DIY Design: From Ellen DeGeneres to MAK and Bröhan Museums

The DIY movement is critiqued in a new exhibition, 'Do It Yourself Design', at MAK Vienna and Bröhan Museum Berlin, curated by Tobias Hoffmann, Katleen Arthen, Sebastian Hackenschmidt, Thomas Geisler, and Martina Fineder. The show traces DIY from the late 19th century to today, featuring works by Richard Riemerschmid, Enzo Mari, Victor Papanek, and a Phaidon volume of 50 projects. Artist Lisa Anne Auerbach coined 'DDIY' (Don't Do It Yourself), arguing that corporations co-opted DIY into shopping. The exhibition references a segment from The Ellen DeGeneres Show titled 'Don't Do It Yourself', mocking DIY mishaps. Historically, DIY resurfaces during economic crises (1930s, 1970s, present). In the UK, a maker economy worth £3.4 billion annually has emerged, with the Make:Shift fair in Manchester highlighting the need for networks to sustain the movement.