The one notebook you’ll ever need- Rocketbook’s Everlast. At least that’s the claim from the makers of the highly successful Wave: Cloud Connected Microwavable Notebook and The One, a single-use cloud-connected paper tablet. What do all three have in common? The ability to write on paper, using pen and upload those writings and doodles digitally…
Since they came on the scene back in 2010 with the Glif iPhone 4 Tripod Mount & Stand, Studio Neat collaborators Dan Provost and Tom Gerhardt have become one of the few success stories to rise out of the Kingdom of Kickstarter. Starting with that smartphone tripod, which, at the time, was an entirely new…
Ah, the good old Bic pen. Where would we be without you? As a cheap and disposable tool capable of at least a fair enough amount of line weights, the Bic pen is one of the most indispensable tools that can be found in a designer or engineer’s toolkit. Sure—there are plenty of other great…
Since its first release, Duet Pro has been a fantastic utility for macOS and Windows users looking to add additional responsive displays using their various iDevices—particularly the iPad. Last year, the app introduced new features that helped turn the iPad Pro into a makeshift Wacom tablet for iPad Pro + Pencil owners. With a recent…
Hot off the trail of their One DLP 3D printer debuted last year, Taiwan-based Phrozen is back, this time with Make, “the world’s most compact, reliable, and precise LCD light-cured resin 3D printer.” If that sounds like a mouthful, you’re right, but over 240 backers have already put Phrozen over their Kickstarter campaign target goal…
For the hardcore pen fanatics out there, the ability to accommodate a particular type of ink refill can make or break the purchase of an otherwise perfect pen. Further, few people enjoy being locked into a propitiatory refill—forced to buy only one particular kind of ink. Enter the Ti Pocket Pro—a titanium pen that adjusts…
With more digital sketching apps than ever before, picking one that fits your workflow isn’t necessarily easy. Oftentimes, half that battle is just learning how to use it effectively. Featuring both Corel Painter 2017 itself as well as AfterShot 3, ParticleShop, and over 10 Hours of Corel-approved training, the Corel Painter 2017 Bundle is an…
The pull between the pen and the pixel has plagued designers since the early days of digital design software. While a finished product always ends up as data, it’s more logical to test out ideas on paper before committing to a digital plan of action. Sure—hardware like the iPad Pro and Microsoft Surface have created…
In the arena of tablet styluses, ranging from basic nubs to advanced pressure-sensitive offerings from Apple and Wacom, little consideration has been put into making the writing devices look at all analog. Instead, the majority of digital sketching styluses are futuristic interpretations of what a writing instrument could be. With the launch of the Noris…
There’s no denying that the Apple iPad Pro and the Microsoft Surface have become extremely powerful pieces of hardware for pros on the go. That said, while they score high points for portability and ease of use, they’re not necessarily ideal for a typical design professional’s end-to-end workflow that requires a more robust software package.…
The oceans of the world are vast, covering approximately 72% of the planet’s surface. Many people across the ages have travelled the seven seas in search of new worlds! The more bold at heart have sought to explore beneath the surface uncovering the mysteries of the deep. Tales abound of encounters with strange and enormous creatures,…
For those who depend on a graphics tablet for design tasks ranging from ideation sketching to 3D modeling, Wacom is pretty much the gold standard when it comes to quality and price. Unlike the iPad Pro or Microsoft Surface, however, there’s little else the graphic tablets are capable of doing efficiently and comfortably when not…
While tablets continue to grow ever more powerful, they rarely ever satisfy the full product development pipeline needs for today’s professionals. Nevertheless, that divide is continuing to grow more narrow as hardware developers and third-party developers continue to push the envelope. More recently, Duet Display, the iOS app that previously let users turn their iPad…
Whether it’s an F1 race car, an iPhone or the Death Star, people just can’t seem to look away once they get a glimpse of what’s underneath the covers. From the mesmerizing illustrations over the past two decades from Stephen Biesty (as seen in his collection of Cross Sections books) to more modern uses of…
Ahhh. There’s nothing quite like the aroma of genuine leather. And when it comes to wallets, leather is the crème de la crème! I can say with certainty that the folks over at Equus Leather believe this wholeheartedly. In a recent addition to their amazing behind the scenes video series, their master craftsmen Charlie shows off his…
One of the basic tools-of-the-trade for creative types the world over is our writing sticks, a.k.a pencils, chalk, crayons, markers and the like. I don’t know about you but when I want to lay down some lines my go to permanent marker is a good ole ultra-finepoint Sharpie. I like how it forces me to commit…
Unless you sketch every day or have a brilliant sense of hand–eye coordination, chances are that sketching in proper perspective doesn’t necessarily come naturally. That’s okay. Join the club. For the rest of us, using methods such as Scott Robinson’s “Draw Through” help keep things looking the way they should, be it a sketch of…
Sure, there’s dozens –– if not hundreds –– of pens out there that are the perfect everyday carry companion. But how many of those are made from Grade A butt-kicking aerospace-grade material? Heck, how many also double as a tablet stylus? The SMRT Limited Edition Carbon Fiber Rollerball Pen offers the rare combination of an…
When it comes to design sketching, one of the most difficult –– but oftentimes absolutely necessary –– components to lay down are various components of the human figure. Among other reasons, understanding the scale and ergonomics of early design ideas can make or break a project early in the process. Which is why the How to Draw:…
As one of the most useful suites of creative applications for designers on the iPad, the Morpholio collection of apps –– which range from digital sketching to portfolio management –– is indispensable for today’s on-the-go tablet creators. With the recent “Stencil” update to their Trace app last week, users can now create reusable digital “stencils” from…
It’s not even worth debating whether sketches created by “finger painting” on a tablet with your big stubby nubs are worth using or not. Unless you’re just laying out a few simple lines, a stylus is almost always necessary for achieving something with a finished sketch quality –– particularly one with pressure sensitivity. As the first…
How many times have you taken your sketchbook out the door and wished you could easily carry a regular old pencil –– be it your garden–variety #2 or a blue Prismacolor –– without the lead point stabbing you or otherwise breaking? For those who prefer to use lo-fi wood writing tools that don’t include a clip…
With a nearly endless array of profiles and material block possibilities, sneaker design sketches aren’t too hard to come by. However, the process of converting those sketches into a physical shoe takes nearly the same level of engineering skill and patience as it does to create many “hard good” products –– particularly if you set out…
Whether you’re a next-level design sketching mastermind or a quick-on-your-feet CAD rockstar (or both!), chances are you’ve considered bringing a Wacom tablet into your digital workflow –– if you haven’t done so already. If that’s you, we’ve got a special deal. Up to $100 Off an Intuos Pro Pen & Touch Tablet! Deal ends 8/27/16!…
It wasn’t too long ago when having maybe 3 or so colors in a single mechanical spring-loaded pen was a big deal – but what if you could carry nearly every shade (approximately 16 million colors) in your pocket wherever you go. That’s just crazy. As the latest high-tech art tool, the Cronzy pen is a…
Used by engineers and designers in nearly every corner of the product design and development industry, the humble Moleskine notebook is often the starting point for hatching the next great product idea. But while sketching in the iconic notebooks happens anywhere at any time, it is often when sketching over a cup of coffee at…
While it’s easy to overlook, having a favorite pen in your pocket to take to meetings or just around the office can be just one more of life’s small pleasures. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to find a pen to stick with for the long haul that both fits your budget and feels right when…
Although a well-designed and balanced pen can be a dream to write with, few writing instruments could ever replace the humble wood pencil. Now, artists, designers, engineers, woodworkers and anybody else who grinds their pencils down to a nub will soon be able to get a lot more mileage out of that lead. Soon to…
If you’ve been paying attention to the Apple rumor mill as of late, you’ve likely heard that Apple is (supposedly) working on incorporating an OLED touchscreen trackpad to replace the function row of keys at the top of the new MacBook keyboard with a monster trackpad below – expected to be released later this year.…
The ability to quickly observe a form and deconstruct it into primitive shapes that can be sketched or modeled is one of the most valuable skills that a designer or engineer can have. Unfortunately, learning how to think this way doesn’t necessarily come naturally for most – particularly if it involves a sketchbook and a…
When it comes to starting a side project (or a “project” project), ironing out early ideas and evaluating them ahead of time – rather than just jumping in – can mean the difference between a hugely successful venture or a massive major headache further down the road. Unfortunately, moving productively through this brainstorming process and staying…
Despite the growing number of options for connected note taking and options for sharing analog documents in the Cloud, most team interactions still rely heavily on the mother of all note taking surfaces: the whiteboard. Although modern smartphone apps are capable of digitizing a meeting’s whiteboard notes in a single snap and uploading them to…
According to researchers at Princeton University and the University of California at Los Angeles, students who take handwritten notes generally outperform those who type via a computer. Not surprisingly, those who write their notes by hand are able to comprehend new material better while retaining that information for longer. But in a world where we…
Before the iPad Pro, truly useful designer-friendly apps for iOS devices were a dime a dozen (arguably, they still are). Along the way, the Morpholio suite of apps proved to reinvent the creative processes for designers, engineers, architects artists, photographers and other creative individuals with their suite of cloud-based design utilities for multiple stages of…
Although simple in functionality, few writing or desk tools have been reimagined quite as much as the humble pencil sharpener. Whether your Prismacolor-sharpening technique consists of microwaving the pencil for 8-seconds before hand sharpening to avoid lead breakage, or if you prefer chiseling away at an old carpenter’s pencil with a gardener’s knife, there really…
Along with Spencer Nugent, industrial designer and concept artists Scott Robertson has a special place at the top of our favorite design process educators list. Long before YouTube allowed educators to upload their tutorial videos, Robertson published a handful of design sketching DVDs through The Gnomon Workshop – DVDs that became so popular, they were difficult…
While most commonly found in topographic maps to illustrate elevation changes, contour lines can be equally effective for product designers and engineers during the design iteration stage. Among other reasons, it’s a quick and easy way to add subtle design features – such as a groove or a lip – without spending too much time…
Known for his many design sketching videos over the years ranging from basic perspective and rendering techniques to strategies for developing ideas quickly, industrial designer Spencer Nugent has long been heralded as a savior in an industry that puts sketching skills on such a high pedestal. But nearly just as important as having a row…
It’s no secret that we’re big fans of industrial designer Spencer Nugent around here. The designer, who is well-known for his highly communicative design sketching abilities, is also the founder of ID Sketching; one of the best resources for industrial design sketching online. More recently, Nugent has been publishing his industrial design sketching tutorials directly…
When it comes to saving sketches digitally, we’ve seen nearly every possible tool or gadget that could possibly be conceived: touchscreen stylus designs that emulate analog pens, sketchbooks that make it ‘easy’ for snapping pics that get uploaded to the cloud, iPad apps that emulate natural writing materials, dual ink pen/stylus combos and professional sketching…
Although nothing will ever replace the experience of uncapping a fresh marker and “layin’ down” on top of a ready-to-go sketch, it can still be a time-consuming process that many may not have time for in today’s fast-paced, quick-turnaround world of product development. Although we don’t necessarily approve of ditching analog sketching altogether in favor…
When it comes to sketchbooks, most people have a tried and true formula that ranges from specific binding styles and paper types to stacks of whichever recycled paper is available stapled together. Considering that some of the world’s most revolutionary ideas were sketched on the back of a soggy napkin over pints, there’s reason enough…
It’s been a long time coming – and many, many third-party stylus designs have come and gone – but Apple is finally expected to release a 12.9″ iPad model designed for professional creatives under the presumed model name ‘iPad Pro’ in the very near future, according to reputable KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. While Apple…
Unless you’re a professional iPad sketcher – chances are you like to use a little bit of assistance with your (lack of) drawing abilities. For this, it’s hard to deny that Paper by FiftyThree is without a doubt the best in its category; some people have even admitted to being swayed into purchasing an iPad…
Before the era of smartphone video and video sharing sites such as YouTube and Vimeo, one of the more frustrating skills to learn was sketching – and to be more specific – design sketching. As the old saying goes, “kids today don’t know how good they have it,” using video to learn new skills is…
Usually when it comes to recreating logos with pixel-by-pixel perfection, a high-resolution reference image of said logo(s) is needed to trace – with careful precision – using a bezier curve tool such as Adobe Illustrator’s Pen Tool. The process – depending on the level of one’s OCD tendencies – can take up to an hour…
Ever since the first iPad was released in 2010, the discussion regarding what the best portable digital sketching tool or tool combination is has only grown more complicated over the years. Between those who have found success with using the later Microsoft Surface to early adopters of the Wacom Cintiq Companion, the debate ultimately always…
For those who prefer starting their ideation sketching sessions on an iPad, there’s a good chance that FiftyThree’s Paper has been tried at least a few times – if it isn’t already the go-to drawing app on their iPad. The freemium app, which features a bundle of stylized drawing tools to aid in the sketching…
Last time we checked in with master design sketcher (and even-better sketching instructor) Scott Robertson, he was releasing his second interactive design tutorial book How to Render. The book, which follows the equally-awesome design sketching book How to Draw, features what are quite possibly the most in-depth explanations of how to render sketches ever published.…
It was just this week that rumors started circulating about an upcoming Apple-designed stylus to coincide with their also-rumored 12.9 inch professional iPad known for the time being as the iPad Pro. Sadly, iOS users who are looking for a more portable sketching and work experience will have to wait…however Android users who love to…