Emory University

Cognitive Empowerment Program

Makerspace Re-Design

Collaborative Makerspace


In collaboration between Emory’s Cognitive Empowerment Program (CEP), and Georgia Tech’s SimTigrate lab, the Innovation Accelerator in the CEP allows members with mild cognitive impairments to work collaboratively with care partners and program providers to actively engage in craft and making to provided enrichment and mental engagement. 

Graduate Studio

Project Mission


The facility was interested in designing a makerspace to engage members in making activities with their care partners. The Innovation Accelerator Makerspace was underutilized, and solutions were needed to better accommodate use from staff, members, and researchers.

Understanding Stakeholders


Many individuals utilize Innovation Accelerator Makerspace for various functions. It was critical to track and map the user experience from each user group along frequency of use.

Direct Use:

CEP Members and their partners use the space directly with the Makerspace Instructor to participate in activities.

CEP Staff:

CEP Staff and Researchers interface with Members to help provide better activities with the Program Instructor.

Occasional Use:

Professors and students visit to develop and showcase projects for when Industry Partners tour the facility.

User Co-Design Workshop


To generate user-centered solutions with the stakeholders directly, a workshop was planned and conducted with facility staff and researchers. This workshop was critical identify problems with the space and to generate ideas for the design proposal.

Co-Design Worshop Steps:

1. Introduction:

Introducing the workshop facilitators to the participants and state the purpose of the workshop. Answer questions from participants and review the agenda for each activity.

2. Capacity of Space:

Introducing and reviewing current uses of the space to participants using floor plan maps. Participants map foot traffic and storyboard current uses of the makerspace.

3. Mapping of Space:

Reviewing the maps from the previous activity, new furnishings, tools, and equipment are arranged onto a larger map to consider new uses in a group discussion.

Problems Discovered


The largest problem facing the space is the use of the main entrance and exits as a main walkway route to navigate the CEP. This cuts the main working space in half and does not encourage members or care partners to sit and utilize the space.

The secondary room attached to the main Innovation Accelerator space only has a single door to access the space, limiting access.

Underutilization of the space can also be attributed to overall room layout and furnishings. The two office desks placed in the front of the room further restrict the space and contribute to the room division.

Solutions Proposed


Soft Space Zoning:

Mapping and designating different segments of the innovation accelerator space for certain types of activities.

Area designation for certain activities, inform staff to plan alongside physical capacity of space.

Equipment Carts:

Organizing tools and supplies onto carts to use during activities and aid in storage.

Better organization of equipment + improve program delivery and quality.

Display Shelving & Boards:

Display boards positioned outward towards the walkways around the Innovation Accelerator on top of display shelving housing the prototypes and display artifacts.

Drive and increase interest in space while honoring prior projects and work.

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