When it comes to being at the right place at the right time, nothing beats that old saying, “the best camera is the camera you have with you.” Perhaps the same can be said for sketchbooks—the best sketchbook is the one you have with you when inspiration strikes. Which is why the pocket-sized Field Notes have always been a favorite for designers and engineers. At just over $3 a pop, these no-fuss 48-page memo books are perfect for laying down rough ideas without worrying about wasting precious paper in a leather hardcover book. Plus, they’re the perfect size for throwing in a shoebox to keep a record of all those…

It doesn’t matter if you’re a seasoned Arduino developer or an Arduino beginner, there’s always something new to be learned with the versatile open-source hardware development kit. Whether it’s a prototype for a wearable design or even controlling your garage door via a Twitter feed, the possibilities of what can be done with the versatile development board are seemingly endless. For those looking to expand their Arduino capabilities, this master collection of Arduino E-Books is the perfect companion for deep-diving into new avenues of the open-source platform including developing products for the Internet of Things, mastering the art of a well-designed wearable and how to best implement Arduino with iOS…

Born out of a successful Kickstarter campaign back in 2013, CandyLab Toys has been one of the most popular Kickstarter campaigns to date. The NYC toy company, founded by two friends with a mutual love for classic American cars, has even been elevated to Kickstarter Gold status—even making a feature in the platform’s retail partnership with MoMA. Well, the company is back again with yet another round of kickass toys for living room floors or…ahem!…desktops.This time the company is going back to the 1920s for a series that they call The Outlaws. Inspired by 1920s vehicle aesthetics, the designers took cues from Art Deco Modernism and the “daredevil, rough and…

When it comes to mechanical pencils, not all are created equal. And with rOtring, this couldn’t be truer. Ideal for sketching, writing, and drawing, the iconic rOtring 800 Mechanical Pencil features an ergonomically enhanced full metal body, with centered weight balance and a comfortable non-slip knurled grip for long work periods without discomfort or fatigue. Featuring a “Twist and Click” retractable mechanism of the entire sleeve and lead, the rOtring 800 Mechanical Pencil can easily go from pocket to sketch without worrying about damage or lead breakage. Quite frankly, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better mechanical pencil for this price. The rOtring 800 Retractable Mechanical Pencil — $34.25 Features:…

As we become increasingly tied to our digital devices., the longing and joy for analog experiences continues to inspire a realm of new digital products that aim to capture the best of both worlds—products like the reMarkable e-ink tablet. The Yashica Y35 is the latest to enter this realm—with the goal of capturing the joy and meaning of analog photography but eliminating the time and expense of film development. Built upon their proprietary “digiFilm” system, the camera requires a brief pause to wind the film before shooting—essentially capturing the analog experience of having the time to think about framing our next shot. But the crossover experience doesn’t just stop there.…

With over two decades of experience teaching how to design, draw, and render at the highest college level, concept designer Scott Robertson knows a thing or two about what it takes to make concepts ‘stick’ for his students. And as one of the most widely-recognized design sketching masters, he’s proven these concepts in his own practice through and through. In How to Draw: drawing and sketching objects and environments from your imagination, the Art Center educator consolidates years of design sketching knowledge—from thumbnail sketches and perspective grids to shaded renderings—into a digestible self-study program that can take anybody’s sketching ability to the next level. Frankly, if you’re even remotely serious…