About Us

Philip Robbins

Makerspace Coordinator

Philip Robbins
Faculty Coordinator of Langara’s Makerspace.
Continuing Faculty Fine Art, Department of Creative Arts and Industries

Philip is an educator, practitioner and researcher holding a Master of Arts in Ceramics and Glass from the Royal College of Art (London), a Bachelor of Education from The University of British Columbia, and a Diploma in Fine Art (Honors) from The Emily Carr Institute.

His research interests examine the place of digital media within the practical, hands-on and ethical/sustainable opportunities of Maker culture and their relationships to circular economies. Previously, Philip was the co-founder of Material Matters, a research centre within Emily Carr University exploring the implications of emergent modes of fabrication and the intersection of the handmade and the digitally crafted.

He is the recipient of numerous industry partnered Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) grants, National Research Council (NRC) grants, has collaborated on multiple Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) funded research projects, and received a broad range of Public Art commissions.
Philip has published in international journals regarding digital media and innovation and delivered talks and presentations in international forums and conferences including the International Association of Universities and Colleges of Art Design and Media (CUMULUS) Nottingham UK, “All Makers Now?” conference, Falmouth UK, and the Research Innovation Partnership Expo (RIPE), Canada. He has taught extensively at introductory, intermediate and advanced levels in Design, Fine Art (sculpture, ceramics, public art) and Digital Media.

probbins@langara.ca

Don Gillard

Makerspace Technician

Don Gillard
Makerspace Tech 

Don has a diploma in Industrial Design from Emily Carr College of Arts & Design. He worked for MVKA Productions as an Art director for 10 years designing sets and stages for international events. Don has also designed and manufactured many products for the retail market, restaurant’s and professional offices.

Don has a passion for a better world, and in 1992 he designed and manufactured the Clubist chair. The funky club chair used a fraction of the materials a traditional club chair uses. In 1994 Don was awarded the R2D2 Grant for his seating suspension system using recycled tires.

While at Langara College, Don has sourced vinyl from The Jim Pattison group that was used on highway billboards. Most of this material was usually disposed of after use, but he found a way to up-cycle it. He has been designing many function objects with it including: bike bags, tote bags and the giant covers for the A Building fans.

Don is also a master upholsterer & leather worker. As well Don codes & designs websites. He currently operates two part time businesses: Triggerfish Design Group and Dig Leather Co. In Don’s spare time (lol) he tutors students in: leather works, website design and Autodesks’s Fusion360.

Don received the Okanagan Arts Award for Design in 2011 for his body of work in Industrial & Product design. Don was also nominated in 2012 for the Okanagan Arts Award Media Arts Award his work in responsive website design.

dgillard@langara.ca