On May 6th and 7th, all tinkerers, nerds, and technology enthusiasts in Munich were once again thrilled: Make Munich 2017 was back, inviting visitors to craft and browse at the Zenith. Southern Germany's largest maker and DIY festival, which took place in the Bavarian capital for the fourth time, has rightfully established itself as a fixture here.
When thousands of Munich residents make the pilgrimage to the Zenith on one of the few sunny days of this rainy spring to attend a maker festival away from the Isar River and sunshine, it's a clear sign of the importance Make Munich has now achieved. The event has clearly become a permanent fixture in many people's calendars.
Soldering, screwing, tinkering
As always, makers from all over the world presented their inventions, projects, and technologies at the Kulturhalle. At the exhibition booths (approximately 150 exhibitors) and in the many inspiring presentations, visitors were able to gain an insight into the international maker movement. However, it wasn't just about watching and listening. Making things and trying things out were just as important: In many different hands-on workshops, "young makers" were able to try out their own creativity and inventiveness.
From drones to VR
In addition to the classic topics of the maker movement such as electronics & the Internet of Things (IoT), 3D printing, digital tools, robotics, maker startups, and the FabLab/Makerspace community area, new thematic areas were also offered, such as biohacking & food makers, makers & design, fashion/wearables technology, and green makers. In the highly sought-after quadcopter area, visitors had the opportunity to try their hand at being a drone pilot, and in the new virtual reality (VR) + augmented reality (AR) area, numerous visitors immersed themselves in virtual worlds.
There was certainly no reason to complain about a lack of variety at Make Munich 2017. What remains are many positive impressions of a thoroughly successful festival and the anticipation of the next edition of Munich's maker spectacle.
