You would think that for as long as wood has been around, its various possibilities and forms within its natural state would have been exhausted by now – not unlike various pop music melodies. However every now and again, we’re reminded of just how many more possibilities are out there that takes the old and…
In this brand-spankin-new series, we’re going to feature a wide variety of designer-turned-entrepreneurs who have elevated their design and engineering skills into functioning businesses. Among other details we’ll cover include how these entrepreneurs leveraged their industrial design and/or mechanical engineering knowledge to create a business, how they work, how they market their products and ultimately,…
There’s something about intricate woodworking that makes the salivary glands kick into overdrive and dormant facial hair follicles sprout anew. Scott Lewis doesn’t need facial hair to prove he’s a wood-shaping creator of uber-cool cutting boards; All he needs is some fancy camerawork, bearing-guided router bits and multiple bandsaw cuts that are smoother than lacquered…
Ahhhh. I tell you what, a hand-carved object is a breath of fresh wood shavings. In an age where we’re shocked at eating veggies straight from the garden and most can’t use a jackknife to shave a spear or hunt a squirrel, a guy with a lathe and a piece of native hardwood seems almost…
It’s hard to imagine that back in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, some vehicle manufacturers were building their cars with wood frames (nobody cared too much about safety standards back then). The long defunct Packard Motor Car Company was one of those who touted ‘Luxury’ using wooden frames. A series of silent films posted…
With reports in the past few years indicating that bees are moving slowly towards extinction, it would make sense to look into ways of creating more bee-friendly environments. While bees do exist in sprawling urban environments, there are few ‘urban beekeepers’ that focus on raising the bees and providing a suitable hive for which they…
If you’re familiar with the wild and crazy concepts from artist/designer Sebastian Errazuriz, then the organized chaos of his latest piece, The Explosion Cabinet, shouldn’t surprise you. The talented artist and designer has been spending his career crafting obscure functional objects ranging from ‘Man Chopping Board’ and ‘Tea for Two’ to ‘Flyswatter’ and ‘Tree Table’.…
We’re always talking about the future of design, the future of technology, the future of MAKING. In a world where umbrellas can act as personal mobile weather stations, a world where virtual windscreens can easily add augmented reality to automobiles…how do we find the next ‘big thing’? MakerGalaxy is a show that explores the crossroads…
If you’re a fan of the popular Automoblox toys, then this one’s for you. Architect Matteo Ragni organized a list of one-hundred designers and architects to design their own take on the wooden toy car as a part of his 100% ToBeUs initiative. The well-conceived initiative is focused on moving kids away from disposable toys…
Having been friends since childhood, Are Audio founders Richie White and Ross Connolly shared a common passion for engineering, physics, and high-fidelity sound. Today, the two are hard at work with their custom audio speaker company based out of St. John’s Newfoundland. The hand-manufacturing process that goes into making anything audio-based is always a slippery-slope:…
Master woodworker and community leader Eric Hollenbeck presents a rare breed in today’s technology-obsessed world. While 3D printers, laser cutters, and CAD software have re-defined what it means to ‘make something’, Hollenbeck’s most-modern tool in his impressive arsenal was built in 1948. In this mesmerizing Maker profile from director Ben Proudfoot of Breakwater Studios, we…
This week our very special guest is a guy with his own woodworking YouTube channel by the name of Frank Makes, Mr. Frank Howarth! Frank’s background in architecture helped him design and build a super kick-butt woodshop that he uses to create stop-motion films of the development process of various woodworking projects. We’ll talk with…
I challenge you to find a better looking iPad stand at the cash register. You’ve probably seen a few small businesses using an iPad and a Square Card Reader to push consumer purchasing power into the future. I see it more every day. Many stand awkwardly holding the iPad as they ask me to jab…
Take a change of pace with me and see a completely different side of manufacturing. A side where designers don’t worry about being first to market or appealing to the largest consumer base possible. I’m talking about a side where products are produced specifically for individuals who appreciate the novelty and the art of the…