Ideas change everything

A makerspace for everyone

Robin Hooker |

TED@UPS

• July 2018

Growing up tinkering in his father's workshop, Robin Hooker always had a space to reimagine the world -- to modulate, mashup, remix and repair things. As an adult, he realized not everyone has access to a space where they can safely experiment. Hooker argues for democratizing access to public, shared workshops, commonly called "makerspaces," that provide room for the collision of ideas; where inventors and hobbyists alike can collaborate, accelerate innovation and build community with magical results.

Want to use TED Talks in your organization?

Want to use TED Talks in your organization?

Growing up tinkering in his father's workshop, Robin Hooker always had a space to reimagine the world -- to modulate, mashup, remix and repair things. As an adult, he realized not everyone has access to a space where they can safely experiment. Hooker argues for democratizing access to public, shared workshops, commonly called "makerspaces," that provide room for the collision of ideas; where inventors and hobbyists alike can collaborate, accelerate innovation and build community with magical results.

Want to use TED Talks in your organization?

About the speaker

Robin Hooker

Makerspace mastermind

Robin Hooker is responsible for developing and executing UPS’s healthcare market strategy to serve the unique logistics needs of the life science sector. Prior to his current assignment, Hooker served as Director of Healthcare Marketing and Director of Global Strategy, Healthcare Logistics. Hooker grew up with his own makerspace in his parent’s garage, where his was exposed to fabricating and fixing things with his father. He credits some of his early experiences for teaching him to drive innovative solutions, and hopes to help increase accessibility to makerspaces for all.

About TED Institute

Every year, TED works with a group of select companies and foundations to identify internal ideators, inventors, connectors, and creators. Drawing on the same rigorous regimen that has prepared speakers for the TED main stage, TED Institute works closely with each partner, overseeing curation and providing intensive one-on-one talk development to sharpen and fine tune ideas. The culmination is an event produced, recorded, and hosted by TED, generating a growing library of valuable TED Talks that can spur innovation and transform organizations.

Read more about the TED Institute