Jodi Schwan

jschwan@sfbusinessjournal.com

An event designed around making everything from art projects to circuit creations drew a crowd over the weekend as it kicked off Design Week.

The Sioux Falls Design Center in the historic downtown Boyce-Greeley Building hosted the mini Make-a-Thon, which was organized by Falls Foundry. Falls Foundry is a nonprofit dedicated to connecting entrepreneurs.

"I think it's been a great response," Falls Foundry co-founder Melissa Goodwin said. "We've been working on getting a maker space going for about a year, so this was a way to test out the interest."

The event was geared toward a variety of ages, with an arts and crafts table and an electronic circuit area for kids.

"They can play and make things light up and make noise," Goodwin said. There also were microprocessors on hand "for an older set, 11 to 15, to start learning about electronics and as a creative way to learn to create and invent things."

Tim Wakefield Jr., an engineer who uses a 3D printer to help create hunting products, showed others what 3D printing can create.

He downloaded items online and sent them to his printer, which kicked out everything from a plastic tree to a replica of the U.S. Supreme Court building.

"The big thing with 3D printing is literally being able to put something in people's hands – things you can't see and touch in a computer," he said.

The best part about owning one, which cost $3,000 earlier this year, was taking it to a kids' Lego League.

"There were 14-year-old kids who knew a lot about 3D printing," Wakefield said.

Design Week is common in larger cities and is a first for Sioux Falls this year. For a schedule of events, click here.