9 Lessons I’ve Learned from Visiting 9 Makerspaces Across Europe

Last month, I explored nine makerspaces across Europe with my friend Ashraf Hamad. From leather studios and design labs to glass workshops and creative hubs, each stop was an invitation to look closer, to move slower, and to notice what’s often missed.

The spaces were filled with people deeply engaged in the process: testing, building, adjusting, asking, and refining.

Nine lessons that stayed with me about how we think, work, and build with intention.

1. Clarity and craft move at the same pace
The people working with their hands were focused.
Every step, every cut, every stitch felt deliberate.
When attention is fully present, choices become simpler and more aligned with one's values.

2. Builders still believe in slow thinking
There was no race to finish, no pressure to scale.
They stayed close to the process, letting it unfold with steady attention. Over time, understanding deepened, choices became more grounded, and the work revealed its next move.

3. Learning grows in the right atmosphere
The most thoughtful spaces invited exploration naturally. There was freedom in how they were built, open, welcoming, and full of possibility.
Open layouts. Natural light. Flexible corners. Tools within reach.
It reminded me that growth needs presence.

4. The right conversation changes everything
Some of the richest moments came in between, during quiet (and even rushed) walks, over coffee, between cities. They arrived gently, without an agenda, and often carried the most profound insights. Ashraf would ask something sharp. I’d reflect. He’d add. I’d rethink. That rhythm opened new insights without trying.

5. Stillness can find you anywhere
We didn’t go looking for clarity, it found us.
On a bench. On a quiet road. During a pause with no agenda.
It shows up in moments of presence, when attention settles and the noise fades.

6. Good design removes friction
The most creative makerspaces felt natural to move through. Their design made it easy to focus, create, and stay connected to the work.
Everything had a place.
Nothing felt in the way.

7. Curiosity is the best teacher
We watched people follow their curiosity with no guaranteed outcome.
Try this. Adjust that. Flip it over. Start again. No fear of being wrong.
Only the joy of figuring something out.

8. Time alone isn’t wasted time
Many of the most focused creators found their rhythm in solitude. They were fully present with their work, grounded and deeply engaged.

9. What lasts is built with care
Many finished pieces held more than form; it carried the rhythm of the person who made it. You could sense the patience in the edges, the intention in the choices, the quiet discipline behind each revision.

So,
Nine places. Nine lessons. This trip started with a checklist, but it offered something quieter. One reminder: it’s not always about adding more, it’s about tuning into what’s already here.