In this proposal, we share research that explores the potential benefits of a novel Making experience within mathematics teacher preparation that we hypothesized would inform the pedagogical and curricular thinking of prospective teachers of elementary mathematics (PMTs). That experience had PMTs exploring at the intersection of content, pedagogy, and design to digitally design, 3D print, and share an original manipulative with a child to promote their mathematical thinking. We share several vignettes of our research that aim to discern some of the potential benefits the experience might offer PMTs. These take a variety of theoretical and methodological approaches at the intersections of teacher knowledge, identity, pedagogy, and design. Implications of our findings for teacher preparation and professional learning are provided throughout the paper and in its conclusion. [For the complete proceedings, see ED630210.]