From my journey of dumpster diving to showcasing at Maker Faire Malta.

There’s something rather exciting about being surrounded by people who enjoy making things, experimenting, and occasionally creating something simply because they can.

During the first weekend of October, I had the opportunity to participate as an exhibitor at the first Maker Faire Malta, and it turned out to be a memorable experience.

For those unfamiliar with Maker Faire, it’s generally described as a great show and tell event which gathers creative minds, inventors, hobbyists, artists and curious individuals from the local community, to come together to showcase their projects, share knowledge, and inspire others.

For my little Maker Faire Malta exhibition space, I decided to showcase a collection of projects I’d been experimenting with, involving salvaged electronics, 3D printing, and everyday materials that might have ended up in the bin.

DIY Voice Visualiser

One of the main attractions was my DIY laser voice visualiser, a rather simple concept that uses sound vibrations to manipulate a reflected laser beam to create patterns of light, which both children and adults enjoyed exploring.

Joystick-powered pen plotter

Another project that was quite popular, especially with children, was a joystick controlled pen plotter. Most children didn’t only complete the little maze challenge I had prepared but also wanted to experiment with free drawing. The main aspect that stood out to me was the different approach they took to complete the maze and while the pen plotter performed best with linear structures, it didn’t stop them from getting some nice curves too.

These are some projects that demonstrate how something relatively simple can produce fascinating results. And, perhaps more importantly, it’s a reminder that we don’t necessarily need expensive equipment to experiment with science and technology.

Preparing for the event involved plenty of tinkering, testing, and making adjustments. As with most DIY projects, things don’t always behave quite as expected, but that’s have the fun which is why I had a little box of some handy supplies and tools under the table, in case I need some quick fixes.

The best part though? Meeting other makers.

While showing and talking about my projects and journey was exciting, what I enjoyed most was meeting and talking to other makers.

Everyone seemed to have their own fascinating interests, experiences, and approach to solving problems. Some had impressive technical knowledge, while others approached making from a more artistic perspective. I also came away with new ideas and tips for improving on my voice visualiser, thanks to conversations and suggestions from fellow makers.

It was refreshing to be around people who understood the excitement of turning a random idea into something tangible.

The exciting thing about such interactive projects is watching people become curious about how something works. Sometimes, all it takes is a simple demonstration to spark a question, and that question might eventually lead someone to try making something themselves.

Can’t wait until the next one!

I’m glad I decided to participate, especially in Malta’s first edition of Maker Faire. It was an opportunity to step away from my usual workspace and step outside my comfort zone, which is where all the best things happen.

Unfortunately, I didn’t manage to explore the other sections beyond where I was located since I was busy at my exhibition table.

Hopefully, this will be the first of many such events.

And if there’s one thing I’d like people to take away from my projects, is that you don’t need to be an expert to start making things. Sometimes, curiosity is all you need.

If you read this far, thank you!

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