Hack This!

By Anna Wade

Student lab director Chaya Jones and lab assistant Alaina Acton running the laser cutter in Hackberry Lab.

HackBerry Lab began as a small makerspace tucked away in McAllister Hall, and has now grown into an area spanning two buildings and several shipping containers, filled with all manner of supplies and machines. The lab serves as the center for Berry’s Creative technologies program as well as a welcoming space for any student curious enough to build something new.

“It’s the maker space on campus,” said junior creative technologies major and student

lab director Asiel Castillo-Campos. “Anyone can come and make prototypes, come up

with fun projects, and bring their ideas to life.” HackBerry Lab offers a wide range of tools for students to try, from 3D printers and laser cutters to sewing machines and sticker makers.

The lab’s open hours, from 6 p.m. to midnight on weekdays, invite anyone, regardless of major, to drop in and work alongside trained lab assistants. These student mentors help others design,

troubleshoot and finish their projects, from woodworking to robotics to buttonmaking.

“Our goal is to make sure people feel comfortable,” Castillo-Campos said. “A lot of

students walk in and think, ‘Oh, this is for engineers.’ But that’s not true. Anyone can

learn to 3D print or weld or code. You just have to be curious.” The lab is more than just a workshop. HackBerry is a community, one built on acceptance and encouragement.

Students hanging out in HackBerry Lab.

“It’s very welcoming, very much a safe space,” said Ava Burton, a junior art major. “I’m

not in Creative Technologies, but the people here made me feel like I belong. It gives

me a space to be creative and meet people who think the same way.” This strong sense of community has shaped the lab’s reputation as one of the most collaborative spaces on campus. Lab assistants like Castillo-Campos and teaching assistants known as “Code Quackers” provide guidance in programming, electronics, and fabrication, all while encouraging experimentation.

“Learn about everything,” said JT, a senior creative technologies major, teaching

assistant, and Code Quacker. “Even if you don’t think you’ll need it, just knowing what

the machines can do opens doors. These tools can benefit anyone in any field.” The open-minded approach promoted by the lab has led to impressive results. Students have built everything from wearable technology to digital art installations to camping knives. Each project starts with an idea and grows through trial, error, and persistence. “I’ve learned not to be a perfectionist,” Castillo-Campos said. “HackBerry taught me that failing is part of creating. The mindset here is ‘fail fast, fail often, fail forward.’”

HackBerry Lab has become an incredible makerspace that provides opportunities for

people all over campus. Creative Technologies majors take their classes and build their

projects in the lab. Business students use it to prototype products. Theatre majors craft

stage props. However, for many, the lab’s greatest value is in its atmosphere: a place

Students Caty Stasiak and Ella Daniels (L to R) painting a Mountain Day poster in Hackberry Lab

where curiosity is celebrated and creativity seems contagious. “Never be afraid to come by,” Castillo-Campos said. “Every time someone says, ‘I wish I’d known about HackBerry sooner,’ it hurts, because this place can change how you see learning.” Whether soldering circuits, carving wood, sewing a costume, or simply sketching a design on scrap paper, every student who walks through the lab’s doors adds to its spirit of innovation. As Burton said: “It’s a place where imagination becomes real and everyone belongs.”