While the mission behind Kickstarter is great for “small guy” entrepreneurs with a good idea and enough chutzpah to launch it into the world via the internet, the ending result isn’t always so great for some project backers. Although the company doesn’t report an official number (nor would they), one only needs to do a quick Google search to see how many Kickstarter projects were DOA — most swallowing up early backer funds with them. To better communicate development progress with backers, the Brooklyn-based crowdfunding company has debuted a new badge system under their Hardware Studio Connection to help standardize the process of bringing a hardware product to market. The…
Founded in 1959 as a professional tool manufacturer to support Japan’s burgeoning manufacturing industry, Trusco—a combination of the words “Trust” and “Company”—is still manufacturing some of the best toolboxes, today. While their stripped-down design makes them a must-have for many design aficionados, the pressed steel boxes are ridiculously useful for just about anything—tools or not. Still manufactured in Fukui, Japan, Trusco toolboxes now come in more sizes than ever—capable of whatever storage challenges you throw at them. Trusco Toolboxes [Various Sizes] — Starting at $11.98 Features: Steel body, formed for extra strength Versatile sizing for specific storage solutions Double-hinged construction for smooth opening Dividers included Equally useful in the home,…
While the marketplace is flooded with design books of all shapes and sizes, it’s only every so often that a ‘Holy Grail” industrial design book pops up. The ambitious Industrial Design in the Modern Age—out this month from Rizzoli—is one of them. Told through more than 4,000 selected industrial design objects from the Kravis Design Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the collection begins in 1900 and spans through to present day. As one might expect, everybody from Henry Dreyfuss to Charles Eames and Marc Newson to Jony Ive is covered in this comprehensive collection — a must for any design nerd. “Destined to become a new classic in the design genre, this…
It’s time for another round of apps that cover the spectrum of your beloved mobile device(s)! The Weekly App Smack is the best of new or updated design and productivity apps (and maybe a couple of fun ones, too) for the busy design or engineering professional and this week we have a list sure to make you more efficient. Do you have an app suggestion that has made your life easier or changed up your workflow? Let us know in the comments below or send it into tips@solidsmack.com. Hit it! Inventory List – Track Things (iOS — Free) Inventory List is the best inventory app for iOS. Create any type of…
These days, you can get just about any computer rig designed to your exact specifications. Whether you’re a RAM-hogging SolidWorks user, or simply just want a powerful workstation, there’s something for everybody. But no standardized hardware mod will ever replace the satisfaction of building your own rig from scratch. If you’ve ever wanted to create your own custom-built PC but didn’t know where to start, boy do we have great news for you. The How to Build a Computer Bundle consolidates five intensive online courses (a total of 126 individual lessons) ranging from how to create a blueprint for your desired desktop or laptop setup to how to overclock CPU…
The massively popular first-person shooter Overwatch is two-years-old! To show their appreciation to fans who have played the game over the past 730 days, Blizzard Entertainment has cooked up a little stop-motion video featuring three main characters – Tracer, Reaper, and a massive Overwatch cake. But making this two-minute stop-motion celebration took a lot more than realigning a couple of toys and adding some frosting, so the team decided to show the world how they put it together: After brainstorming the initial story and video flow, the team researched the fabrics and materials they need to bring the puppets to life. Using Tracer and Reaper figures as inspiration for their…