Microsoft closes its popular maker space.
Microsoft is shutting down The Garage, a well-known series of maker spaces where employees engaged in experimental projects and collaborated on innovative apps and hardware during the company’s annual hackathons. In an internal FAQ, Microsoft stated, “We’re winding down The Garage program as a centralized function. We will continue to explore new ways to help employees build skills, collaborate across boundaries, and bring a hacker mindset to their work.”
The main Garage was situated at Microsoft’s Redmond, Washington campus and served as the hub for around 15 locations across the US, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. Employees utilized these spaces to prototype, create hardware, and even transform personal hobbies into full-fledged Microsoft products.
CEO Satya Nadella frequently participated in Garage hackathons, allowing employees to showcase their projects and gain visibility from senior leadership. Over its 17-year run, The Garage has birthed numerous apps and services, including the AI-driven Seeing AI app, which assists individuals who are blind or have low vision by describing objects and text. This app originated from a 2015 hackathon and was launched a decade ago.
Tuong Do, a Microsoft employee, developed Mouse Without Borders in his free time, working on it during evenings and weekends. This app, which allows users to control up to four PCs with a single mouse and keyboard, is still available today. The Garage has also been a breeding ground for new learning tools and accessibility features for applications like Word, Microsoft Edge, and PowerPoint. Unfortunately, the Microsoft Garage hall of fame, which showcased top projects, has been removed, erasing a significant part of its history.
One of the standout successes from The Garage was the Xbox Adaptive Controller, designed with accessibility in mind. This controller was a collaborative effort among employees from Xbox and Surface, initially conceived during a hackathon where they experimented with a gaming device that utilized Kinect technology to track movements and translate them to an Xbox controller. An executive recognized the potential of the nearly 40-person team’s project, leading to the involvement of over 80 employees in bringing the Xbox Adaptive Controller to market. Despite facing budget cuts, it launched successfully and became a highlight of Microsoft’s 2019 Super Bowl commercial.
As Microsoft prepares to close its Garage locations, some spaces may shut down as soon as tomorrow. This closure will also impact the company’s annual employee hackathon, which may be reimagined or eliminated. “As we look to the future, the hackathon team is reimagining the program to meet the needs of today’s employees, customers, and technology landscape. We’ll have more to share at a later date,” the internal FAQ noted.
Internally, Microsoft is promoting the idea that “the spirit of experimentation that once lived primarily in dedicated programs is now reflected in how teams work every day.” However, many employees view this closure as part of ongoing cutbacks at the company. Earlier this year, Microsoft also closed its employee library and reduced subscriptions in favor of an “AI-powered learning experience.” The library previously housed thousands of resources for employee learning and exploration, similar to what The Garage provided.
Microsoft expressed gratitude to the employees, volunteers, and partners who contributed to The Garage, stating they look forward to continuing its legacy in new forms. However, it’s hard to envision anything replicating the unique blend of expert guidance, dedicated maker spaces, hands-on workshops, and internship programs that The Garage offered to employees eager to develop new skills.
