I designed and fabricated three mobile, modular toolboards to make frequently used tools and supplies easily accessible throughout Wellesley’s Knapp makerspace. By bringing tools closer to where work happens, patrons can focus on creating rather than searching.

To best support those needs of those who use and run the makerspace, the toolboards needed to be:

• Modular: able to support new tools and supplies as needs evolve
• Mobile: easy to reposition for different projects, workshops, and classes
• Robust: built to withstand heavy daily use and frequent movement
• Well-mapped: tools are easy to locate and return

The three toolboards, distributed and movable throughout the space, support high volumes of people by bringing tools to where the work is already happening, whether at a central communal table or in a quieter corner of the space.

The toolboards support multiple aspects of making, from the hands-on tool use to the processes of brainstorming and sketching. Beyond serving as storage that makes project set up easier and faster, the toolboards encourage informal interactions between community members and create shared spaces for collaborative ideas.