The Joy - and Power - of Making Things Yourself
Fellow Conformists,
So much of life today is lived digitally, but there are growing movements to choose analog, appreciate craftsmanship, and support independent makers and creatives.
Making things yourself is empowering: it proves that you are capable of crafting some of what you need or want without buying it, and gives you creative control over the end product, allowing you to make something that simply is not available to buy. In an economic system that relies on your consumerism of mass produced products, making something yourself is almost revolutionary.
Recently I visited a makerspace and learned how to use a laser cutter to transform our Enforcer Wasp symbol into a token I could hold.
Featured Conformist Project: Joseph's Shed
Today, Conformist #19-840-0013 shares this video of the shed that he built by hand, with the help of his friends. He designed the shed over the course of a year, and built it in six months.
This project is more than simply a shed. There are pre-fab sheds that are less attractive and lower quality. It's about using craftsmanship, and creating a space suited to a specific purpose. In Joseph's case, his shed provides a place to make music with friends. As he uses the shed, he continues to refine the experience (pdf).
See more of Joseph's projects.
Registered Conformists may submit projects for consideration to support@bureauofconformity.us.
Conformist Action: Make Something Tangible
This month, take time to craft something you can touch.
This could be as simple as a drawing on paper, a baked good, a piece of origami.
Or you might choose to build something more involved: a piece of furniture, a sculpture, a birdhouse, a dress.
If you've been meaning to try a new skill, treat this as the impetus you've been waiting for. If you tend to create digitally, take this opportunity to experiment with a physical medium.
The goal here is to bring something into the world that did not exist before, using your hands or human-controlled tools.
Share What You Made
We invite Conformists to share photos of your creations on social media using the hashtag #ConformistCreation.
Registered Conformists may earn a reward point for sharing their photo on Instagram; include your Conformist ID # and tag us (@bureauofconformity_official) so that we may properly attribute your reward. If you do not wish to post it yourself, you may also email a photo to support@bureauofconformity.us (we may post it on the Bureau's account).
Yours in Conformity,
Drake Starling
Directory, Bureau of Conformity