Imagine a crate of trucks that can be shipped on-site, built within a day, then sent to the four corners of the country delivering food, people, animals, medicine or a new shipment of mobile devices. Our first world problem encompass jamming 1000 pieces of $9.99 flat-packed furniture into small, hybrid cars. In developing countries, flat-packed…

Perhaps the most widely-respected industrial designer of all time, Dieter has inspired thousands—if not millions of designers with his perspectives on ‘good design’. From Apple’s Jony Ive to budding design school students, the Ten Principles of Good Design is just as relevant today as it was in the early 1980’s when Dieter began to recognize…

I bet, next to those dusty engineering and design textbooks on the shelf, you have a few picture books that have led to endless inspiration since you were a child. No? A comic book? Dilbert? *cringe* Nothing? Well, perhaps you had a favorite as a child, There Are Rocks in My Socks! or Where the…

Perhaps none of us will top the professional-level squatting recently done by a young entrepreneur at AOL’s headquarters. The then-19 year old Eric Simons was a part of an AOL incubator focused on helping young people with their startups. Having ran out of money, the persistent Simons ended up squatting at AOL…showering in their gym,…

When Kickstarter first launched, it was a hotbed for garage hobbyists, indie game developers, and the occasional ‘pro’ who wanted to test the crowdfunding market. More recently, the platform has made its way to more commercial projects that while having been successful, are arguably exploiting an indie-based platform and have led some into a pit…

You all know it. Augmented Reality (AR) headsets are/will be all the rage. From the Oculus Rift to Google Glass, the size, shape and application of these devices is quite broad. Sketchfab, the site that brings you the ability to set up your own 3D portfolio, is holding their fourth Sketchfast competition, and this one…

When I’m wrestling a ham and cheese sandwich in 3 inches of water, I’m not paying attention to anyone else around me. There are already devices to get people like me out of the pool (tazers hurt) but there are just not enough (read: any) device that take advantage of modern technology to save the…

Projects Mighty and Napoleon, the pen and the ruler. Two hardware products announced by Adobe this week at the Adobe MAX conference. Two hardware products that connect you to your device, your files, your work where ever you may be. Connected tools that explore our bond to the web beyond the smartphone and tablet. All…

I don’t care what people say. There are not enough well-designed office chairs in this world. From stumps of wood and rubber balls to cockpit office consoles that come with a 5,000 page manual, we’ll always need some way of looking ultra-efficient and ultra-stylish while our butt and legs slowly blend into two slender columns…

I know a lot of people who would let out a blood-curdling scream if you told them a ‘Mantis’ was on their shoulder. Especially, if their shoulder was being pinned down by this massive beast. The Mantis Robot is the creation of designer Matt Denton. It’s no ordinary robot and he’s no ordinary designer. Matt…

You all know Jeff Bare. We interviewed him on EngineerVsDesigner (Episode 5!!) About a year ago, he started working with a new watersport company named ZUP. It’s like ‘Up’ with a Z or when you punch your homey in the face and say, ‘wha ZUP.” They’ve developed a whole new product that makes skimming across…

Do people still wear watches? Yes, yes they do. Perhaps you have a massive watch strapped to your wrist bone. Maybe it’s diamond encrusted or touch-enabled or can survive a trip through your digestive system. However, it probably doesn’t have a liquid-filled watch face or three dials on a rotating dial which also rotates with…

Between designing space planes, restaurants, jet packs, and a line of apparel for GStar RAW, it’s hard to believe Marc Newson actually has time to ‘go home’. But just like the common man, even design celebrities need to catch some much needed ZZZ’s when the sandman comes. Unsurprisingly, Newson’s London abode is a direct reflection…

Opening tomorrow and running through the 14th, the Salone Internazionale del Mobile di Milano (The Milan Furniture Fair) is bound to have a few surprises that we’ll report on over the week. This showcase of all things product design has also been an outlet for famed British designer Ross Lovegrove to show off his latest…

Prepare the defibrillation paddles, for this little device of paper clamping simplicity is more than what it seems dear friends. The eClip is both a paper clip and a USB storage device. And those tick marks on the side? That’s a metric ruler–a wee one. We talked with Derrick Frohne, creator of the eClip, a…

There are guitar cases you want to completely cover in stickers, then there are guitar cases you want to build a dedicated shelf for in the focal point of your living room. This case is the later. You know we love covering the details of beautiful design behind musical instruments. The Bowoo Guitar case is…

Some people go around mixing things that shouldn’t be mixed, like macaroni and ketchup, loafers and capri pants or violins and Metallica’s greatest hits, but every once in a while the mix of two objects with completely different functions makes a whole lot of sense. Take for instance The MULTI. Capital letters are warranted for…

I know you’ve had all you can take of the magical background music and gentle voice-overs coming from that Disney fairy app. It’s time to delete the horror that is dressing baby Tinkerbell (don’t ask me how I know so much about this) and give your children a good dose of science, tech, engineering and…

Moniker Guitars of Austin, Texas make some of the most beautiful (and unique) solid body electric guitars I’ve ever seen. Plus, they allow you to customize your very own guitar through their online configurtator–Keeps you from gouging yourself with a carving knife trying to whittle one out of that maple stump. These guitars are high…

For those with ‘well-behaved’ dogs, carrying a leash at all times in order to obey leash laws can be…well, extremely annoying. Between trips to the park, hikes through the trails, or even a jaunt downtown, finding and carrying a leash can be a cumbersome experience. Rollo co-founders Tony Lord and Sid Fohrman saw this overlooked…

When the Cintiq first came out, I vividly remember an illustrator friend of mine saying “It’s not a matter of if I’m going to buy one, it’s a matter of when I’m going to buy one.” Perhaps a lot of designers and illustrators have found themselves in the same boat and have waited for the…

…And you should get in your imaginary Dymaxion Car right now and head over to Kickstarter to help make it a reality. Illustrator Cole Gerst of Portland, Oregon was blessed by the Buckmister Fuller estate to pursue the project, which features over 200 full-color, beautifully illustrated pages. Move your white Dieter Rams book over and…

When you’re thinking sleek and sexy materials, concrete probably isn’t the first thing that crosses your mind. High-density foam and corduroy–now those are some right sexy materials, amiright? Nonetheless, more experimentation to take concrete beyond the foundation and into fashion (??) should be happening… we think. IVANKA is a Budapest-based design studio and concrete factory…

Since the days of Bo Jackson, cross-training has been seeing more exposure in the limelight. More recently, popular workout programs such as CrossFit have been demanding more from a shoe than just a comfortable running capability. Movements such as lateral cuts and jumping require completely separate needs from your run-of-the-mill existing high-end running shoe. The…

In the case that you love watching products turn on a lathe as much as I do, you are in mucho luck today. Product designer Ingo Schuppler has recently released the lathe-heavy process video for his latest design, “Schwarzes Gold’. The coal-based lamp design is in response to Germany’s energy usage and, according to the…

Invisible Light Network, an NYC-based creative studio specializing in interactive and experience design presented a 3D printing project at this year’s SXSW festival’s #FEED event. The #FEED event featured a number of artists and designer-types who combine the best of music and interactive art into a showcase of incredible experiences and innovative products. We had…

Back in the day, SolidSmack was this close *makes pinchy fingers* to becoming a music site named ShellacSmack, covering news of the people creating interesting melodies with the resin secreted by the female lac bug. Fortunately for you, there are very few, if any, people doing that. There are, on the other hand, people creating…

When we previously reported on those cool Sandboxr dudes, they were prepping to launch their super cool model building and 3D printing app. Well, that time has arrived folks and Sandboxr has just launched their Kickstarter campaign to make the app and sandstone-3D printing experience a reality for non-CAD users all over the world…and a…

Between those who may be presenting reasons for a particular color or feature on a logo, or those who consider themselves branding experts, there are quite a few questionable design jargon statements made in the design world. The Design Jargon Bull$#!& Tumblr is your humorous archive of ridiculous design statements that just might make you…

When high-school students get bored it can only lead to one thing… The design of a new, fully-articulating prosthetic leg made from bike parts that cost a fraction of a professionally manufactured leg. Parker Owen’s Saturday night boredom turned into looking at picture on the Internet… pictures of bicycle schematics and prosthetic design. Now, he…

There’s nothing like a little electronic art to get the heart pumpin’. This doesn’t do that, but it does make your eyes jitter and cause the people in the coffee shop to stop talking bad about their friends for a few minutes. Michael Chang is a designer, programmer, game creator and a master of three.js,…

The concept of Designing for the Other 90% has been coming up more frequently in recent years…especially with the ease of putting your product out there and funding through crowd-funding sites like Kickstarter. However the challenge for raising these funds has usually been centered around creating a product that will not only be effective for…

This week we have the great pleasure to speak with the one and only Chuck Cage, founder of the uber-rockin’ tool blog Toolmonger.com—-the ‘world’s first tool blog’ as a matter fact.

It was just a couple days ago that we reported on Nike’s 3D printed American Football cleat that’s specifically engineered to help professional athletes boost their 40-yard dash times. The significance of the cleat rests in the designers’ decision to use 3D printing as a final form of manufacturing (SLS). However, 3D printing is nothing…

Trudging through the forest on a 5-day hike through the Catskills may leave you yearning for that comfy recliner, but there’s no reason you can’t enjoy the great outdoors and camp in comfort at the same time. Jason Foutch is a Project Engineer at Toyota Motor Engineering & Motor Manufacturing North America. He’s also an…

In a collaboration between 3D printer manufacturer Stratasys’ Education and R&D Departments and MIT’s new Self-Assembly Lab, a new printing technique centered around self-assembling, ‘smart’ materials is being used right now. Hold onto your pants ladies and gentlemen, 4D Printing is here.

Having recently been voted as Fast Company’s Most Innovative Company of 2013, Nike is keeping the bar raised high with the announcement of their (SLS) 3D printed football cleat today. 3D printers have been used for years in the development of various components of performance athletic shoes, but in terms of 3D printing as a…

I come across drum kits, shells, and accessories that I want to buy, all the time. However, I’ve never come across anything percussion related that would entice me to climb a mountain of volcanic ash to fight an epic battle with a mystical, 10-headed beast that has an appetite for arm flesh… Until now. This…

In a recent TEDYouth talk, Tom Chi (Head of Special Projects at Google) spoke to wide-eyed young’uns about the process and theory behind developing a product experience for Google that overlays digital information and images onto the physical world.

It’s been a topic of speculation as of late and while Apple is known for having multiple patents and not doing anything with them, this one appears to be different. The timing couldn’t be any more perfect for stirring the pot of next-gen smart device competition.

If there’s one thing I should have obsessivly started making and collecting when I was younger, it should have been small, wooden cars. Perhaps it’s not too late to begin *grabs log and chisel*, but in the meantime there are people like Matteo Ragni who thought it might be a good idea to gather 100…

If the Segway was just too ‘mall cop’ for you, there are two treads and 14 HP of hope for you. The DTV Shredder is in full-blown production and now available to the public. BPG Werks has had the concept in the works since 2009, after Benjamin Gulak made his claim to fame with the…

This post is part of our series on cool crowd-funded projects that are pushing forward technology in product development and introducing innovative product design. They’re all projects we’re contributing to as well. If you would like to participate and share your project or another you find interesting, submit it to kickit@www.solidsmack.com or let us know…

Strap on your sea legs and spin up the laser cutter. Nautical charts are some of the best types of prints to plaster on the wall to give off an air of eclectic charm. You can, however, bump it up a notch with versions made out of wood, layers and layers of silky laser-cut wood.…

As if 2013 couldn’t get any better folks, EngineerVsDesigner is BACK! Yes we caught a few fishes but mainly we slayed the dragons and drank hot toddies. Now that we’re back, it’s time to get the party started with an individual who not only resides over his wood shop with magical powers but is also…

After the last time you wrapped strings of LED’s around your neighbor’s cat and sent it running through the dark shopping isles after pulling the fire alarm, you may be looking for a new, less flea-ridden project to satiate your LED lusts. May I grant you inspiration from Malgorzata Ratajczak and Sebastian Szlabs, the crafters…

Face it, your bottom is tired of the cushy, padded seat, proper proportions and adjustable arms, back, legs, height, tension, spin and depth. Yes, your ass longs for simplicity. The Sorri lounge chair is a ultra-minimal and ,may I say, ultra-fantastico chair designed by Portugal-based designer Gonçalo Campos. It’s produced by Wewood and while it’s…

This post is part of our series on cool crowd-funded projects that are pushing forward technology in product development and introducing innovative product design. They’re all projects we’re contributing to as well. If you would like to participate and share your project or another you find interesting, submit it to kickit@www.solidsmack.com or let us know…

Using his trademark futuristic lines on an otherwise nostalgic sci-fi centerpiece, Marc Newson’s latest design is a yin and yang of what could have been and what could be. Anybody who remembers the 1991 movie The Rocketeer may have a sudden flashback–but hold the steampunk; Marc injects this iconic fantasy product with a little bit…

Apple’s recent Q1 Earnings report showed two things: First, iPhone and iPad sales are up (surprise!), while overall Mac sales are down. Second, the company saw record sales. The posted revenue of US$54.4 billion and net profit of US$13.1 billion shows that revenue rose 17.7 percent from last year’s Q1 performance. “No technology company has…