Ever since I was a teenager, I always wanted to graduate my art style from stick figures to something a bit more refined. Not everyone has an instinct for drawing, but quite a few would love to draw better and many of us desire to sketch like a pro. ShadowDraw, a creative app for the upcoming Apple iOS 11 update, allows the unskilled Picasso-to-be to learn from the greats. https://youtu.be/KvNyRnZcyV0 By following the sketch-by-sketch processes of renowned artists, you match a series of lines until the finished piece emerges, but you’re not simply tracing or coloring in the lines. Each drawing progresses with the actual stroke the artists use, allowing you to…
It may be a few weeks since you’ve had that dream of attaching articulating arms of grapplers, lights and small laser cannons to your upper torso, but that doesn’t mean you can’t start today. “The hardest part is starting your transformation into a cyborg. Scalpel!” is what my old business partner use to say. That’s why this week’s model caught my attention. Igor Albuquerque (whose initials are A.I. backwards. Hmmm.) has a wonderful new 3D printed articulating LED lamp project capable of use in a variety of ways and a variety of different places–attached to your desk to light your workspace, attached to your bed to light your bedtime reading,…
If you spend a lot of time designing objects for humans, then it would be a grave mistake to arm yourself with knowledge of body proportions and how to convey the use of your objects in context. Unfortunately, sketching humans accurately can be an incredibly daunting process to learn—particularly if you’re not trying to set out as the next Rembrandt or hit Manga artist. For simple desktop sketches as the need arises, we’re big fans of the Max Factory Figma Archetype Next Male Action Figure. Using the smooth posable joints, users can act out a variety of poses for ensuring that they get their proportions right—even if it still takes…
If there is one thing the LEGO is good at—besides creating some of the best toys of all time—it’s staying in the news. Last week, the company announced their new 7,541-piece Lego Millennium Falcon—the biggest and most expensive set ever released by the company. Created for diehard fans under their Ultimate Collector Series collection, the ultra-detailed plastic brick model includes swappable bricks for modifying the spacecraft design as it is portrayed in different movies from the series. Talk about commitment to accuracy. Additionally, the set also comes with ten Star Wars minifigs—two separate crews—from the original Trilogy and recent Saga films. “This amazing LEGO interpretation of Han Solo’s unforgettable Corellian…
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! Enlight Quickshot (iOS — Free) Enlight Quickshot will make you fall in love with mobile photography. Weather Atlas (iOS – Free)…
Jumanji is the movie best known for two things: the “What year is it?” meme, and forever scaring the hell out of 90s kids, making them think twice about ever playing board games again. The film follows the adventures of a boy named Alan (played by none other than Robin Williams) who becomes trapped in a living board game filled with animals, murderous plant life, and a hunter with a mustache so sharp it should be considered a deadly weapon. This Jumanji board replica created by Steven Ritcher won’t trap you for 26 years, but it will mesmerize you when you watch it take form and see it in action.…