One of the best-kept ?secrets in town is a newly expanded creative studio in Central Square in Cambridge — the intriguingly named startup Danger Awesome that allows anyone to design, create and learn.
It’s a retail space, co-working studio and custom fabrication shop rolled into one, with 3-D printers, laser cutters and more. This month, it opens a new co-working and classroom space. To raise money for planned educational programs and need-based scholarships, the facility is holding a membership drive, slashing monthly fees to as low as $50 and hoping to sign on 200 new members by May 22.
Among only a handful of so-called makerspaces in the region, Danger Awesome was co-founded by Cambridge City Councilor Nadeem ?Mazen and fellow Massachusetts Institute of Technology alum Ali Mohammad.
Fresh off a successful Kickstarter campaign that raised more than $42,000, Danger Awesome recently added 2,200 square feet of space to its original 550-foot studio that opened on Prospect Street a few years back. The expansion allows the facility to hold more workshops and trainings, and act as a co-working space for creative startups. This month alone, classes include 3-D modeling, laser etching, and jewelry-making.
“I don’t think we’re gonna blow anyone’s mind with the fact that these things are possible,” Mazen said. “It’s the fact that they’re accessible that is a huge game changer.”
Small-business owners can learn to make their own signs, prototypes, and basically design or fabricate anything from scratch. There’s also a life-size Lite Brite. That’s just for fun.
In all, Danger Awesome has a trio of 3-D printers, the well-reviewed Form 1+ ?model, three laser cutters, and three CNC routers of varying size — computerized cutting machines that can produce anything from furniture to musical instruments.
“We’re making history as the only retail shop and community space where you can make almost anything you can imagine,” Mazen said.
Danger Awesome is a side project for Mohammad and Mazen, who runs a digital animation firm. The pair got their start after producing a music video for an indie band that featured thousands of pieces of laser-etched toast. Their payment for the video was the three laser-etching machines that became the seeds of Danger Awesome.
If the facility reaches its goal of 200 new memberships this month, Mazen envisions expanding the Danger Awesome model to other cities and regions.
“Our goal is to perfect the model by working with our partners to expand in the Boston area, and to eventually go nationwide,” he said. “We’re offering creative confidence for people who would normally not have access to this equipment.”
