include a collaboration with Disability Resources and Educational Services (DRES) to create a maker lab designed by a
  wheelchair user for wheelchair users.

• Przemek Bosak then introduced the Innovation Studio at CITL, a beginner-friendly makerspace offering tools such as VR and XR technology, GenAI experimentation, 3D printing, and vinyl cutting. Serving classes, RSOs, community groups, and international visitors, the space emphasizes curiosity and approachability, with VR emerging as its most popular offering.

• Rounding out the facility presentations, Dustin Mayfield-Jones shared how the EnterpriseWorks supports deep-tech startups and research companies. With a small footprint and 24/7 card access for tenants, the space prioritizes rapid prototyping and availability, helping teams move quickly from idea to iteration.

Additional campus maker spaces, including Fresh Press, maker spaces run by the Krannert Center for Performing Arts, and the Illinois Maker Lab, were also highlighted in the conference slide deck.

From Making to Partnership

Following an interactive activity led by Deana McDonagh, where attendees translated their names into Braille, the focus shifted toward external collaboration. Ulyssia Dennis and Stephanie Larson shared how Corporate Relations acts as a gateway between the University and industry, supporting funding, partnerships, and engagement opportunities.

With hundreds of active corporate relationships and significant investment in research and recruiting, their presentation underscored how closely making, innovation, and industry collaboration are already linked.

By the end of the conference, one theme stood out clearly. Making at the University of Illinois is not confined to a single space or discipline. The Maker Network Conference marked a meaningful first step toward strengthening the relationships that help ideas move forward.