Makerversity has always offered 20% of all memberships for free, as part of our residency programmes – Under 30's and Makers with a Mission. Here we take a look at the last cohort and their projects, all who joined Makerversity for 3 months free membership and support.

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Si Hyun Park

Si Hyun is a designer whose work explores the intersection of design, craft, and art, drawing inspiration from nature, materials, and the manufacturing process.

In recent years Si Hyun's work has been primarily made with metal, but during her residency at Makerversity, she has been exploring a variety of materials to create small objects and furniture. In-particular using the wood-lathe and wood workshop, alongside metal work to create beautiful, considerately designed pieces.

You can follow the work Si Hyun is creating here, and look at her full portfolio of work here!

Nikol Penova

Nikol Penova is a design researcher and maker specialising in hand and domestic knitting. She uses knitting as a communication tool to explore the nuanced and ever-changing experiences of individuals who menstruate. Much like premenstrual syndrome, textile art has often been dismissed, overlooked, and trivialised as a mundane "female concern."

Nikols work challenges this perception, reframing both as sources of empowerment and valuable expressions of femininity. Through co-design and ethnographic research, Nikol address's stigma and raise awareness about the menstrual cycle. Her practice fosters dialogue around the complexities of hormones and the mind-body connection, demonstrating how design can serve as both a research method and a means of personal expression.
By focusing on the luteal phase, Nikol explores how these practices can shift societal attitudes and deepen engagement with menstrual health.
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During her residency at Makerversity, Nikol has expanded her exploration to include embroidery and metalwork, using these techniques to further investigate
premenstrual stress. As part of this, she is developing a project inspired by traditional Bulgarian folk costumes, reflecting her ongoing research into menstrual
cycle awareness. Nikol produced a photo series showcasing these prototypes, which was exhibited at an end of residency showcase at Makerversity. The work exhibited was a continuation of her advocacy work - challenging stigmas and fostering open conversations about female health, making these discussions a natural part of everyday life.

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By integrating research, design and an abstract approach to communication, Nikol aims to challenge stigmas, provoke dialogue and reshape societal perceptions, fostering a more inclusive and informed understanding of menstrual health.

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You can see Nikol's full portfolio of work here.

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Vittoria Benotto

Vittoria is a designer whose past work has focused on exploring the relationship between people and their belongings. Vittoria's practice was driven by modularity and the exploration of materiality. For her master’s degree project, Vittoria created a modular jewellery series that aimed to rethink how people connect with their personal items. Vittoria incorporated magnets into the design to allow for various configurations, making the jewellery more interactive and personalised.

During her time at Makerversity, Vittoria has been diving into woodturning on our woodlathe, exploring new techniques and materials. She has been working primarily with spalted beech which naturally forms interesting patterns in the wood. Each piece is unpredictable, which has made the process very exciting and inspiring for Vittoria. Alongside woodworking, Vittoria has been experimenting with some fresh ideas and concepts for jewellery. Taking inspiration from her 'doodles' (flowers and smiley faces), and currently exploring how repetition can create visually compelling and engaging patterns.

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You can check out Vittorias website and work here!

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Tabatha Pearce Chedier

Tabatha Pearce Chedier is a Brazilian-British designer and creative whose work explores her dual heritage and cultural influences while employing a charismatic, process-oriented approach within her designs. In 2024, Tabatha was nominated by Jasper Morrison for the Ralph Saltzman Prize at the Design Museum. This recognition marked the beginning of her journey into designing for production and establishing her own business, where she aims to bring awareness to Latin American design.

During her residency, Tabatha has utilised the facilities and resources available to refine and expand her projects for the market. She has focused on deepening her understanding of small-batch production, prototyping, and experimenting with processes.

You can find her Studio work here, and follow what she's up to here.

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Hao Chen

Hao Chen is a freelance designer working across object and spatial design. His practices explore the new possibilities of metal forming and reusing existing hardware to create projects with context and storytelling. He is also the co-founder of Mo_&_A, a creative metal homeware brand.