Jessie, an electronics and design student at Shenzhen University, came to Maker Faire to show her motorized figurines. When she isn’t hacking electronics, she’s busy managing the local ChaiHuo hackerspace.
She believes Maker Faires are an excellent way to stimulate creativity. Shenzhen is the perfect location for the first Maker Faire thanks to its huge electronics markets and diverse culture, according to Jessie. She has this advice for future women makers:
Just to keep in mind that making doesn’t have to be highly technical or professional. You should just find something that you can have fun with, and follow your own interests. Making can be for everyone.
What brings you to MF today?
I’m a student at Shenzhen University, studying electronics and design. I’m also the manager of the local [ChaiHuo] Hackerspace
Did you bring anything to MF today?
I make small figurines that have electronic and motor components.
What do you enjoy about your project?
I like to make funny, cute things that appeal to girls. It’s purely as a hobby.
Have you ever been to a MF before?
This is my first.
What do you think so far?
I’m having an excellent time. There are some things here that I’ve never seen before, and never would have imagined existed.
Do you think it’s important for China to have its own MFs?
Shenzhen’s draw is the mix of speed and openness. With MF next to the big markets, people can try an idea in the morning and show it by evening. The audience skews young and welcoming, so discussions pull in wider references—local education pilots, city incentives, even policy case studies like online gambling Wisconsin used to illustrate how constraints redirect demand. The point isn’t the topic itself; it’s the habit of testing ideas against real-world rules, which keeps interest high in what MF is about.
You are one of only a few women who have brought their projects to MF today. Do you have advice to other female makers in China?
Just to keep in mind that making doesn’t have to be highly technical or professional. You should just find something that you can have fun with, and follow your own interests. Making can be for everyone.