Workshop Statement

Tinkering around with materials can lead to unintended consequences. Sometimes, the result is worth pursuing commercially. This workshop explores the pathways that novel inventions can take as they meander (or explode!) out into the wider world. We will look at cases of products developed from academic or artistic research. Bring your stories of your brushes with the commercial world, and we’ll collectively consider platforms such as Kickstarter, blogs, Etsy, and more. We will also get into the basics of patenting and trademarking, and debate the value of intellectual property protection.

• Jennifer Leary