‘There are barely any limitations’

Isaac Tomeho ’26, Audrey Roller ’25, and Abbi Luetjen ’27 spent their summer coordinating the Lux Lab, a new state-of-the-art maker space opening soon in the Center for Media Arts, Computing, and Design.

The lab has multiple 3D printers, which were busy on a July afternoon, printing a fidget toy and a cleaning device for the printer tray. A vinyl cutting machine and a robotic drawing machine called the “Makelangelo” are also located in the lab. Many other creative tools and technologies are still to come, such as sewing machines, a soldering station, an embroidery machine, and a desktop computer equipped with the full Adobe Creative Suite.

The coordinators of Lux Lab emphasize that students of all majors can benefit from the space. They imagine Clark students and entrepreneurs designing 3D-printed film set pieces, hand-sewn theatre costumes, small-business vinyl merchandise and branding, and many more creative ventures.

The excitement and energy among the student coordinators are palpable as they consider the possibilities. “There are barely any limitations,” says Tomeho, a computer science major with a minor in data science.

The lab is on the first floor of the center, flanked by floor-to-ceiling windows illuminating the room in natural sunlight. Anyone in the Clark community is invited to use the space.  to create and explore.

To ensure that the equipment is handled properly, the coordinators are creating comprehensive training guides and certifications that students can easily access on Canvas before they use the lab.

Because access for all is a priority, the lab’s features are not limited to those with a tech background. As they continue to organize the lab, the coordinators are drafting a shared agreement for the space, emphasizing their commitment to equal opportunities and respectful treatment for all who use it.

“We really want to push that this is not something for STEM majors only, this is for anyone who is interested in interdisciplinary creative projects,” says Roller, a data science major and screen studies minor.

Luetjen, an economics major with a minor in data science, was drawn to work at the Lux Lab to ensure it is an accepting space for women and people of marginalized genders to learn and create in male-dominated tech fields.

The coordinators are working under the guidance of computer science Professor and Interim Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs John Magee.

The space is expected to open for the fall semester. Updated schedules, workshops, and classes will be posted to the Lux Lab Engage profile at the beginning of the academic year. Canvas training and in-person sessions will be available so that the lab users will be properly instructed in the safe operation of the equipment.