Named by Business Week as one of “the world’s most influential designers,” Don Norman has spent a lifetime dedicated to better understanding how humans interact with the manufactured world around them. Suffice to say; he’s seen the gamut of good and bad design. Which is why his book, Emotional Design: Why We Love (or Hate)…
Back in 2001, when Apple was still known as just a computer company with fruit logos on its computers, it released the first iPod. Unlike other media players before it, this white block used a touch-based scroll wheel to play songs, skip tracks, and scroll through menus. This may seem old hat by today’s standards,…
Shadow Creator’s new Shadow VR System is the new kid on the block and they are changing up the VR experience. Namely, they are outpacing their nearest competitors by bringing to market a standalone 6DoF VR headset. These features enable Shadow Creator to lose VR users from the shackles of computers and cables. Even better…
Chances are you have a ton of plastic containers at home with even more plastic lids that never fit the particular container you want. Though plastic containers are sturdier than plastic bags, they aren’t very space-efficient. Why not blend the two to create the best of both worlds? Such is the premise behind Zip Top…
When you think of furniture designs in the far future, you might think of crazy generatively designed stools that hover in mid-air or chairs that push themselves around like a Roomba to fit your Feng Shui taste of the moment. But these designs don’t actually SOUND comfy now, do they? Apart from the unease of…
Some people say a design is at its best when it’s at its simplest, but I’m pretty sure the statement doesn’t apply to everything. Take the NU:RO for example. Created by Anton Repponen of the Anton & Irene New York Studio, the analog watch is a heaven sent for minimalists but may be a bit…
You wouldn’t think it at first glance: “Come on, a hairdryer of all things?” But look past the nozzles, diffusers, and concentrators and you’ll find something with far more value. It goes without saying that the gold inlays of the Dyson Supersonic hairdryer are pretty expensive, but what’s even more priceless is the art of…
In an age where humans generate more waste than they know how to dispose of properly, more designers are continuing to make greener choices with their creations. We have kitchen knives made from old skateboard racks, furniture made from bricks made from recycled newspapers, speakers which use plastic bottles as bass boosters, and now… aluminum…
Even though centuries have passed, the act of designing and making objects is still primarily the same: the human mind comes up with a project, the human hand sketches it down, and finally, human hands get to work on manually making the dream a reality. Throw in some modern computer-know-how and manufacturing technologies in there,…
I’ve covered my fair share of household hardware here on SolidSmack: from an intricately-designed LED lamp all the way to a pizza oven made from a Pilates ball. But nothing has been as simple as this: The Vettis Concrete by luxury fittings brand Brizo is as simple as faucets come. No hand-activated sensor or hidden…
They may seem useless at first, but you can’t deny mobile device stands make up a rather quirky part of the consumer market. These hefty, often colorful accessories are for those who lack the extra appendages to hold their devices upright while doing something else. The Montelouro is no exception. Crafted by Rafael Fernández Sánchez…
Young whippersnappers may not know this, but before cell phones could do everything from SMS messaging to your taxes, we had other pieces of hardware to do these tasks separately. Walkmans played music through cassette tapes, accountants did your taxes, and yes, even calculators had their own blocky, hefty designs. Lofree’s Digit Calculator pays homage…
What you’re looking at right now isn’t a Bluetooth speaker. It isn’t even a pint-sized Roomba. What you see in the photos and videos here is actually Logitech’s newest MX Vertical mouse. While older users of computer peripherals are no strangers to mice the shape of actual rodents (some early computer mice were even bigger…
When it comes to product design books, it’s not always easy to eliminate glamorized portfolios from those that get down to the real nitty-gritty of product design. And when it comes to those actually worth reading, Don Norman will never do you wrong. As a strong (and very early) advocate for user-centered design, Norman is…
Despite its ability to coax millennials with its sleekly-designed products, the Apple name isn’t necessarily known for hardware durability. Ultimately, when your phone or laptop could easily become impaired from even the tiniest amount of moisture or a mini dust cloud, “sleekly-designed” isn’t going to cut it for many. In a recent iFixit article, a…
Humans these days are so dependent on the technologies our ancestors created. From the simple wheel to the high-tech computer, it feels like living without these inventions in this day and age is just downright impossible. What if we didn’t have them in our daily lives? What if we turned back time? Designer Nikolas Bentel…
Creo 5.0 now lets you model in perspective! I for one am excited! I’m relishing the thought of giving my eyes and brain a long-awaited respite. It’s just not natural to process depth using trimetric or dimetric projections. Unlike some of my industrial design buddies who gave up on Creo (formerly ProE) opting for other CAD programs tailored for…
We are just now entering summer, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s too early to start thinking about getting outfitted with winter gear—especially if it means getting in early on a Kickstarter product. Developed by Ireland-based Rotation Design across two winters and tested in the harsh weather conditions in Iceland, the TUSK multi-functional snow shovel…
Since its release in 1959, Henry Dreyfuss’ The Measure of Man and Woman: Human Factors in Design has been an invaluable resource for designers, engineers, architects, and anybody else responsible for shaping the manufactured world around us. The indispensable resource, which contains thorough and accurate measurements for children, teenagers, adult men and women, and those…
No, I didn’t make a mistake with the product’s spelling. Created by the father-son design team at Onehundred, Brdis are foldable bird feeders designed specifically for birds. So while humans have Ikea furniture to decipher and build, birds have Brdis (except humans have to make these for them as well). Crafted from .025” (6mm) foldable…
When it comes to product design books, it’s not always easy to eliminate glamorized portfolios from those that get down to the real nitty-gritty of product design. And when it comes to those actually worth reading, Don Norman will never do you wrong. As a strong (and very early) advocate for user-centered design, Norman is…
While the marketplace is flooded with design books of all shapes and sizes, it’s only every so often that a ‘Holy Grail” industrial design book pops up. The ambitious Industrial Design in the Modern Age—out this month from Rizzoli—is one of them. Told through more than 4,000 selected industrial design objects from the Kravis Design…
We’ve seen just how much potential there is for AR/VR headsets in the design and engineering world—whether it be modeling in the context of the real world or assisting assembly line workers. That said, we’re still on the cusp of knowing just how significant that shift can be. But when Apple gets involved—there’s usually a…
Cutting your hair is a remarkable skill to have. After all, eliminating yet one more thing you have to do each month is always a blessing—not to mention saving a few dollars is always nice. That said, getting the results you want isn’t always easy. The CreaClip doesn’t turn you into a bonafide hairdresser, but…
At first glance, you might think this weird-looking sphere is either a fancy lamp or an oversized paperweight. While it could, theoretically, hold a massive stack of paper, this sculptural piece contains something a bit more useful: powerful and secure Wi-Fi. Unlike more conventional Wi-Fi router designs, most of which are uninspiring boxes with bug-like…
The Spotify versus Apple Music streaming audio battle has been heating up for a while now. And while Spotify has a significantly larger user base, Apple—as it always tends to do—is slowly creeping up behind with Apple Music thanks to an ecosystem that puts its hardware and software systems front and center with the Apple…
Developed in collaboration with the Aluminum Company of America in 1944 by Wilton C. Dinges, the Emeco 1006 Navy Chair is one of the most iconic chairs in the history of industrial design. Initially designed for the Navy submarines during WWII as a chair that could withstand the rigors of life at sea—including a torpedo…
SkillCoach is a new series where Vince Haley, Product Dev. Professional, and Educator, provides a virtual design critique of new product designs or processes with an aim to help you strengthen your creative and technical skills. Feel free to participate in the discussion via sharing your comments below! Connect with Vince on Linkedin here or via Instagram here. Have…
With the ability to let users explore and communicate their ideas directly in 3D though AR and VR, few design tools have come along in recent memory that is as unique as Gravity Sketch. Designed to be intuitive in a VR or Mixed Reality workflow before sending over to a more robust CAD program, the…
2017 was a good year for Advanced Modeling Tools enhancements inside of Onshape. In particular, I’m talking curve and surface creation tools. These are the kind of features that have got this ole ID guy chomping at the bit to model something curvy and sweet in form! My aim in this post is to highlight…
Considerably more complex than a typical desk lamp or a child’s nightlight, the folks at CE Lighting have come up with a modern reinterpretation of everyone’s favorite boogeyman buster. At first glance, the Skala Lamp looks like a pencil holder without the…you know, pencil holding feature. In fact, it looks like little more than a…
When it comes to kitchen tools, some things are worth investing in for the long haul. Sure—a good knife and cutting board set definitely make that list. But so does a great cast iron skillet—arguably one of the most versatile kitchen tools you’ll ever own. But like so many other tools both in the workshop…
A long time ago, I learned I could use my campfire charcoal to filter any questionable water sources if no other water was available. Not surprisingly, charcoal can have a profound effect on softening ordinary tap water, too. London-based design firm Black+Blum recently designed an interesting (BPA free) water bottle to take advantage of a…
It’s not very often—if ever—that a software app is made in response to a mass distaste for a particular hardware feature. And as Apple’s design team has learned time and time again, you can’t please everybody all the time. The most recent example comes from the “notch” in the physical body of the new iPhone…
The WESN titanium knife (West East North South) from designer Billy Chester looks like a handy little tool for camping trips and knife-related activities. While the handle of the knife is made from grade 5 titanium, the blade itself is composed of AUS8 heat-treated steel. What distinguishes this knife from other bladed weapons is how…
Candles are typically manufactured with scents that put people at ease—such as those that invoke Christmas morning or the salty ocean air, among others. And in the year 2017, what could possibly put some people more at ease than the scent of a freshly-opened Apple product? Inspired by Apple’s own signature packaging ‘scent’, candle manufacturer…
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…
Calling all designers, engineers, and would-be sketching aficionados! Grab your drawing sticks because Inktober 2017 has officially kicked off! For those of you not familiar with Inktober the short story is that it’s a 31-day drawing challenge created by a guy name Jake Parker back in 2009. His aim was/is to inspire creatives to improve…
Are you an aspiring CAD Designer or maybe a seasoned professional seeking new digs? Perhaps you are hesitant to start your search, not quite knowing which geographic locale will offer the best ratio of income to living-expense. Well, here’s a little tip “Go Midwest young man!” (and ladies too). I’m talking Michigan, Illinois, Indiana and…
When it comes to coffee, hardcore aficionados take every step of the process seriously—from the origins of the bean, down to the milliseconds for brew time and method. And while making a solid cup of coffee at home can be done with the ultra-simplified pour over method, espresso machines have been another story—unless you’ve been…
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…
As often as we look at and use appliances that live out their entire lives on our kitchen counters, you would expect there to be more exploration into thinking of these objects as ‘functional sculptures’ rather than ‘attractive mass manufactured objects’. At least, this was a glaring concern from Berkely-based design studio Montaag Products. After…
When he published The Measure of Man and Woman: Human Factors in Design in 1960 to provide “up-to-date measurements and information for children, teenagers, adult men and women, and the elderly through its detailed text, convenient tabular material, and 200 anthropometric drawings,” industrial designer Henry Dreyfuss likely had no idea how much of an influence…
Few objects are as ubiquitous in the New York City landscape as the humble pushcart. Whether to ferry packages up a skyscraper or transport a piece of artwork down the block, the assistive devices have come to represent the number of goods that flow in and out of the city on a daily basis. It…
As far as furniture design goes, Amsterdam-based industrial designer Sebastian Brajkovic certainly has an interesting backstory. As a child, his interest in the rotation and skewing of objects—ranging from spinning tape decks to car wheels—was so intense, that his parents believed that he may have been autistic. While he is not, his interest in perspective…
If all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail. When all you know is SolidWorks, everything you design will look like RoboCop. You can do better.
While not feasible for every product out there, ceramic materials are one of the few natural materials available to us that can be formed into just about anything. Best of all, it’s a sustainable and cheap material to work with. But ceramic furniture? Inspired by German machinery manufacturer Carl Schlickeysen, inventor of the first machine…
If any of your hobbies involve turtles and/or squishing things with your fingers while giggling like a schoolchild hopped up on oatmeal pies, you’re going to love our model this week. Jacob Stanton, also known as ‘jakejake’, has created a small turtle toy that squishes down and bounces around on its springy little legs. They’re…
When it comes to some of the more exciting developments in product design, oftentimes it comes down to simply looking at new ways of manipulating old materials rather than seeking out new ones. Such is the case with ‘Tenderwood’, an experimental new bench design from Taiwanese industrial designer YenHao Chu. Using a combination of Japanese…
Who doesn’t love falling asleep to the muffled growl of a V8 engine? If you’re the type of car-loving family that has motor oil running through your blood, you may be the ideal candidate for a new crib for your youngest, thanks to Ford Spain (assuming it’s not an April Fools’ joke a few days…