Let’s Make: Lamps

The Digital Makerspace hosted Let’s Make: Lamps, a hands-on workshop aimed at empowering students through practical skills and creative expression. Led by community mentor Vaanee Tripathi, the session introduced participants to basic electrical wiring and product design. Students transformed raw materials into custom-built lamps that not only lit up their dorm rooms but also reflected their personal aesthetics.

Vaanee, reflecting on the intent behind the workshop, shared, “We didn’t want students to think the Makerspace is just about electronics and computers. There is a design inherent in the concept of making. We wanted to validate that crafting something with your hands—be it with sticks, wires, or fabric—is also making.”

The workshop emphasised design thinking: students were encouraged to sketch, plan, and iterate their lamp concepts before assembling them. Drawing from a curated mood board inspired by diverse dorm room styles across campus, participants created pieces tailored to various aesthetics—from soft minimalism to bold maximalism.

“What we really wanted to leave them with,” Vaanee added, “were two things: the confidence to wire a bulb themselves, and an understanding that design is a process. Clarity improves making.”

While the workshop was only two hours long, it was structured to offer students a strong starting point. Participants left with their bulbs wired and designs underway—many returned to complete their lamps, drawn by the satisfaction of building something from scratch.

The event demonstrated the power of interdisciplinary making. With a mix of craft, electronics, and personal expression, Let’s Make: Lamps reaffirmed the Makerspace as a space for everyone to explore, create, and learn essential life skills—one glowing lamp at a time.