As any regular reader of SolidSmack knows, digital fabrication tools have led a helping hand in ways never before seen for designers, artists, and even regular-Joe hobbyists. Combining the powers of digital modeling or 3D scanning with various devices that output a three-dimensional object still sounds like something out of the future, yet every day seems to bring a plethora of new ideas for ways of making via Digital Craft. In Out of Hand: Materializaing the Postdigital, the Museum of Arts and Design in New York City examines the interdisciplinary practice of digital craftsmanship and provides visitors with quite possibly one of the finest curated collections of relevant product design in recent memory. Having opened their doors for the exhibition this past week and running through July of 2014, SolidSmack stopped by to take a look.

3 Incredible Floors of Digital Craft

Where else can you be under the same roof with a Marc Newson chair, a Zaha Hadid table, 3D printed prosthetics, a digitally-woven Chuck Close self-portrait, a Joris Laarman Bone Armchair, and get a 3D scan in a scanning booth?

This exceptional collection curated by Ron Labaco of MAD not only highlights the objects themselves but also their impact on art, design, architecture, and ultimately, society at large. The exhibition also includes hands-on programs and featured speakers discussing their creative processes spread out over the exhibition duration. If you’re in the NYC area or are looking for an excuse to cash in on those saved up airline miles between now and July 2014, putting this on your to-do list is an absolute must. In the meantime, here’s a few of our favorite items we were (very) happy to see in person:

L’Artisan Electronique by Unfold and Tim Knapen
Digital Modeling, 3D Printing, Glazing, Firing
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OutofHand-2

OutofHand-5

OutofHand-6

Protohouse 1.0 by Softkill Design
Digital Modeling, 3D Printing
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OutofHand-11

OutofHand-12

OutofHand-13

Brain Wave Sofa by Lucas Maassen and Unfold
Digital Modeling, CNC Milling, Hand Upholstery

OutofHand-21

OutofHand-22

OutofHand-23

Shapeways
3D Scanning, 3D Printing
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Nike Footwear by Ben Shaffer
Digital Modeling, Digital Knitting

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OutofHand-61

Oh Void 1 by Ron Arad
Digital Modeling, CNC Milling, Hand Polishing

OutofHand-86

OutofHand-87

Self-Portrait/Five Part by Chuck Close
Digital Weaving

OutofHand-93

Envy by Barry X Ball
3D Scanning, Digital Modeling, 3D Printing/Laser Sintering, CNC Milling, Hand Finishing

OutofHand-96

OutofHand-97

Twisted Dump Truck
Digital Modeling, CNC Laser Cutting, Hand Assembly and Finishing

OutofHand-99

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Endless Pulse Low Chair by Dirk Vander Kooij
Digital Modeling, 3D Printing/Fused Deposition Modeling

OutofHand-109

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Charigenics by Jan Habraken
Digital Modeling, 3D Printing/Laser Sintering/Stereolithography, and Hand Finishing

OutofHand-120

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OutofHand-117

Random Pak Chair by Marc Newson
Digital Modeling, 3D Printing/Laser Sintering, ELectro Forming, Hand Finishing

OutofHand-128

OutofHand-129

Bone Armchair by Joris Laarman
Digital Modeling, 3D Printing/Laser Sintering, Casting, Hand Finishing

OutofHand-142

OutofHand-143

For more information on the exhibit, head over to MAD.

Author

Simon is a Brooklyn-based industrial designer and Managing Editor of EVD Media. When he finds the time to design, his focus is on helping startups develop branding and design solutions to realize their product design vision. In addition to his work at Nike and various other clients, he is the main reason anything gets done at EvD Media. He once wrestled an Alaskan alligator buzzard to the ground with his bare hands… to rescue Josh.