Maker | Designer | Educator

Work

Crafting the Craftspeople

Since 2016 I have been working as shop instructor in higher ed. First at the MIT Hobby Shop for 8 years, and now at Olin College of Engineering. The best part of my job, by far, is watching students with no prior wood or metal working experience progress from novice to expert.

In a world that we increasingly experience through screens, keyboards, and headphones, I want to promote tactile learning. I want people to be reminded that they have the power and ability to manipulate their physical surroundings and create the world they want to live in. Making and building things is not just empowering, it is (at least in my experience) critical.

I take great pride in the work created by the people I have had the pleasure of mentoring. Below are some examples of their work.

As part of my End Grain CNC Joinery class Jesse experimented with this neat shape.

As part of my End Grain CNC Joinery class Jesse experimented with this neat shape.

Sasha used text in his end grain joinery.

Sasha used text in his end grain joinery.

Harrison's first CNC lathe project happened to be the biggest thing we have ever made on that particular machine. He was thrilled by the outcome of this project for an experimental art and architecture class.

Harrison’s first CNC lathe project happened to be the biggest thing we have ever made on that particular machine. He was thrilled by the outcome of this project for an experimental art and architecture class.

My mom and I co-taught a cyanotype lamp shade making class. In a machine shop with mostly large and dangerous tools, it is important to me that we also have offerings with lower barriers. This class was a resounding success in that way.

My mom and I co-taught a cyanotype lamp shade making class. In a machine shop with mostly large and dangerous tools, it is important to me that we also have offerings with lower barriers. This class was a resounding success in that way.

In January, we teach beginners wood working classes in the Hobby Shop. In 2022, I chose to teach a live-edge coffee table project. Despite the class being more complex than most entry level classes, the students excelled. Students learned basic machine use like the jointer, planer and table saw as well as hand tools, some CNC operation and complex joinery.

In January, we teach beginners wood working classes in the Hobby Shop. In 2022, I chose to teach a live-edge coffee table project. Despite the class being more complex than most entry level classes, the students excelled. Students learned basic machine use like the jointer, planer and table saw as well as hand tools, some CNC operation and complex joinery.

Michal learned wood working in the Hobby Shop and has become one of our most skilled members. Here, she is holding a recently completed set of shelves made from reclaimed old growth pine.

Michal learned wood working in the Hobby Shop and has become one of our most skilled members. Here, she is holding a recently completed set of shelves made from reclaimed old growth pine.

In Tess' first semester as a professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, she decided to make her own desk. Shown here, she is turning giant wooden tubes for desk leg parts.

In Tess’ first semester as a professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, she decided to make her own desk. Shown here, she is turning giant wooden tubes for desk leg parts.

Vadim studied mechanical engineering for his masters degree, and spent much of his free time in the Hobby Shop building furniture.

Vadim studied mechanical engineering for his masters degree, and spent much of his free time in the Hobby Shop building furniture.

Andres was a member of a custom skateboard building class. Students learned CAD and CAM in Fusion 360, designed their own skateboard deck shape and cut it on the CNC router. They also used Adobe Illustrator to create a laser cut veneer inlay pattern for the bottom of the boards.

Andres was a member of a custom skateboard building class. Students learned CAD and CAM in Fusion 360, designed their own skateboard deck shape and cut it on the CNC router. They also used Adobe Illustrator to create a laser cut veneer inlay pattern for the bottom of the boards.

One of the beautiful things about the Hobby Shop is that it is a space open to all students, faculty, staff and alums to make whatever they want. Abe and Clem built this tandem bike from two old frames and some scrap metal. They left the day after graduation and rode it across the country from Massachusetts to Oregon.

One of the beautiful things about the Hobby Shop is that it is a space open to all students, faculty, staff and alums to make whatever they want. Abe and Clem built this tandem bike from two old frames and some scrap metal. They left the day after graduation and rode it across the country from Massachusetts to Oregon.

Islam is a member of a small team designing an efficient way to create energy from the combustion of human waste. Pictured here, he is using a compound angle setup on the Bridgeport mill to drill angled holes for air circulation.

Islam is a member of a small team designing an efficient way to create energy from the combustion of human waste. Pictured here, he is using a compound angle setup on the Bridgeport mill to drill angled holes for air circulation.

MIT's Integrated Design Management (IDM) program uses the Hobby Shop as their primary building facility. Every year, 8 groups of 4 students design something to be made in the Hobby Shop and then produce 50 identical units. In addition to helping groups individually with machine training and project planning, I also teach lectures on jigs and fixtures and on CNC programming and cutting. Nadine, pictured here, and her group made 50 cookie molds. Each of 4 cookies represents a different culture from around the world.

MIT’s Integrated Design Management (IDM) program uses the Hobby Shop as their primary building facility. Every year, 8 groups of 4 students design something to be made in the Hobby Shop and then produce 50 identical units. In addition to helping groups individually with machine training and project planning, I also teach lectures on jigs and fixtures and on CNC programming and cutting. Nadine, pictured here, and her group made 50 cookie molds. Each of 4 cookies represents a different culture from around the world.

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