I’m Dale Dougherty, Founder of Make: Magazine, and This Is How I Work
In 2005, Dale Dougherty founded Make: Magazine , inviting people to bring the hacker sense of exploration to the DIY culture. Make and the subsequent Maker Faire ushered in a new era of hands-on experimentation with technology, old-fashioned craftsmanship, and the encouragement of learning how things work.
Since then, the term “creator”, coined by Dale in that first issue, has become synonymous with anyone who participates in such physical research and creativity in whatever capacity they choose. Talking to Fast Company, Dougherty explained that “manufacturer” is an intentionally broad word: “It was just a fairly neutral term that could mean a lot of things. I still like it for this purpose. ” For some, this may mean cutting with a spoon; for others, being a manufacturer may mean building a fully ambulatory robot. There are no barriers to entry or restrictions on what producers can do, as seen from dozens of Maker Faires popping up around the world .
As the movement grows, so does Dougherty’s responsibilities as executive chairman of Maker Media. We spoke to Dale to find out a little about how he works and if he has time to become a master himself.
Current position: Founder and Executive Chairman of Maker Media and Chairman of the Maker Education Initiative.
These are the titles that I have. I travel a lot around the country and the world, attending Maker Faires, meeting manufacturers, talking about creation and its role in our culture, and advocating for making all children accessible in schools and libraries.
One word that best describes how you work: improvisation. Current mobile device: Nexus 6 Current computer: MacBook Pro
What apps, software or tools can’t you live without?
I really want to answer that I can live without almost all of this, except for the email and the calendar. In truth, I do so many things through a web browser or an application that I previously did without them that it just became a part of my daily life. So this has all changed in the last ten or twenty years, but now it seems normal. If I cannot charge my phone, I am disoriented.
I must say that there is a weather station in my yard. His data is transmitted to the Internet, and I can check in what conditions at home, even when I am not there. I especially love seeing how much precious rain we receive during a storm.
How is your workplace arranged?
I am moving from place to place. I don’t seem to be sitting in one place, so my backpack is my workspace and I just bought a new one that I love how it helps me organize things.
What’s your best time-saver or life hack?
I’m more selective. This is due to the realization that I cannot understand everything that comes to me, that I cannot do everything that I want, or everything that I am asked to do. I can’t get to all my emails and answer quickly, although I would like to. I will miss things. I cannot be aware of all the news, all social networks, but for some reason this is normal. I try to do as much as I can, but it doesn’t work out. I try not to scold myself for what I can’t do.
What’s your favorite to-do list manager?
A piece of waste paper. I keep the lists in my head, but if I’m not happy with it, I just write down what I know. I’m not even sure if I keep the list on paper for very long after this.
What device, besides a phone and a computer, can you not live without and why?
I really like cameras. I have a Sony RX-100 III and Fujifilm X100S . While I will be taking a few photos with my Nexus 6 phone, I find it much easier to use the camera, and that the camera is physically designed for my hand and what I do. It’s faster too. When I walk around the Maker Faire, I take a lot of pictures and use a Sony camera for that. The Fujifilm X100S is a rangefinder type camera, kind of old school, and I use it when I travel or walk around town. This camera is like a film camera and people come up and ask about it.
Are you always working on something? Or when you finish a project, do you take the time to let your mind wander without worrying about what comes next?
I have a lot of things going on at the same time, and I jump from one project to another. I start something and let it incubate a little until I can finish. As I read, travel and meet people, I have new experiences that permeate my mind, and I try to take the time to define a pattern or storyline that makes some sense in all of this.
In terms of the maker movement, when you founded Make in 2005, did you imagine there would be such a widespread desire to explore the DIY culture?
I knew that DIY already existed, but it wasn’t recognized and it wasn’t much celebrated. There have always been producers, but consumer culture is not associated with production – it glorifies purchases. I think we’ve managed to get more people to see themselves as creators by combining creative thinking and technical skills in projects that you care about, [providing] real personal satisfaction, and it helps us connect with communities. It’s about appreciating play in addition to work.
What surprises me most is the children’s reaction. They truly understand what it means to be a master and want to develop the skills and mindset to become masters. We have a real commitment to helping them in our communities. This is why I would like to see jobs in schools and libraries, schools in both urban and suburban areas.
You are undoubtedly very busy these days – do you still find time to take your mind off email and get your hands dirty doing things? Making wine, I heard?
I produced about five gallons of strong cider this fall, starting with our own apples, passing them through a wooden cider press, and then fermenting the juice. Let’s have a Thanksgiving drink. I worked a few weekends harvesting at our DRNK Wines , but in fact, my son-in-law Ryan Kunde does all the work. I am also working on this year’s hot sauce made with Fresno and Habanero peppers that I grew. It is aged in a small oak barrel on the kitchen table. I love fermentation.
What are some of your best everyday activities? What’s your secret?
I don’t know if I’m the best, but I remember names well. I think it’s important to remember people and their names. The only secret I have to share is that I make sure I can really hear the person’s name clearly and then repeat it to him. I find it necessary to stop and do this if you really want to remember the person’s name in a year. People are surprised that you remember their name and who they are.
What do you listen to while you work?
While working, I don’t listen to music at all. I find it distracting.
What are you reading now?
I am working on the third volume of Karl Uwe Knausgaard’s My Struggle , a grueling but fascinating account of his life as a Norwegian writer. I am also reading Bill Bryson’s book Homes , which talks about how the homes were made.
How do you replenish?
I love the day when there isn’t much to do at home. I love reading, looking into the garden, walking with my wife and preparing dinner for us or a celebration for our large family. I have to say that being surrounded by a loving family is my greatest joy and bringing them together for a big dinner is wonderful. I have an 18-month-old grandson, Henry, and being around him refreshes and energizes me.
What is your sleep pattern?
I look more like an owl than a birdie. However, I usually get a good sleep. I have found that I can adjust quite well when traveling to different time zones, losing sleep on one side and regaining sleep on the other.
Fill in the blank: I would like _____ to answer these same questions.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
Do what requires the best and the best of you. If it were easy, it would have been done already.
What else would you like to add that might be of interest to readers and fans?
This year we celebrated the 10th anniversary of Maker Faire. I am proud that Maker Faire has been around for so long and is still going strong. We have over 150 Maker Faires around the world this year and this is driving the growing movement of manufacturers across countries and cultures. Make Magazine has been around for 11 years and is still an important print magazine for manufacturers, just as cooking magazines are for chefs. I am happy to have worked with so many good people within our company and in the community to create and support all of this. As a result, the movement of the makers matters, but together we can do much more.