You would think that having been called a “brilliant science-and-technology documentarian” whose “videos should be held up as models of how to present complex technical information visually” would go straight to one’s head, yet Bill Hammack (AKA Engineering Guy) is anything but your typical engineering dude. The University of Illinois teacher, whose popular course, ‘The…

Since the 1930s, the infamous “plop, plop, fizz, fizz” sound of two effervescent Alka-Seltzers into a cup of hot water has been associated with the relief of everything from indigestion to hangovers. Now, dunking a piece of meltable bioplastic may also be the source of a cure for many common everyday headaches, too. Designed and…

You know when you meet someone who has worked harder than most and exudes a tenacity that is inspiring? This past year we were quite lucky to meet someone who is exactly that individual. We run an artist’s residency program where we meet a wide range of talented artists who want to learn about how digital…

Looks like GoldieBlox is diversifying a bit, going from the girl-focused, engineer-based board games to girl-focused, engineer-based action figures. Pretty savvy move on their part, and they’ve got a pretty interesting approach to how their presenting them.

With the latest installment in the Star Wars franchise, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, arriving in theaters on December 18th, we’re already starting to feel the early ripples of yet another tidal wave of Star Wars mania. While some marketing teams have been busy developing strategies for jumping on the Star Wars hype train the…

It goes without saying that one of the best ways to get better at your craft is to watch others do it. Unfortunately, this hasn’t necessarily been easy in the digital age with software tools. Of course, we’ve seen our fair share of CAD or Photoshop tutorials on YouTube, but something usually gets lost when…

When it comes to curating tomorrow’s fashions and other must-haves of the season, most might turn their attention to the runways of New York and Paris during Fashion Week. Or at least one of the multiple lifestyle fashion tradeshows that pop up throughout the year. Needless to say, few might ever expect to find a…

As Moore’s Law continues to grant us ridiculously powerful computers that we can fit inside of our pockets, the experience of using some of the earliest personal desktop computers continues to become an even further distant memory. Unsurprisingly, some people aren’t ready for that memory to fade yet. Among others is Philippe Lang, an IT…

When it comes to morning routines, few things can surpass digging into a golden and fluffy waffle soaked in maple syrup to get the day started right. For Brooklyn designer Chris Dimino, this love for the holy grail of breakfast cuisine led to the creation of one of the most ingenious kitchen tools we’ve ever…

When it comes to solid and original comedy material, public access television show parodies have consistently delivered. Among others, Wayne’s World comes to mind, along with Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis. But as computers and technology continue to drive humans into ‘the future’, it would only make sense that the current state of computers…

The Engineering Boss. A peculiar creature. Shhh, there he is in his native habitat.

Since Kickstarter first hit the scene in the Spring of 2009, the popular crowdfunding platform has still proven to be a tricky playground for both businesses and backers over a half-decade later – particularly with campaigns that are actively promising fulfilment in the form of a mass manufactured product. Although the company has since come…

For those who might have seen the mesmerizing Kawai Tsugite joint (which fits perfectly in three different ways) pop up somewhere on the internet every now and again, you were likely one of many who were looking for a deeper explanation. Thankfully, engineer and woodworking master Matthias Wandel (yes, the same Matthias who built the…

As engineers and designers we solve problems. It’s what we do. Often to the great dismay of people in our lives that are perfectly content with the setup of their home TV systems or who just want us to “listen”. But if you want to put a person in space, or a cheese like gelatinous…

Between delivering packages and even successfully catching fish, it seems as though there is little that drones – or quadrocopters – can’t do these days. But what about building a bridge that can support two humans…autonomously? In a new video YouTube video uploaded by programmer Federico Augugliaro, two drones use a high-precision motion capture system,…

When it comes to NFL commercials, one only needs to be pointed to a long-running list of legendary Super Bowl ads to be reminded of how much money is spent on campaigns. To help kick off the new season, Honda has paid $5 million USD to air a total of 8 minutes of their new…

Few movies have been burned into the brains of today’s corporate work force as well as Office Space – the 1999 Mike Judge film that tells the story of corporate work life. The film, which helped lay the foundation for Judge’s more recent Silicon Valley show that follows a similar premise, has many memorable scenes…

Although it’s never been easier for craftsman-entrepreneurs to establish their own companies thanks to everything from streamlined payment systems to website building services, finding international success selling firewood for $1000 per bundle surely isn’t a very common success story. Yet for Canadian entrepreneur Jesse Horn, the opportunity to establish his own niche within the North…

Although Etsy is a hotbed for craft disasters ranging from recycled coffee creamer bird feeders to portrait paintings of Dr. Phil, the online craft marketplace currently holds a valuation of $3.5 billion – thanks to an IPO that the company successfully completed six months ago. Up until now, the company has been fairly strict about…

Designed in 1974 by Richard Danne and Bruce Blackburn, the 1975 NASA graphics standards manual – which includes the famous NASA “Worm” logo and other graphics to be used on spacecraft, suits and the like – has been a source of inspiration for everything from some of today’s most popular design trends to hollywood film…

I would stand, but my spine is fused to this ergonomic office chair. We sit so much. There’s an article every few days about why sitting will kill you. No one wants to die in sitting position, so all sorts of companies are banking on options to put your fears of a pulmonary embolism to…

After spending decades developing a flying ring that set the Guinness world record for the farthest thrown object when it was hurled 1,257 feet in 1985, you might think that American inventor Alan Adler – who also lectures in mechanical engineering at Stanford University – would slow down a little bit. Yet Adler, whose signature…

For the most part, everyday objects such as toothbrushes, spoons, hairdryers and hair combs are used exactly as they were designed for. Yet – thanks to a number of tv shows and Hollywood films ranging from MacGyver to Mystery Men, we’ve seen time and time again how traditional objects can just as easily be used…

In what is sure to be a first for the company, Intel announced at an Intel Developer Forum event in San Francisco this morning that they have teamed up with legendary TV producer Mark Burnett – creator of TV heavyweights including Survivor, The Apprentice, The Voice and Shark Tank – to find “America’s Greatest Makers”…

When it comes to making paper models for prototyping or form inspiration purposes, rarely ever do we expect the final results to ever function as the final object – especially if it’s as complicated as an engine. Yet, YouTube user Al Zh has defied the odds and has created what is likely one of the…

With more than $650 billion in North American retail sales alone, the outdoor recreation industry has been one of the fastest growing product categories within the past few years – despite having been around since the early days of the American Frontier and brands including Pendleton and Red Wing. Aiming to help their design students…

Although only a select few of the millions of iPhone 6 Plus models sold ever (reportedly) suffered from the effects of Bendgate, it would make sense for Apple’s industrial design team to avoid another PR circus centered around the integrity of their designs with the upcoming iPhone 6S Plus (assumed model name). In a newly-uploaded…

While some of us may pride ourselves on successfully crossing our t’s and dotting our i’s with any sort of consistent grace – both figuratively and literally – professional artist and certified Master Penman Jake Weidmann lives for it. The Denver-based ink master, who is the world’s youngest certified Master Penman by three decades, has…

When it comes to the near future of immersive 3D viewing platforms, the science behind the holographic and virtual reality experiences can oftentimes be replicated using only the basic of supplies. Among others, Google Cardboard has proven that anybody can experience VR for next to nothing (seriously, the cardboard viewers are given out for free…

Since announcing that they were working on an actual working hoverboard late last month, Lexus has been sporadically teasing Back to the Future fanatics and the curious general public alike with quiet updates on the board’s development. So far, what we know about “Slide” is that it uses magnetic levitation and liquid nitrogen cooled superconductors…

There has been much fanfare around 3D printers in recent years. Meanwhile, you rarely hear about the laser cutter in mainstream media. Honestly, I am not sure why. Perhaps it is because the laser cutter doesn’t have a charismatic evangelist like Bre Pettis. Hey laser cutter manufacturers, I’m pretty charismatic and available, wink wink. It…

Although existing cutaway and section view tools that exist in today’s CAD tools are incredibly reliable, they pale in comparison to the hand drawn detailed cutaway drawings that were – at one time- the most advanced form of communication for designers, engineers and manufacturers. Although cutaway illustrations have been used for centuries for everything from…

As a young block builder, you loved LEGO and would fly through the kits before quickly moving beyond build tutorials to creating your own unique creations using items from around the house. You loved puzzle games and toys with mechanisms like Mouse Trap and Transfomers. Maybe your parents started to let you take apart broken…

When it comes to learning 3D CAD tools in today’s age – be it SolidWorks, Rhino, Catia, Fusion 360, MODO or most any other – motivated self-learners have more options than ever before ranging from random tips and tricks videos on YouTube to more organized online courses from multiple providers. But as educational tools as…

It’s been said (and proven) repeatedly that those with a background in design can offer the most useful feedback in ways outside of a traditional design studio – whether it’s in an executive business meeting setting or even a high school classroom. For most, this comes down to putting a tried and true user-centered, prototype-driven…

I want to introduce you to someone. Let’s call this person Gary. Gary works nights and weekends in a garage on a project based on the same technology you work on. Gary is a Maker. Picture this, you stand around the water cooler complaining about how last year’s holiday party was better because they had…

It’s no secret that CAD tools are among the most complex pieces of software to learn and – perhaps most importantly – use effectively with intent. Unsurprisingly, learning these tools has been a brutal experience for many that can test even the most patient of learners and take them to their limits. More recently, video…

For all of the ‘making of’ videos that go behind the scenes of how a product comes to life, it’s easy to forget that the product’s lifecycle goes far beyond where most of these videos end – which more often than not is somewhere between coming off the production line and packaging. In what is…

Known for his prolific automotive art and custom car designs, Steve Sanford’s work has been commissioned over the years by custom car builders and car enthusiasts alike – not to mention he’s also helped inspire generations of car designers through his unique rendering techniques. But not only has Stanford been able to make a name…

As the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) – which can be best described as the CES of video games – wraps up today, it will cap off a monumental week that is perhaps more important than any other E3 in history; the rise of virtual reality is on the horizon and it’s going to start with…

Back in August of 2013, Elon Musk released a white paper on the Hyperloop, a concept for a high-speed ground transport that could – in theory – transport individuals from San Francisco to Los Angeles in just thirty minutes. The sci-fi concept, which has unsurprisingly sent ripples through the design and technology communities, has had…

Between the various product design entrepreneurs and hardware startups that continue to find success without formal industrial design or mechanical engineering training – as well as the increasing costs of college tuition, the line between needing to have a formal product development education or not for striking it out on your own is becoming increasingly…

How does building a paper airplane that is remote controlled, costs less than $10, and works like a dream sound? Intrigued? So are we – gather your soldering iron, cutting tool, glue and crafting tools or rotary tools and lets get flying. The project, which was created by Instructables user ‘Imetomi’, cleverly uses your standard…

For all of the noise that comes pummeling through the crowdfunding tunnel, every so often we hear a story that truly stands out amongst the latest 3D printers, minimal wallet designs and coffee makers. With over 100 years and four generations in the making, LunoWear just might be one of those stories. Founded by two…

Since hitting the YouTube scene a handful of years ago, filmmaker and storyteller extraordinaire Casey Neistat has created everything from ad campaigns for the likes of Nike and Mercedes-Benz to gaining over 16 million views for a video of a casual trip to a waterpark in Germany. It seems like no matter what Neistat does…

After moving to a small San Francisco apartment, architect Anton Willis was sadly forced to put his fiberglass kayak into storage. Aiming to solve the problem of kayak ownership in an urban environment for himself and many others like him, Willis set off on creating a city-friendly kayak design that was sensitive to the needs…

With over 86% of the world’s existing engineers being male, it might appear that inspiring a new generation of female engineers is an uphill battle. Thanks to recent efforts to make STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) a more appealing career field for girls however, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Already, we’ve seen…

Let’s start with the basics: you have an awesome job. You get to use cool tools to create awesome stuff. You may very well have the job that you wanted as a kid – a job that kids today still desire (but don’t let kids do your job, that would be irresponsible). Not many people…

Despite having some of the more interesting onscreen visuals we’ve seen in years, it’s likely that the 2010 film TRON: Legacy might not be in your Top Ten Films of All Time list. However, it’s hard to deny that – in addition to the unique visual effects – one of the most memorable aspects of…

Last week I made a quick trip away from my granola-crunching hometown and startup bubble that is Boulder, Colorado to the far-off and exotic land of Denver. After I idiotically spent $18 for an hour and a half of parking, I found myself knocking on a nondescript door in a seemingly random stairwell that was…