Indiana University of Pennsylvania’s STEAMSHOP, an Innovation Accelerator featuring digital fabrication tools and entrepreneurship resources, will host a Future Makers Forum with Kalamazoo, Michigan-based product designer and entrepreneur Michael Nashef on October 18 with a hands-on 3D printing and mold-making workshop on Oct. 19.
Nashef’s Future Makers Forum talk will take place on Oct. 18 at 4:00 p.m. in Jane Leonard Hall, room B10. This event is free and open to the public.
Following Nashef’s presentation on Oct. 18, students and members of the public can participate in a hands-on 3D printing workshop in STEAMSHOP. The workshop will cover using 3D prints for mold making and will take place on Oct. 19 from 10:00 a.m. to noon in the Robertshaw Building, room 25. Workshop seats can be reserved by emailing steamshop-team@iup.edu.
Nashef was born in war-torn Lebanon and moved to the United States in 1998. He is a trained goldsmith and earned his master of fine arts degree from Bowling Green State University in 2018. Nashef has worked as a CAD jewelry designer, and in 2006 launched his fine jewelry company Intersecting Hearts. Nashef’s passion for digital fabrication technology and interest in entrepreneurship led him to establish a successful product design and fabrication business.
Since 2019 he has released more than 11 tools for the jewelry industry and sold more than 20,000 units. These tools are manufactured by Nashef using nontraditional methods and sold by major supply companies internationally. In addition, he consults on additive manufacturing methods, 3D printing, and 3D printer optimization for large multinational companies.
“Michael is a dynamic speaker and educator and is extremely generous with his knowledge,” Sharon Massey, professor of art and design and Future Makers Forum cofounder, said. “I’m excited for the IUP community to have the opportunity to hear about his experience as a product designer and entrepreneur.”
STEAMSHOP is a regional innovation accelerator intended to transform learning at IUP by empowering students from all backgrounds and preparations to actively engage with an interdisciplinary digital fabrication lab (makerspace). The technological, entrepreneurial, and leadership skills gained through participation in STEAMSHOP programming better prepare students for the rapidly evolving workforce.
The Future Makers Forum is a program of Local X Change and brings artists, engineers, entrepreneurs, and other changemakers to IUP for talks and workshops, and is designed to showcase makers, especially makers from underrepresented populations, and provide an opportunity for them to talk about their journey to serve as inspiration for IUP students as well as the community.
The inaugural Future Makers Forum was held in April with Pittsburgh-based maker Nina Barbuto. Barbuto is the founder of Assemble, a community space in Pittsburgh’s Garfield neighborhood for arts and technology in 2011. She also is the cofounder of I Made It! Market, an idea based on urban acupuncture. This nomadic market partners with community, arts, and nonprofit organizations to raise funds and awareness to assist in improving their communities while allowing local artists and crafters to sell their wares. It was named “Best Place to Buy Locally Made Crafts” by Pittsburgh City Paper in 2022.
Local X Change combines digital fabrication instruction with civic engagement and is part of a program developed by Massey and Sean Derry, professor of art and design. In addition to collaborative public events, Local X Change projects include scaffolded introductions to digital fabrication technology, such as 3D modeling, laser cutting, 3D printing, and 3D scanning.
The Future Makers Forum is supported by SWPA New Economy Collaborative using Federal funds under award 01-79-15316 URI 121596 from the US Economic Development Administration, US Department of Commerce. The statements, findings, conclusions, and recommendations are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the US Economic Development Administration or the US Department of Commerce.