Presented by Collaborating with CAD data sucks. In fact, you told us it’s the third most annoying thing in CAD back in late 2014. Onshape wants you to think they’ve solved it. Have they, really? Let’s think this through.

It’s not easy to take on the task of improving upon one of the world’s most simple and well-loved toy building block designs – particularly if that building block is LEGO. For Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, however, creating their modernist “Japanese LEGO” wasn’t just about building a new toy; it was also about communicating an important message. Working with the forest conservation organization More Trees, Kuma’s Tsumiki block sets (Tsumiki is Japanese for “blocks”) are manufactured using Japanese Cedar that have been certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. “We work with local people and governments to find ways to make forest sustainable and foster the growth of their communities,” explains…

At nearly 200 years old, the simple bicycle is still a complex design challenge that many have used for testing the limits of materials, processes, and design – particularly in the more recent age of digital fabrication. Although the two-wheeled frame design has remained largely unchanged during this time, developments made from both large companies and independent makers have significantly improved upon the riding experience – whether it’s for racing, urban riding, or even a combination of both. More recently, Italian product designer Paolo de Giusti combined characteristics found in a velodrome racing bikes with those found on a standard cruiser with his 36/28 Postale prototype. With its velodrome race-sized…

Time for another round of apps that cover the spectrum of your beloved mobile device, be it iPhone, Android or Windows! 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! The Outbound “Our community of local experts has created thousands of the best outdoor adventures…

Although we tend to stick to hardware development and design process news here on SolidSmack, we’ve been known to stretch our creative muscles a bit into other creative categories – because, why not? As suckers for documentations of any given creative process, we couldn’t help but ogle over the lastest Designed on Surface series release from Microsoft late last week featuring POW! WOW! founder Jasper Wong. Wong, an artist, illustrator, designer and curator, co-founded POW! WOW! with the goal of bringing together world-class mural artists committed to community enrichment through the creation of art outreach. For the series, Microsoft went behind the scenes of Wong’s creative process behind developing a new…

This week’s Spotify-powered SolidSmack Radio Playlist knocks you in the pop sockets with head-boppin’ groove tuneage to help propel you through the work week in style. Whether you find yourself inking markers until they’re dry, grinding material through a bandsaw or working that 3D geometry all day, consider these tracks as a tool for your process. This week we’re kicking things into high gear as we shake off what’s left of our holiday hangovers and move deeper into 2016. We’ll start off with “Deadweight” from Beck and work our way through some Fatboy Slim, The War On Drugs, Cut Copy, Woods, and others before wrapping up with “Hallogallo” from NEU!.…