Where ideas take form: Inside the UCLA Makerspace

At UCLA's Makerspace, Bruins can turn an idea into something tangible, whether they're 3D-printing a design, laser-cutting a piece of wood, embroidering a T-shirt or even sewing a dress.

Located between the Olympic and Centennial residence halls, the space is open to students, staff and faculty of all experience levels. Visitors don't need to arrive knowing how to operate the equipment: Technicians and professional staff are on hand to teach them how to use each machine and bring their projects to life.

For some students, the first visit can lead to much more. In the video above, Bruins share how experimenting with unfamiliar equipment led them to develop new skills, meet others with similar interests and, in some cases, become Makerspace technicians themselves.

"This is truly where passions are built outside the classroom," said Victoria Rose, the manager of Makerspace and a UCLA Residential Life staff member.

"UCLA is all about exploring your creativity," Makerspace specialist Tim Norris said, "and this is a beautiful space for you to come in and experiment with things that you've never even tried before."