Making Make Works Work

We have spent two years researching, prototyping, building and launching the platform, which uses data, photography and film to make local production easier to find. It is now used everyday by designers, artists and architects around the world. We have been able to make this happen with the financial support of Creative Scotland, and the Jerwood Charitable Foundation. 

Unlike most web platforms, we have no intention of introducing shareholders, investors, VC’s or angels into the company. Instead, all profits are reinvested and used to support local making and manufacturing. We believe in open information, so access to, and participation in the platform will be available for everyone, for free - for as long as we are exist. 

We also know that chasing arts funding each year is not a sustainable business model. Having tested and watched how the platform is used, our focus is now to make Make Works self sustainable financially. 

We are calling this year-long project ‘making make works work’. 

The project will take place over the next 12 months, beginning 03/08/2015. 

We will be finding, building and testing as many sustainable revenue streams as we can. These streams involve both digital and physical products and services, that will generate revenue to support the core activities of the platform. 

The revenue streams will align to our mission, and not distract from the purpose of the platform – to make local manufacturing accessible and inspiring.

The project is experimental, with an element of risk - intended to test the value of what we have built. We will be publicly documenting everything we do so that the wider arts, tech and business community can learn from our mistakes and processes. 

We will also be holding monthly work in progress events at Codebase, Edinburgh which will be open to the public and free to attend. We will be announcing the details of these events on Twitter and in our newsletter.

If you would like to keep up with our progress follow our project-specific blog, makemakeworkswork@tumblr.com or follow the Twitter hashtag #makingmw

What about the Make Works directory?

Although our main focus this year will be on developing revenue streams to ensure the future of the Make Works platform, we will of course be maintaining the platform and won't be able to resist going on a fair few factory visits. If you're interesting in being added to the Make Works platform find out more here 

Make Works has had an amazing first year, we’ve only reached this point thanks to an enormous amount of help from our friends, collaborators and contributors, not to mention the many companies who have agreed to let us into their workspaces, and all of the people who have taken that first step to use the Make Works platform. Thank you all!