At the University of Southern Queensland’s Library Makerspace, Steph Piper is redefining what manufacturing looks like in the 21st century, merging creativity with technology to inspire the next generation of makers.

“I usually describe myself as a creative technologist,” explains Steph Piper, who has spent a decade in the manufacturing sector. “Through my day job here at the University of Southern Queensland Library Makerspace, we use quite a lot of technology. You can do some very practical things with it, but you can also get quite creative as well.”

The innovative technologist discovered her passion for making through a lifelong interest in creating things with her own hands.

“I think I’ve always been interested in the idea of hands-on making and making things from scratch,” said Steph. “When I first got my 3D printer working, I called around to all my buddies and said, ‘Get around here, it’s happening, it’s working.’ And it was just this moment where we were all sitting there, watching it print for two hours, just mesmerised.”

That fascination with creation led Steph to pursue cutting-edge work before her current role, which she’s held for eight years. “Before then I was doing research in medical 3D printing. My project that I worked on was 3D printing breast implants,” said Steph.

For her, manufacturing extends beyond traditional mass production to encompass the entire creative process, with a special focus on the early stages of development.

“It’s a pretty small little space but I really love the way that I can work with people a bit more closely and more deeply, understand the projects that they’re doing and help them a bit more one-on-one.”

Her work involves both exciting projects and significant challenges that come with innovation.

“The party button for the Curiosity festival was a very challenging build for something that’s kind of very simple in execution. They sponsored me to build two of those,” said Steph. She’s now proud of a book she’s created to help people track their making skills. “I really want to take this book concept further… I’ve had a lot of teachers request a kids’ version of the book.”

The unpredictable nature of new projects presents her biggest challenge. “The unexpected kind of things that you just don’t know. Like whenever you do a new project, there’s always an element where you might find out something that is going to make the project impossible or too expensive.”

As a woman in tech manufacturing, Steph recognises both unique advantages and persistent challenges.

“However, barriers exist: “There are a lot of folks who are resistant to change, and you look different. So, they may spring a lot of things on you, and prefer to keep the technology a secret, and keep things to themselves.”

Looking to the future, Steph has ambitious plans to expand her book project into new formats.

“I’d love to do a version that has flexible binding so that you could get a stock book, but you could swap out the skills you don’t want and you can swap in the skills that you do want,” said Steph. “Once that’s big enough, I’d love to explore doing a web app version with a company… where you could actually sign up. It would map all your skills for you and show you that dashboard of skills.”

Her advice for aspiring makers emphasises the importance of following personal interests: “You’ve got to go wherever your passions are. That’s really what has pulled me through. As long as you’re working on something that is powerfully interesting and exciting to you, that’s where you need to be.”

Through her work at the University of Southern Queensland, Steph is breaking down barriers between art and technology, showing that modern manufacturing can be as much about creativity and innovation as it is about production—empowering a new generation of makers to bring their unique ideas to life.