Don your favorite bath robe, cream that coffee and get comfortable with this weekend’s SolidSmack Weekend Reader.
This week we saw everything from a crowdfunding campaign that was 100 years in the making to a new type of synthetic (and soft) wood-like material to a library of 70 open source 3D print designs that utilize the iconic Duralex tumbler and more…
So lay back, relax and take a load off while reading the top ten stories on SolidSmack this past week.
Oh and uh…don’t forget to shed some much-needed sunlight on your face, too.
Industrial Designer Imagines What a Macintosh Phone Would Have Looked Like in 1984
“Of all of the things that came out in 1984 – Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Spinal Tap, The Karate Kid, Transformers and the first John Hughes film, among others – an iPhone (or more appropriately – a Macintosh Phone) was not one of them…”
These Handmade Wood Retro Arcade Cabinets Are Inspired by the Earliest Space Travels
“The last time we heard from Swedish designer, craftsman and innovator Love Hultén, he was sending ripples through the design community with his modular Brix System of handcrafted wooden electronic devices…”
This Crowdfunding Campaign Was 100 Years and 4 Generations in the Making
“For all of the noise that comes pummeling through the crowdfunding tunnel, every so often we hear a story that truly stands out amongst the latest 3D printers, minimal wallet designs and coffee makers. With over 100 years and four generations in the making, LunoWear just might be one of those stories. Founded by two lifelong friends, LunoWear is a collection of lightweight and durable modern wooden watches that are designed for both men and women…”
Japanese Design Firm Nendo Creates Soft Synthetic Lumber from Layered Alcantara Fabric
“Founded in 2002 by a group of architecture graduates who had recently visited the Milan Design Fair, Nendo has since become an internationally-renowned multidisciplinary design studio that’s been responsible for everything from mug designs for Starbucks and retail design for Camper shoes to ice cream cakes for Häagen-Dazs and furniture designs for Cappellini. Named after the Japanese word for children’s modeling clay, Nendo is currently operated by its cofounders Oki Sato and Akihiro Ito and over 30 employees at their Tokyo headquarters.”
Billy Boxes Crush Custom Tool Box Design and Upgrade Your Truck
“I’m not ashamed to say it. I want to buy a truck, just to buy a Billy Box. Austin-based Billy Boxes is fresh on the truck bed scene making everyone from tailgaters to hunters turn their head…”
5.5 designstudio Creates 70 Open Source 3D Print Remixes for the Iconic Duralex Picardie Glass
“Considered by many to be the “original French tumbler”, the tempered Picardie glasses from iconic French brand Duralex have become nearly as iconic as a crêpe or a beret when it comes to French style. The glassware’s easily identifiable curves have also made it recognizable (and famous) in a number of posters and films including the latest James Bond film, Skyfall…”
Industrial Designer Samy Rio Explores How Bamboo Could Be Used for Mass Manufacturing
“When it comes to working with sustainable materials, bamboo is among the most widely-used for good reason: although it is technically a grass, it is the fastest-growing woody plant on Earth. Additionally, the plant’s complex underground system of roots and rhizomes remain intact and a specimen is able to quickly regenerate itself at the rate of 20 percent per year – gaining health with each thinning. In comparison, it takes at least forty years for more traditional hardwoods such as cedar to grow to post size…”
