If you still haven’t managed to remove the ‘Everything is Awesome’ LEGO Movie song from your head, this next bit of awesome news probably isn’t going to help much…unless of course, keeping the song stuck in your head is awesome (it’s awesome). Inspired by his three awesome sons and their desire to create more complex…

Whether it comes down to finally setting up the workspace of your dreams, refreshing your portfolio with side projects, or simply just committing to doing a given task on a daily basis, organizing and planning for success is among one of the more difficult challenges outside of the daily grind. While one could resort to…

As 3D printing finds its way into solving a myriad of problems ranging from more traditional product development methods to more recent medical applications, there is one trait that leaves much to be desired: the ability to create multiple high-quality prints in a short amount of time. While the recently-announced Multi Jet Fusion Technology from…

The reality of sending your digital memories into a drilled hole on the moon might sound a little far-fetched for the common man, but in an age where blender-cooler hybrids are bringing in eight figures in crowdfunding dollars on Kickstarter, this sci-fi concept might not be too far of a reach in 2014. If the…

After a successful Kickstarter campaign in February of 2014 that saw them raise over $250,000 (with an original goal of $18,000) The Floyd Leg creators have been busy expanding their product line that was born out of the successful Kickstarter campaign. This time around, they want to enable you to create an entire workshop or…

Back in May of this year, the MoMA Design Store in New York City announced that they would be selling a curated collection of successfully-funded Kickstarter projects as a part of the NYCxDesign festivities that occurred over the month. Needless to say, the experiment was a success and proved to be a fine example of…

With products such as GoldieBlocks, LEGO Mindstorms and Arduino making waves in the toy industry and media, it’s easy to forget some of the more simple products that provide the basic foundation for making things…such as construction sets. Aiming to fill this overlooked niche is Ingocraft, a new 3D printing-focused company that offers both a…

It’s no secret that the ‘urban bicycle’ is a hot topic in bicycle design circles. With the rising popularity of the recent Oregon Manifest–an annual nationwide competition that pairs design firms with small bicycle fabricators to create the ‘ultimate’ urban bicycle–along with a host of bike-related infrastructure developments, urban cycling is on the forefront of…

There is something delightful about the Odin Kickstarter video. I can’t decide if it’s because the project was created by a small family with a bright idea (dog included) or the final scene in the video (you’ll just have to watch to find out). Either way, it’s fun, simple and effective projects like these that…

When your desktop, coffee table or countertop is covered in nothing but papers and pizza stains, there are two things you need–A low-maintenance, oxygen-producing plant and a ceramic animal sculpt. It is then people will say things such as, “My what eclectic taste they have. I want to be their friend.” Plants are easy to…

It’s easier said than done when it comes to taking care of pets. Right from the tiny fishes in a tank to the poop-master doggies with droopy eyes and fluffy ears – all spell work. Yes, we succumb to their charms and are left with tons of cleaning and caring to do. This is till…

The 5AXISMAKER puts a mill, 3D scanner, 3D printer, water cutter and wire cutter into one desktop box.
Changing the machines function is done through a simple head swap, making it both easy and versatile.

Earlier this year SolidSmack reported on ‘Print the Legend’, a feature-length documentary that focused on the 3D printing revolution and what has become of it. Starting today, the film will be available on Netflix as one of their ‘Netflix Original’ documentaries. The film focuses on the rise of consumer-friendly 3D printer manufacturers MakerBot and Formlabs…

We all have lived through those excruciatingly painful moments when a knob of cold, hard butter refused to spread easily on a slice of bread. Whose fault is it – the cold butter, the clumsy knife, the bread or your will to have a buttered slice? To satisfy such whimsical cravings and more, DM Initiatives…

When it comes to silicone molds, the possibilities for fun are boundless. Whether you’re using an existing Death Star mold to create a concrete vase or are creating an entirely new mold for a space shooter prototype, silicone molds have always been one of the most fun—and educational—ways of creating a three-dimensional object. Among other…

When it first launched, few people could have ever expected the Coolest Cooler to be as successful as it has been…it would have been impressive just to hit the $100,000 mark for a product whose sole purpose is to keep beverages cold at a picnic. Currently sitting at just above the $10 million funding level,…

If you’re like my grandma, you’ll pop a rum raisin in your mouth and say, “I’ve seen every iPad case, pack, flap and stand that’s been squeezed from a designer’s forehead pores!” True, there are many iPad cases, but every once in a while, someone actually thinks of the problems that come with the burden…

Previously, SolidSmack reported on the Sense ‘Smart Sleeping System’ that launched on Kickstarter a few weeks ago. The well-priced $99 sleep management system aims to ‘combine the insight of your sleep patterns with the data of the environment in your bedroom, including noise, light, temperature, humidity and particles in the air’. In an age where…

We’re always talking about the future of design, the future of technology, the future of MAKING. In a world where swimming pools can project live feeds of some of the world’s most premier diving spot for a fully-immersive virtual reality experience, a world where ‘Smart Homes’ will be able to be controlled by emotions rather…

We all need to collectively thank ZUtA Labs for their innovative ZUtA Pocket Printer. We shudder to imagine the outcome of our guilt and shame if another decade had passed by without any radical thought given to this humble computer peripheral! Almost every aspect of computing has changed but this, and like we mentioned –…

So your 4 year old drew on the wall. You’re less shocked that it’s permanent marker and more shocked that he managed to outfit your raspberry pi with two motors and a pen to cover the living room wall in a perfect remake of Van Gogh’s Blossoming Almond Tree. Could happen. And, he would have…

Sleep. Some of us just can’t get enough of it and will spend plenty of money on products to make sure that when we get it in those seemingly small doses….we get the most out of it that we can. Within the last few years, sleep has been looked upon as one of the most…

Inspired by the desire to buy a quality, well-designed luxury watch but frustrated by the current state of the bloated luxury watch industry, Leonard & Church founder Jeff Leung set out to establish a new watch company that cuts out the unnecessary middlemen including wholesalers, importers and retailers. This ‘eliminate the supply chain’ business model…

Open up the pockets or bag of your nearest design or engineer buddy and you’re bound to find at least a couple of common items: a sketchbook, a pen, a multi-tool or knife, and if you’re lucky…an embarrassing driver’s license photo that you can run and make copies of to post around the office. In…

We’re always talking about the future of design, the future of technology, the future of MAKING. In a world where 15-year-olds are filing patents for 3D printer technologies, a world where virtual reality can let users explore their real-time reality in a third-person view…how do we find the next ‘big thing’? Maker Galaxy is a…

We’re always talking about the future of design, the future of technology, the future of MAKING. In a world where audio devices can turn dance moves into beats, a world where connected ambient lighting can bring the weather outdoors inside…how do we find the next ‘big thing’? MakerGalaxy is a show that explores the crossroads…

Hold the Cheetos and fruit snacks! The average child throws away an estimated 55 lbs of food a year from school lunches…and we’re pretty sure that the majority of that is damaged food (smashed sandwiches?) or food that isn’t being served in its optimum state (who wants cold tomato soup?). Needless to say, fresh food…

What totally looks like the lair of a master race of bees after they’ve modernized and gained the ability to manufacture plastics? Your loft after you install HYVE. HYVE is a fresh new product from Herbst Produkt that has our OCD kicked into overdrive. I’ve seen modular storage and modular organization before, but I’ve got…

Either you end up renting an expensive day locker or loosing some valuables at the beach – either ways you are screwed. Designer Marcal DaCunha shares similar sentiments, which is why he has this cool project called Beach Vault on Kickstarter. We caught up with him to know what triggered him to design this amazing…

Kids these days… Inspired by the need to create a cup for her grandfather who had difficulty holding onto drinking vessels due to his Parkinson’s Disease symptoms, 11-year-old Lily Born of Chicago created a unique cup design that has already surpassed its goal on Kickstarter in less than a week. The three-legged Kangaroo Cup was…

IAmElemental Universe set out to change the conversation about girls and power. They are not anti-doll or anti-princess. Rather, they subscribe to the notion that if you give a girl a different toy, she will tell a different story. And, if you change the way that a girl plays, you can change the way she…

Already the king of crowdfunding, Kickstarter has announced today that they will speed up the approval process in an effort to make it easier for people to get their campaigns launched and their ideas out in the world. Announced in a blog post this morning from Kickstarter CEO Yancey Strickler, the new ‘Launch Now’ feature…

We are totally freaked out with the OutRunner – The World’s First RC Running Robot, kinda reminds us of the Roadrunner from the Looney Tunes cartoons! The only thing missing is the “beep-beep”! Anyways, sound effects aside, this Kickstarter project is kicking some ass, thanks to the lovely videos showcasing OutRunners’ running talents. We got…

We’re always talking about the future of design, the future of technology, the future of MAKING. In a world where creating on-demand custom apparel and footwear is the new norm, a world where the common manicure will be able to include custom embedded sensors, how do we find the next ‘big thing’? MakerGalaxy is a…

When it comes to creating innovative products for musicians, leave it up to the industrial designers who are musicians themselves to solve some of the more infuriating problems of traveling with musical equipment. Such is the case with Portland, Oregon-based industrial designer Patrick Triato, vocalist/guitarist for the band Bears. Along with fellow Portland industrial designer…

Even before they could go live with their Kickstarter Campaign, Kudo3D – the makers of Titan 1 DLP desktop 3D printer – have gone down the wires for being pompous a**es who thought it was cool to infringe on other designers’ rights. Yes, they have an innovative approach towards 3D Printing, and yes, they used…

With summer coming up just around the corner (June 21st to be exact), it’s going to be time to dust off that bicycle, pump some air in those tires, and prepare for another summer of epic rides. If you’ve been stashing your bike in a random corner during the winter months and don’t have any…

Already the creator of one of the most successfully funded projects ever on Kickstarter—the Elevation Dock—Portland, Oregon-based industrial designer Casey Hopkins is pushing to create an even more seamless workspace environment with his new Elevation Stand Kickstarter campaign. With 38 days left in his campaign, the Elevation Stand has already more than tripled it’s $25,000…

Outside TV commercials of exploding people, chipmunks with black lung gnawing you to death in your sleep and something called ‘cold turkey,’ there’s little convincing someone to squelch that smoking habit, unless they actually decide to take the necessary steps. Turns out, there’s a process, and the journey, should you muster a hacking cough to…

Last week SolidSmack reported that in celebration of NYCxDesign happening this month in New York City, the MoMA Design Store would be selling a collection of successfully-funded Kickstarter product designs that are among the “most impressive, new and innovative we have been finding lately”, according to MoMA’s Director of Merchandising Emmanuel Platt. We stopped by…

Once in a while, there comes a Kickstarter project that becomes your ‘a-ha moment’ and inspires you. The HMM RULE/ONE is one such project that is so obvious and yet so distinct. The perfect marriage of everyday stationery implements that are essential! Targeted mainly at the design fraternity and folks that still rely on the…

It comes with little surprise that with the rise of Kickstarter videos and ‘launch campaigns’ there is a growing trend in creating ‘start-up parodies’. Perhaps the most well-known is HBO’s Silicon Valley tv show in which the main character navigates the weird and wild terrain of the California start-up scene. Similar to the essence of…

With over 10 years of experience in leather design, Hungarian designer Sara Gulyas wanted to create a versatile product that minimized the amount of material needed to create a shoe…whilst allowing buyers to participate in the shoe-making process. The Pikkpack takes cues from both centuries-old traditional design and IKEA’s DIY mentality to bring the simple…

Artist, Designer and Inventor Joshua Harker (yes, he of Crania Anatomica Filigre fame) is at it again with an all-new Kickstarter campaign. After having raised over $75,000 for his 3D printed skull–which is still the most-funded sculpture project ever on Kickstarter–Harker is exploring new territory with the goal to help raise funds towards developing next-generation…

Printoo gives you the luxury of creating paper-thin, flexible, Arduino-compatible units that sync with your creative streak. The technology used here is simple and the process to make successful DIY projects is easy. All it requires from your end is a little bit of resourcefulness. Then, powered-up anything from Balloon Blimps to 3D printed objects…

Always one to be ahead of the times, the MoMA (Museum of Modern Art) Design Store will be selling a collection of curated Kickstarter projects as part of the upcoming NYC x Design event collective starting this month. If you’ve had a hard time finding a successfully Kickstarted project post-launch and will be in the…

We’re always talking about the future of design, the future of technology, the future of MAKING. In a world where high school students can 3D print and revolutionize food packaging, a world where astronauts can take bracelets up to space that feature earth-bound scents, how do we find the next ‘big’ thing? MakerGalaxy is a…

For the past two years, John Kiminas has been pursuing his dream of making fishing lures for a living. Having absorbed as much information as he could over this ‘research and development phase’ as he calls it, he is finally bringing his handmade lures into the world starting with a Kickstarter launch. Thankfully for us,…

In case you haven’t seen it, Silicon Valley is in it’s third week over on HBO and is definitely worth a watch…if only because Office Space is on at least one of your top ten movie lists. If HBO isn’t your thing however (note the first episode is free on YouTube)–and you still want to…

Talk to any espresso connoisseur worth their weight in Stumptown Hairbender grounds and you’ll likely get into an argument about the ‘best way’ of pulling a proper espresso shot. Truth be told…it is an exact science that is hard to replicate outside of traditional espresso-craft tools. Despite this, the market for on-demand coffee is still…