IDEAS.
TOOLS.
COMMUNITY.
MAKING.

WHAT DOES “HACKER” MEAN?

A hacker is someone who is curious about how things work and enjoys exploring, experimenting with and pushing the boundaries of what is possible. Hackers like to take things apart, understand how they work, modify them, solve problems and find new ways to use tools, materials and technologies. This curiosity extends beyond computers and software to electronics, networking, robotics, science, art, design, crafts and other forms of creative making.

Hackers are driven by a desire to learn, create and discover. They dig deep into problems, teach themselves new skills, experiment with ideas and share knowledge with others. Rather than accepting that things must work in only one way, they explore alternatives, challenge assumptions and build things that may never have existed before. For many hackers, the process of learning, creating and contributing to a community is as important as the finished result.

Although the word “hacking” is often associated with cybercrime, unauthorised access and malicious activity, these do not define the broader hacker culture. Hackerspaces and maker communities value curiosity, ingenuity, experimentation, collaboration and the responsible use of skills. At Open Builders Space, these values come together through technology, electronics, fashion, textiles, visual arts, crafts, digital fabrication and sustainable creative enterprise, creating opportunities for people to learn, make, share and build together.