GIRLS ADD SPARKLE TO THEIR STEM SKILLS
Suz Somersall is on a mission to change the disparity of women pursuing science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) one sparkly, glorious 3D-printed accessory at a time. Just 12 percent of engineers are women, according to the American Association of University Women website — a figure Somersall believes is a result of early education. Her popup, KiraKira Maker Studio, is a whimsical workshop focused on introducing STEM skills to girls ages 8 to 17 via laser-cutters, sewing machines, wood-cutters, 3D printers and scanners from HP, Autodesk and True Ventures.
A graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, Somersall noted that her interns in school would avoid taking engineering classes despite the desire to learn 3-D printing because there wasn’t a lot of diversity in the content being taught, and the materials tended toward auto parts, gears, turbines and machine tools. At KiraKira, students are taught to use those high-tech tools to create fashion, iPhone cases, skateboards and jewelry. “We’re empowering a new generation of creators rather than consumers,” Somersall said. “We’re finding that if you lead with creativity, the love for STEM will follow, and KiraKira enables that.”
KiraKira, which means “shimmering like a star” in Japanese, is filled with with mirrors, neon palettes and jewelry made by the young pupils who receive mentorship from Marissa Lucero, founder of My Fashion Design Kit, a curriculum that uses fashion as a means of teaching budding makers algebra and geometry concepts. “Even though fashion design might seem feminine as a field, it has major overlap with engineering. Both require math, design, sketching, problem solving and construction,”
said Lucero. “Engineering doesn’t only exist with cars.”
The studio’s courses range from a week-long summer series for kids to hour-long classes for both children and adults taught by the likes of Amour Vert’s founder and engineer turned fashion designer, Linda Balti. In June, the first cohort of young KiraKira students completed their summer learning session, with the STEM skills and swag to show for it.
Sara Ortegon, 8, spent her week at KiraKira designing blankets, pillows and a laptop case for her dad. “My grandma always wanted me to be a fashion designer,” said Ortegon, sliding her violet 3-D-printed glasses down her nose for emphasis in a cheeky manner reminiscent of Anna Wintour. “Now with Maker Studio it’s kind of coming true.”