It all started with a simple idea—hack the museum! Our goal was to create interactive installations that would make kids fall in love with making. The makerspace at the Museum needed a revamp, especially after observing how kids and visitors interacted with the existing setup. We asked ourselves: how can we make the space more intuitive and engaging for children?
From large school groups visiting in hundreds, to birthday parties full of curious explorers, and regular museum visitors attending workshops—the space needed to cater to everyone. The challenge was to make it self-explanatory, interactive, and yet full of creative learning experiences.
The Big Idea: Crowdsource the Creativity
After several rounds of brainstorming, we hit a bit of a creative loop. That’s when we decided to invite the community to join us—calling in some of the most talented makers from across the country. Curated by Maker’s Asylum, the Make for MuSo Residency was born! A four-day-long physical residency where makers came together to brainstorm and build interactive installations that kids could love and learn from.
The Dream Team
We had an incredible lineup of makers and educators joining forces:
- Sahil Thappa, a speculative design professor from NID, passionate about making and creative expression, accompanied by three of his students.
- Manas Kundra, a graphic designer and professor at Pearl Academy, along with three of his students, and Divya, from Pearl Academy.
- Archit, Vinita, and Ajith, our maker mentors from Maker’s Asylum, bringing their expertise in hands-on making.
- Ishan and Utkarsh and their students, contributing to the exciting drone track project.
Together, we collaborated over calls and WhatsApp groups to brainstorm, plan, and refine our ideas. After many discussions, we settled on six ambitious builds—each designed to spark curiosity and creativity in kids. Out of these, four made it to Mumbai for the final build.
The Builds: From Concept to Creation
- SkyLoops (Drone Race Track Loops)
A thrilling drone racetrack with loops that activate light and sound effects when drones pass through. The track is designed to be child-frien
dly, making drone-flying both fun and educational. 
- Mumbai Maze / Obstacle Course
This grid-based obstacle course lets kids race while also having the power to change the course. Designed for two teams (red and green), the players not only race but can also adjust the obstacles for their opponents. The course is inspired by the everyday hustle of Mumbai’s streets, with illustrations of the city’s chaotic yet charming travel scenes. From rumble strips to pendulum barriers, kids face off in a final stand-off arena for the ultimate challenge. - Tool Cart: Creative Engineering for Kids
The MuSo Maker Tool Cart offers a hands-on building experience where kids can enhance their problem-solving skills and creativity. The cart includes a variety of pine wood shapes with pre-made holes. Kids use screws of different sizes to assemble their own unique structures, learning basic engineering concepts along the way.
- Learning Outcomes: Kids develop spatial awareness, critical thinking, and an intuitive understanding of how components work together, all while having the freedom to create whatever their imagination leads them to.
- MuSo Mission Control
A project that brings simple electronics to life in a fun and immersive way. Here, kids can build circuits to “fix” a broken spaceship and bring it back to Earth. The circuit components are housed in transparent acrylic casings, allowing kids to see how the circuits connect through conductive tape.
- Interactive Learning: With prompt cards explaining different circuits and color-coded tiles, kids get a hands-on introduction to electronics while having fun.
The Outcome: A Space for Creative Exploration
Curated by Maker’s Asylum, the Make for MuSo initiative transformed the Museum’s makerspace into a dynamic, interactive hub where kids can explore, create, and learn. With every drone loop, obstacle course, and tool cart, we hope to inspire the next generation of makers to think critically, build confidently, and fall in love with the art of making.
