It’s no secret that online learning is more popular than ever. From easy screencasting software to dozens of video hosting platforms, learning new skills is easier than ever before. But have you ever considered creating your own online classes—whether to help others with your rockstar workflows or even secure a profitable side gig? The good news is that anybody can get started—all you need is something to teach and the motivation to do so. And with the How to Create an Awesome Online Course training, you can get started producing your own content immediately (yes—this an online course about creating online courses). In this highly self-aware course containing over 8…
Long gone are the days when every banner and sign required the specialized touch of a sign writer—yet, even with today’s billboard-sized digital prints created from Photoshop files, the art of good old-fashioned hand lettering is still just as popular as it ever was. And while it does take some practice to cross your t’s and dot your i’s with a cohesive style, the good news is that you don’t need to go back to design school to get a formal typography education. Written by graphic design icon Ivan Castro, The ABC of Custom Lettering: A Practical Guide to Drawing Letters is an authoritative resource for designers, typographers, sign writers,…
Thanks to killer set design in movies and television, almost everyone wants their own secret room. And who wouldn’t? Having your own private sanctum sounds like a blast: peace and quiet, the freedom to do what you want, plus the rooms are usually sealed off in the coolest way possible — waterfalls, anybody? Creative Home Engineering is a company born from this fantasy (its website name, hiddenpassageway.com, is a reference to this). When company president Steve Humble was renting a large house with his friends back in 2003, he thought it would be cool to secretly wall off sections of the house like in popular movies. But after doing some research…
Maslow’s hammer: If your only tool is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail. Design engineering is a constantly evolving field. It is forming and shaping faster than a complex hexagonal honeycomb micromesh structure growing out of a Carbon3D printer; from new technologies with implementable applications to tools, software, and manufacturing processes. Keep up or learn to enjoy breathing dust from the cloud you are perpetually left behind in. For designers, professional development can come in many forms. It can be specialized training, ongoing formal education, or training in software or physical tools. The breadth of possible knowledge and skills to be gained should be simultaneously daunting and…
When it comes to precision assemblies and repairs, no two screwdrivers are alike. And while you may have an entire tool caddy loaded with precision screwdrivers for whatever job comes at you, you’re still not doing your wrist any favors. WIth a 100+ RPM motor with both forward and reverse controls, the first-of-its-kind General Tools 500 Cordless Power Precision Screwdriver is a must for effortless work sessions—be it assembling your latest prototype or simply swapping out batteries on your favorite device. The quick-change chuck allows for effortless swapping between 1/8-inch slotted, Phillips and Torx bits while an ergonomic handle design provides multiple grip positions to accommodate a variety of working…
Get that stretch out of your system with this week’s Spotify-powered SolidSmack Radio Playlist. It’s fashioned up, ready to make you pull your shoulder blades back and knock out another week of meaningful work while you bob your head to the beat. Whether you’re in the shop milling aluminum, sketching the latest product prototypes or modeling up a 3D storm, consider these tracks as a tool for your process. This week we’ll get the groove going with “Visions” from E1sbar before diving into sweet melodies from Miniature Tigers, Bahamas, Jimmy Whispers, Karen O, and others before wrapping up with “Don’t Know What’s Normal” from Shintaro Sakamoto. Rock! Have suggestions? As…