Mobile Makers Chicago

Mobile Makers, founded in 2017, is a nonprofit organization that works to make design education accessible to all people, especially those who have historically been left out of traditional design discourse. Through youth design and skill-building workshops, community engagement, public installations, and pop-ups hosted out of a retrofitted mail truck, Mobile Makers empowers communities to engage in conversations about positive change in their built environments.

Mobile Makers recently opened a permanent location at the Kimball Art Center that features huge storefront windows and 18-foot ceilings. The space used to be a loading dock for semi-trucks and has been transformed into a large makerspace. In 2024, the space will be transformed again and will include makerspaces, a conference room, kitchen, library, office, and stadium seating.

Guests of all ages can experience hands-on analog and digital design activities at stations throughout the space, with staff on hand to give instructions where necessary. Visitors will also be able to view the Emerging Creatives Exhibition and tour the MMC truck parked out front.