Fiona Dowling

Fiona has supported the growth of KWMC The Factory from its roots as the ‘Eagle House Pop-Up Furniture Factory‘ through to the thriving community makerspace it is today, and is passionate about creating a welcoming, inclusive and people-focused environment for learning, making and experimenting. The Factory offers access to digital fabrication technologies and support with open source software, prototyping and production.

Fiona leads on the Factory’s training and skills programme, designing and delivering a range of opportunities for skills development, volunteering and co-design, and champions the exploration and adoption of more sustainable and regenerative practices, materials and ways of thinking across the Factory and wider KWMC programmes.

ReThink, ReMake, ReCycle is a recent project combining online tools for discussion and sharing, physical activity packs, community generated data and digital fabrication equipment to reflect on and respond to the issue of household waste on both a local and global scale.

Fiona also co-designs and co-facilitates the MADE in South Bristol enterprise programme, supporting the creation and growth of local creative businesses, and the development of new products and services.

Knowle West Media Centre (KWMC) Presents

Fiona is co-hosting a session with Martha King and Clara Collett that showcases a range of KWMC’s projects including Forms of Intelligence, Maker City, ReThink, ReMake, ReCycle, and We Can Make.

Through tangible examples and some quick-fire creative exercises, delegates will gain an insight into how an arts and co-design approach can help create responsible tech.