“Democratising Fabrication and Sustainability: Connecting Local Actions to Global Impact”

What if industrial design and fabrication could transform entire systems? Adriana Cabrera Galindez, CSCP Project Manager, explores how Innovation Labs, sustainability initiatives, and collaborative technology reshape local industries. Read more about her work to accelerate sustainable business transformation through innovation.

You are an industrial designer – what does your work look like in an organisation like the CSCP?

As an industrial, textile, and material designer, my skills have been developed in spaces that operate at the intersection of technology, design, art, and innovation—an approach that aligns well with the mission of the CSCP.

For me, these skills extend beyond technology to encompass innovation and, most importantly, sustainability in industrial design. Industrial design is deeply connected to consumption and production. As designers, we must consider a product from its very inception, understand its impact on the world, and approach design with a sense of responsibility—both towards the consumer and the broader environment.

Sustainability in production is not just about materials but also about considering consumption patterns and the entire life cycle of a product. These aspects should be embedded from the very beginning of the design process and it is what we industrial designers try to keep high on the agenda.

The democratization of the fabrication is one of the topics you are focused on. Can you elaborate how this benefits local communities?

I believe that the democratisation of fabrication benefits both local communities and the environment by creating spaces where individuals can interact and collaborate, regardless of their social background, age, gender, education, or institutional affiliation. Innovation Labs and similar spaces serve as spatial interfaces, enabling anyone to learn, experiment, and tackle challenges by developing creative solutions.

In retrospect, we could see that the Bauhaus movement, founded in 1919 in Germany, promoted similar principles. For example, learning in a shared space, learning by doing, and integrating knowledge, materials, design, and architecture as fundamental elements. Today, we see this concept reflected in innovative spaces, but with a new layer—technology—which enables the creation of knowledge interfaces and new urban dynamics as it is applied in the new European Bauhaus promoting greener and more inclusive environment.

Beyond their local impact, Innovation Spaces or Fab Labs operate on a distributed network model, allowing for the exchange of knowledge and solutions not only at the local level but also regionally, nationally, and internationally. This is especially evident in the principles of open-source collaboration and open innovation, which enable individuals and communities to share ideas and accelerate problem-solving.

A clear example of this was seen during the COVID-19 pandemic, where the need for localised production became crucial. Fab Labs functioned as micro-factories, rapidly developing and producing essential medical equipment to support the healthcare sector. This demonstrated how distributed knowledge and decentralised manufacturing can provide fast, adaptable, and locally relevant solutions in times of crisis.

Can you tell us more how you’re implementing this approach in the FAB Region project?

The FAB Region project is implemented in the Bergisch city triangle, which includes the cities of Solingen, Wuppertal, and Remscheid. This region is unique as despite its relatively small size, it presents significant political, economic, and cultural diversity. It has a long and rich tradition of small-scale manufacturing, making it a high-potential region for agile innovation.

However, the region faces major challenges related to urban development, food production, and sustainability. Historically, it was a metal and textile hub, but today, there is an opportunity to revitalise the sector by integrating a collaborative mindset with new technologies and sustainable practices. Similarly, the food sector is evolving, requiring innovative approaches to production and circularity.

The FabRegion initiative aims to create a sustainable and circular regional economy, aligning with the FabCity vision of self-sufficiency. Our approach in the FabRegion project emphasises collaborative governance, stewardship, and strong partnerships to foster a bioregion that transcends political borders. By recognising shared potential and common challenges in the textile, food, and urban development sectors, we aim to turn these insights into actionable solutions. We strive to strengthen regional networks, facilitate the exchange of best practices, and integrate into a global FabCity network, fostering cross-regional and international collaboration and innovation.

What barriers do you see to a wider adoption of this approach, particularly in less developed regions or cities?

In addition to securing the active participation of multiple stakeholders, a key challenge is connecting local innovation with an international network. Unlike big cities, small ones often struggle to position themselves on the global map. The FAB Region model tries to connect cities in Europe and beyond and create a distributed network of regional innovation ecosystems.

A key challenge is making the vision tangible to stakeholders by emphasising the value of local innovation and sustainability to demonstrate how mid-sized and smaller cities benefit from sustainable, circular, and self-sufficient initiatives over time.

If you are not working on a sustainability project, how do you engage with this topic privately?

Outside work, I am active in different initiatives that align with my values and long-term commitment to sustainability, inclusion, and community-driven innovation.

For over 10 years, I have been involved in hands-on projects in places like Bhutan, where I worked with schools to address inclusion and accessibility for people with disabilities or initiatives like shemakes where we built a network of textile-focused Labs dedicated to empowering women in sustainable innovation.

One of the things I deeply appreciate is how different sustainability practices in Europe inspire me to think about how they can be applied in Latin America or even in my own home country, Colombia. While the contexts are different, I believe that small steps, when shared and adapted, can resonate across cultures and contribute to a broader shift.

For further questions, please contact Adriana Cabrera Galindez.