Ask Adam Savage: Career Paths for Makers and Polymaths

In this Ask Adam, Adam answers salzmoto's question: "Outside of special effects, what career paths do you see opening up for makers and polymaths in general? How might someone make a career out of collecting hands-on skills in a world so currently obsessed with digital things?"

Shot and edited by Ryan Kiser
Produced by Kristen Lomasney

Tested is:

Intro bumper by Abe Dieckman

Thanks for watching!

[elcapitan]

One thing I really like about how you answer questions and the framing of these videos is the honesty of train of thought. You have the production tools to give a pre-canned antiseptic answer but you choose to show the actual gears turning as you answer questions. It makes points in your answer that you think comes off as rambling very sincere, especially in this case your contrasting the late-capitalism utopian view of the gig economy versus more isolated bespoke creators finding their niche.

[annawaiq]

The fact that you mention Etsy fills my little seller heart with love. Thank you for promoting our platform and that you appreciate the entire idea behind it :3

[theunknowncraftsman]

I work in a Museum. Specifically, I am in charge of the exhibition design and installation department. Museum work is a great place for the skill collecting maker to look for a career. I design the exhibitions, from laying out the floor plan and deciding what art objects look best together to choosing the paint colors. I also physically build the walls and display cases. I make object mounts out of a variety of materials. I handle the art, including building crates and packing them for shipping. I light the exhibits and install other electronic displays. So, If you are an engineer/artist/fabricator/carpenter/electrician/architect, you might be qualified to work in a museum.

[charlieine]

What we need to enhance this, “Maker” culture is apprenticeship. This will elevate the terms like, “ bespoke” to their roots of excellence

[dmmen]

Since you spend most of your time standing up while making-building-assembling things, how crucial is footwear for you and which pair is your favorite?

[SixShooter]

Aside from the obvious career fields (arts, architecture, engineering, fabrication, etc.) I would also like to suggest becoming a teacher, in some capacity. Whether that be in an organized education system, online tutorials, or holding seminars/shows at local events. If you have gathered the variety of skills to become a good maker, it would be extremely helpful to your community if you could share those skills in some way. Even if it's just showcasing your projects at the local high school. Teaching and inspiring our youth to learn is possibly the greatest responsibility of a skilled individual.

[truck]

Best careers for makers is anything to do with engineering, become an engineer or a fabricator, plenty of research laboratories from national to private, that employee engineers and fabricators and technicians of various backgrounds. Many of these places need mechanical fabricators electronic fabricators and even software developers. Plenty of manufacturing opportunities out there for prototyping to small quantities. There are great networking opportunities at maker or hackerspaces.

[profHankin]

I see makers moving forward with advanced problem-solving skills that can be applied to just about anything. We can visualize solutions, reframe quickly, apply multiple approaches and have the mentality to work on it until it is right. I think most makers apply those skill sets to anything and everything they can.

[nicklaskallman]

I work with wooden boatbuilding and renovation. More of a carpenter than a maker by profession, but it provides me with a very nice workshop to create my own things after work hours. I love it!

[hunterparis]

There are plenty of jobs in entertainment that require makers. Not just movie special effects or prop makers. Theater companies are always looking for scenic artists, prop makers, technicians, riggers, etc. Live entertainment gets overlooked a lot. Especially in this day and age where most people are so focused on social media and film and television. Community theater is a great place to start, local haunted houses, theme parks, special effects companies, themed environment companies, or even just making art and selling it.

There will always be a need for artists and skilled craftsmen in entertainment of any kind and people to fix or repair what gets broken or damaged or just worn down.

[mnp]

Absolutely LOVE this video, Adam! This is EXACTLY what I am trying to accomplish with my small custom design and 3D printing business. Giving locals precisely what they need. Thanks for the kind words, and as always, thanks for the continued inspiration!

Edit: Interestingly one of my products is actually a cupholder for older Saabs! You nailed it there.

[DogSKiD]

you tube is gold, i love it and feel it is now a part of my tool kit and extended classroom. seems to be the educational access i always needed. and to learn from others a world of people is amazing.

[Bakamoichigei]

I've been saying for years that with the way our tools and the access to them is progressing, we're approaching a tipping point where being able to _design_ the thing somebody wants is going to become more important than actually being able to _produce_ it. But at the same time, to design a thing so that it _can_ be made means knowing enough to be able to make it in the first place. It's a good time to be a polymath, since you pretty much have to know a fair bit about every possible subject, unless you want to settle into some little niche.

Also relevant to the coming era of The Maker; an excerpt of a really good quote from Steve Jobs:
_"[...]Life can be much broader, once you discover one simple fact, and that is everything around that you call life was made up by people who were no smarter than you. And you can change it. You can influence it. You can build your own things that other people can use. Once you learn that, you’ll never be the same again."_

[Kuromankuro]

Coming from someone in the film and soon, stage industry, set decoration and carpentry are fantastic jobs. I have rigged on Star Trek Discovery, Shazam, the expanse, and many other awesome shows that have satisfied my creative side just doing construction. I can only imagine the joy someone derived from crafting star ships from wood and labeling pipes GNDN with their tongue planted firmly in their cheek. And soon I join those ranks on the stage. If you're near Atlanta, LA, New York, or Toronto you already have amazing opportunities waiting for you as a maker, and not just special effects. Find your iatse local and see what services they provide to film and stage. I wish I had done it ten years ago instead of 2.

[TuomioK]

Technologically advanced world will still always need practical and most importantly mechanical devices. One career path which isn't probably very popular around the world is teaching. I just started as a crafts teacher here in Finland where teaching is pretty popular and respected profession. I think it's going to be my dream job. I teach elementary school student's so it isn't the most demanding or "advanced" craftmanship accomplished there but it's the basics. And I have plenty of tools on hand to basically make anything out of wood and make my students to work their skills as well. I also can make little metal or plastic things as well with them. So tomorrow is my first crafts class and I'm excited to be able to have my own empire in there. :)

[heyimamaker]

I almost feel like you don't become a Polymaths out of school or necessarily at a young age ( Under 25 ). Through trying many things over time is where you pick up and hold onto skills. I think your career path will be something that you have to feel out.


I'm a programmer by trade, but I also like to make things, I have also spent years working on bikes, If money was not an issue I would be changing jobs as often as I could to learn as much as I could but that isn't practical. Working in a bike shop taught me organization and to think about the process, being a programmer taught me critical thinking. I think both of those seemingly unrelated things lend thems selves to Making.


Some like Jimmy DiResta would be an awesome handyman, Other makers could be great consultants but I think a lot of Makers as I see them are closer to artists where the vast amount of leaned skills helps them to express themselves.

[Stellarevolutiondesigns]

As a former Etsy seller and a current Shopify store user I do adore creating custom items for geeks. Utilizing digitial design to create fabric patterns and create 3d models I'm able to print items for unique niche markets like Asian ball jointed doll collectors. And using my hands I sew or knit specialty items like purses, bags, clothes (both human and miniature doll scales) which has kept me busy. Since Etsy has been a publicly traded company it has really been putting a squeeze on the bespoke makers. All they tell an Etsy seller to do now is have sales, make all shipping free, and take higher and higher and higher percentages from each sale the maker makes. I did the math and this, combined with their new mantra of more business not craft, is why I chose to leave Etsy. It has really left the handmade makers behind and pushes more quantity over quality manufacturers.

You can start there to test the waters, but make a plan to start to run your own shop.

If you do shop on Etsy, be sure to read the About page to ensure you are actually supporting a human maker and not a large manufacturing company.

While shopping online is super convenient, going out to conventions also allows you to meet makers and see their work, talk process or just geek out. We love geeking out!

[scottsupeck]

Sharp video, Adam! As an Etsy seller and buyer, it's good to hear you talk about what a fantastic and rewarding platform it is. I hope to make my site a full-time endeavor at some point - we'll see.

[tedfry]

I'm now a home improvement contractor. Where I came from is pretty much irrelevant for this comment. I see "Makers" as people that can accomplish anything that someone wants done to or for their home. Drywall, framing, decks, decorations, plumbing. Mike Rowe, yourself, and many others have been an inspiration over the years to me to be hands on. I can accomplish anything that a client comes to me with.


What I'm trying to say is, a trade skill is not to be taken lightly. I've thought little of my learned skills over the past 30 years, and finally jumped in with both feet, and found that I'm worth more than the singular trade that I thought was destined to live out is worth.


To those of you who are on the fence, just do it. There is a severe deficit of skilled labor for such "mundane" tasks as fixing drywall, installing a ceiling fan, making a persons dream of a fine oak staircase become a reality. Just jump in.


Adam, I truly enjoy your publications. Please don't narrow the focus so much that someone only sees a maker as someone that sells on Etsy. A maker is a conduit for someones dreams. I am making someone happy by doing what they envision. I am a MAKER. Whether it be clean gutters or a new kitchen, or a custom wrought iron fence. I'm making it happen.

[MilnaAlen]

Yeah I really dislike gig economy where some big company rips off their "contractors" like Uber and food delivery stuff. But a solo enterprenour or a small business doing custom stuff is great.

My mum had a small business selling pillowcases and stuff and she saved a downpayment in 2 years. It was fun helping her. Now she is helping her boyfriend with construction and forestry stuff and going to school for floristry. I'm considering switching careers to something maker related but not sure what yet. I'm majoring in biology but realizing reading and writing resarch papers 40 hours a week is definitely not for me, and the reality is not like those science documentaries.