Tucked in inner courtyards, refurbished buildings or in old factories—Switzerland has a hidden world of shared workshops, fablabs and makerspaces, that welcome anyone to make and create. Most people have no idea they exist, and we understand why: they're not easy to find. We know this firsthand, and as designers and makers ourselves, we needed an easy way to find tools, machines and spaces to make our projects. But we couldn’t find one. So we made workshop matters.

Here, we help you find the perfect space for your needs to prototype, build, cut, repair, design, fail, learn, unlearn and make things yourself. With your hands, with machines, and with others. Because we know that just like us, other designers, artists, and creatives all need a place to get their hands dirty.

The process behind workshop matters has been a long journey of conversations, interviews and exchange on what it means to create objects yourself. We listened to the stories of workshop owners and workshop users alike: from professional designers and artists to hobby makers. We wanted to hear where, how and why they craft objects and what drives their passion. Whether it’s a prototype or a finished item, making things reminds us that an object’s value isn’t measured by price, but rather by process, purpose, longevity and by the stories it carries.

Whether you are a recent design graduate, an independent artist, or just passionate about craft, we encourage you to dive into the world of shared workshop spaces and make more things yourself. We see shared workshops not as factories of production, but as incubators of ideas—places where hands meet minds, and people come together. By exploring places of co-creation we celebrate design as a human act: tactile, imperfect, and deeply social.

workshop matters began during a research thesis in HGK Basel: an investigation of Switzerland’s open workshops, fablabs and makerspaces as places that allow for alternative design processes. Curious about how access to shared workshop spaces can change a designer's practice? READ MORE HERE ↗

workshop matters is generously supported by the pro helvetia Emerging Talents Grant.

"We should not give up on the workshop as a social space. Workshops, present and past, have glued people together."
— Richard Sennett, The Craftsman

Behind every object lies a story: about materials, places, people, and processes — stories that are too often obscured by mass overproduction. We started workshop matters because we aim to share with you less-known stories of small production, design processes and repair approaches. Stories that remind us that making is a long journey—and that every object carries a history of its creation and a life beyond the production.

Beyond bringing visibility and accessibility to workshop- and maker- spaces, our mission is to open a conversation about the value of making, crafts(wo)manship and alternative processes for designing and producing. 

Our long term goals are to engage with events, publications and projects that create a shift in the relationships between designing and producing, especially by shifting the overconsumer’s narrative. We aim to share makers’ experiences, designer-maker’s insights and stories from the people who create and who use shared workshops—away from overconsumption, towards more intentional, connected and responsible ways of creating. Stay tuned and reach out if you resonate with any of this. We wish to ignite a growing community of designers, makers and curious practitioners—people who reflect on alternative ways of designing, producing and creating, and who find in shared workshops not just tools and machines, but places where hands meet minds, and where ideas take shape.

Human matters
We believe that making is an inherent human need. We help you reconnect with your inner maker. We know that crafty hands smell good and workshop outfits feel free.

Making matters
We recognise the importance of making in order to truly appreciate the value of things. We relate to designers’ need for making and crafting as part of the design process. We value objects for their stories, not for their price. We bring visibility to resilient bottom-up practices. 

Community matters
We believe that making things together allows us to learn from each other. Sharing not only lightens the load, it also makes creative work more possible. We share the stories that we believe matter. We do not differentiate between professionals and amateurs: making requires passion, and unlearning is the superpower of the 21st century.

Story matters
We amplify the stories of designer-makers, artists, and amateurs who push the boundaries of craft. We want to see more responsible production and consumption, even if it is small-scale.
We believe in less waste and greater appreciation for how things are made. We raise awareness about existing degrowth practices. After shared gardens, shared desks, and shared kitchens, the time has come for shared workshop spaces to shine.

Play matters
We know that making is fun. We believe a sense of play makes design better. We believe in design for good. We have an infinite curiosity for craftsmanship. Digital and analogue, old and new.

We are Victoria, Jo and Erica: designers, thinkers and makers who care and design for meaningful content. We met during our studies at the Basel Academy of Art and Design (HGK) and connected through the shared belief that design has a social responsibility, and that understanding crafts is vital to creating meaningful objects. 
Our practice is driven by questions such as: what kind of change do we want to see in our environment? Whom are we designing for? What is our role as designers in such critical times?

Special Thanks to

[SUPPORT & CONTRIBUTION]
Bosco Fereira 
Paloma López Grüninger
Stella Auburger
Saskia Haas

[WORKSHOP SPACES]
for the many hours of interviews and exchange with workshop spaces, particularly:
Tobias from macherschaft / Basel
Jana, Linda, Leon and Michele from freiwerk / Basel
Martin from TDS Textildruckerei / Arbon
druckwerk / Basel
meter / St. Galen
Jessica from MACO & Le Grand Atelier Geneve
makerspace Lausanne
Salem Imadjane from DYNAMO / Zurich

[DESIGNERS, MAKERS & ARTISTS]
Flavia Taschler
Katharina Fronhofen
Laura Kluge
Nicole Salnicov
Maria Beleva
Maria Alessandra Fratta
Vera Roggli
Yael Anders
George Foster
Kim Andre Lange
Marc Gertsch
Jonas Froetschl
Jan Zinnenlaufen
Rene Odermatt
Valentin Denkov #wormhole
Friends and family 
HGK Basel

[FINANCIAL SUPPORT]
pro helvetia [Swiss Arts Council]
Foundation for Art and Design Basel