Whether ‘cleanliness is next to godliness’ or not, keeping your workspace organized can do wonders for one’s spirit. We love organizing our storage space with the stackable AkroBins to stay sane. From the curved-bottom hopper front that makes it easy to retrieve small parts to the extra-wide stacking ledges, these guys are immensely useful just about anywhere. Made from heavy-duty, industrial-grade polymer, these hanging and stacking plastic storage bins from are ideal for keeping small parts handy while keeping them out of the way. Bonus points: AkroBins are corrosion-proof and unaffected by weak acids and alkalis. AkroBins Stackable Part Bins 6-Pack — $17.83 Features: Water, rust and corrosion proof Curved…

Learn to Code 2018

Code. You don’t have to be a computer science hotshot to take the deep dive—heck, some people are up and running with their first project in a matter of weeks. But knowing where and how to enter can be half of the battle. The Learn How to Code 2017 Bundle is the perfect entry point and includes over 156 Hours of premium coding instruction, from Python to Ruby & everything in between. Consisting of ten courses in total, the ‘Pay What You Want’ bundle covers not just specific code languages, but also how and why you may decide to choose one over another depending on the project at hand. Pay…

autodesk university 2017

Presented by The future of making things—that’s what Autodesk University is all about. As the preeminent conference for designers, engineers, architects, and makers of all stripes, AU is the place to share knowledge, learn about the latest trends and technologies, and build connections. This year, the future of making things comes into new focus with the Product Innovation Platform. On the first day of AU, the Product Innovation Platform Session will guide participants step-by-step through the complete process of designing and manufacturing a portable speaker. Over the course of the day you’ll get a chance to: design and solder a PCB board using EAGLE software design the speaker enclosure in…

The WESN titanium knife (West East North South) from designer Billy Chester looks like a handy little tool for camping trips and knife-related activities. While the handle of the knife is made from grade 5 titanium, the blade itself is composed of AUS8 heat-treated steel. What distinguishes this knife from other bladed weapons is how small it is. When closed, the entire knife measures just 2.25 inches (or 57mm) long. When flipped open, it measures 3.75 inches (or 95mm) long. For reference, the smallest Victorinox Swiss Army Knife measures 2.3 inches (or 57mm); so the WESN has it beat out by being shorter by an extra millimeter. The small size,…

With his near-seamless ability to fuse traditional craftsmanship with modern technology, it’s no wonder designer Love Hultén consistently makes his way into mainstream media with his clever interpretations of retro arcade cabinets. Heck, one of his creations even ended up on the Tonight Show. The Swedish designer, whose approach to design is to present genuine and attractive alternatives to contemporary appliances, creates and assembles all of his pieces by hand out of his Gothenburg, Sweden workshop. The solid American walnut Cary42 is Hulten’s most recent example of fusing traditional craftsmanship with modern technology—and this time, he pulled out all the stops. The two-player arcade console is inspired by attaché cases…

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@www.solidsmack.com. Hit it! Polarr Album+ (iOS — Free) Say goodbye to messy albums and duplicated photos. Album Plus shows you albums of only your…