MAKER GALAXY – SolidSmack

We’re always talking about the future of design, the future of technology, the future of MAKING. In a world where windowless air travel will give new meaning to the term ‘flying by air’, a world where coolers with embedded blenders have overtaken smart watches for funding records on Kickstarter, how do we find the next ‘big thing’? MakerGalaxy is a show that explores the crossroads of Design, Technology, and the Future of Making.

This week we talked with Daniel Gindis and Isaac Atlas of FUGU Luggage. FUGU is a new take on luggage design that allows a standard carry-on size bag to transform into a full-featured, maximum-sized suitcase.

We’ll talk with Daniel and Isaac about everything from where they got their start in the world of product design, what tools they used to create an expanding luggage concept, to how they approached their upcoming Kickstarter campaign and more.

To find out more about Daniel, Isaac and FUGU Luggage, be sure to check them out over at FuguLuggage.com.

Also…be sure to check out Maker Galaxy over on iTunes and let us know how you like the show in the reviews!

We’re always talking about the future of design, the future of technology, the future of MAKING. In a world where disease and sickness can be identified via a sensor and a mobile device, a world where museum visits can be experienced virtually across the world via a robot, how do we find the next big thing ? MakerGalaxy is a show that explores the crossroads of Design, Technology, and the Future of Making.

This week we talked with Patricia Gruits of Boston-based MASS Design Group. Patricia—along with the talented designers and architects she works with at MASS—have been focusing on design for social innovation with projects ranging from large-scale buildings to smaller furniture concepts for international communities in need.

We’ll talk with Patricia about everything from how she got her design career started with a focus on social innovation, how MASS approaches design problems as a non-profit organization,, to how somebody like you can get involved with designing for impact and more.

To find out more about Patricia and MASS Design Group head over to MASSDesignGroup.org.

Also…be sure to check out Maker Galaxy over on iTunes and let us know how you like the show in the reviews!

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 than smart phones, how do we find the next ‘big thing’ ? MakerGalaxy is a show that explores the crossroads of Design, Technology, and the Future of Making.

This week we talked with Dan Provost, co-founder of Studio Neat. Dan and his business partner Tom Gerhardt started Studio Neat out of the success of their popular Glif Kickstarter project back in 2010. Nearly five years later, the two have built a successful product design studio that utilizes Kickstarter as their funding platform.

We’ll talk with Dan about everything from how he and Tom approached the product design process without a formal product design education, how they quickly learned how to use CAD and rapid prototyping to speed up their development process, what they have learned after using Kickstarter multiple times, and more.

If you’d like to purchase one of the products talked about on today’s show or find out more about Dan and Tom, head over to their website at StudioNeat.com. On our next episode, we’ll be talking with Patricia Gruits, project manager of the socially conscious design firm MASS Design Group.

Also…be sure to check out Maker Galaxy over on iTunes and let us know how you like the show in the reviews!

We’re always talking about the future of design, the future of technology, the future of MAKING. In a world where sleep management systems can learn when to wake us at the optimal time, a world where smart lighting systems can sync in real-time with films to make a living room part of an immersive film experience….how do we find the next ‘big thing’ ? MakerGalaxy is a show that explores the crossroads of Design, Technology, and the Future of Making

This week we talked to Jordan Edelson, CEO of the mobile app design and development company Appetizer Mobile. Appetizer has worked with everybody from the NBA to various retail chains and celebrities to bring immersive mobile experiences to a variety of platforms and are now entering the arena of developing new experiences for wearable hardware.

We’ll talk with Jordan about everything from how he got his start developing software when he was in middle school, how his products ended up in Apple advertisements worldwide to where he thinks the direction of wearables is going in the next five years and more.

If you’d like to find out more about Jordan and his approach to app design and development, be sure to head over to AppetizerMobile.com.

Also…be sure to check out Maker Galaxy over on iTunes and let us know how you like the show in the reviews!

Note: Video cover image is a montage of sketches from the talented Spencer Nugent. Post feature image is from Plug and Play.

We’re always talking about the future of design, the future of technology, the future of MAKING. In a world where 3D printed museum replicas allow visitors to interact with valuable art pieces, a world where digital and connected picture frames can allow a user to change art work via a smartphone, how do we find the next ‘big thing’? MakerGalaxy is a show that explores the crossroads of Design, Technology, and the Future of Making

This week we talked to Zé Pinto Ferreira of Mellow. Mellow is a revolutionary new cooking concept that brings the power of sous-vide cooking to consumers with an easy-to-operate interface and connected smartphone app.

We’ll talk with Ze about everything from how he got his start in product design, how he managed to form a strong partnership with his design partner, to why they chose to avoid the crowdfunding route with the Mellow and more.

Be sure to head over to Mellow to find out more and to pre-order a unit for $100 off over at CookMellow.com.

Also…be sure to check out Maker Galaxy over on iTunes and let us know how you like the show in the reviews!

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 of Design, Technology, and the Future of Making

This week we talked to Israeli industrial designer and sustainable furniture craftsman Eli Chissick. Eli’s background in both carpentry and product design led him to focus on designing furniture made from reclaimed scraps that he converts into new sheets of material to work from.

We’ll talk with Eli about everything from how he got his start in product design, how he creates his own material to work from made from scraps, what he thinks of the digital fabrication movement, and more.

Be sure to head over to Eli’s site to check out his entire collection of sustainable furniture designs!

Also…be sure to check out Maker Galaxy over on iTunes and let us know how you like the show in the reviews!

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 show that explores the crossroads of Design, Technology, and the Future of Making.

This week we talked with Nancy Yen and Lucas Menanix of OmieLife. OmieLife is the brand that recently launched the OmieBox ‘smart’ lunch box on Kickstarter and is currently over half way to their goal in less than 24 hours of launching.

We’ll talk with Nancy and Lucas more in-depth about their product design backgrounds, how they approached the problem space of designing a better lunchbox, what they think is the right formula for a successful crowdfunding campaign and more!

Be sure to head over to the OmieBox Kickstarter page to get your hands on one those nifty lunchboxes!

Also…be sure to check out Maker Galaxy over on iTunes and let us know how you like the show in the reviews!

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 of Design, Technology, and the Future of Making

This week we talked with Harold Stewart, Founder of LiquidOff. LiquidOff is an eco and human-friendly liquid-repelling spray that started off as a side project of Harold’s and he has since raised over $100,000 and counting with over two weeks left to go for his Kickstarter campaign.

We’ll talk with Harold more in-depth about how he went from electrical engineering to developing liquid-repelling formulas, how he plans on marketing the product, as well as what he thinks is the best trait of somebody who wants to push their product idea out there.

To find out more about LiquidOff and to stay on top of new formula updates, head over to LiquidOff.com.

Also…be sure to check out Maker Galaxy over on iTunes and let us know how you like the show in the reviews!

We’re always talking about the future of design, the future of technology, the future of MAKING. In a world where digital pens will allow design museum visitors to create and share their own product designs, a world where Virtual Reality headsets can be made from cardboard, how do we find the next ‘big thing’? MakerGalaxy is a show that explores the crossroads of Design, Technology, and the Future of Making

This week we stopped by GrabCAD’s Boston Headquarters to talk with CEO Hardi Meybaum about the near future of GrabCAD. Hardi hosted an event at the headquarters to announce some exciting updates coming this summer that aim to make using the platform easier and more effective than ever before.

We’ll talk with Hardi more in-depth about how these changes will make open engineering and product design easier for GrabCAD’s growing community of product designers and engineers.

To find out more about GrabCAD, Workbench, and the new updates, head over to GrabCAD.com.

Also…be sure to check out Maker Galaxy over on iTunes and let us know how you like the show in the reviews!

Note: video cover image of Ferrari engine renderings from the GrabCAD/Keyshot challenge from the talented Vasileios Thalassinos.

We’re always talking about the future of design, the future of technology, the future of MAKING. In a world where personal bluetooth environment trackers can sync real-time weather data to a smart phone, a world where motion-tracking heaters can follow a user as they move throughout a building, how do we find the next ‘big thing’? MakerGalaxy is a show that explores the crossroads of Design, Technology, and the Future of Making

This week we talked CAD in the Cloud and internet privacy with Andy Kahl of Ghostery. Andy is the Director of Research of the popular web privacy tool that allows users to block third-party trackers and protect their private information.

We’ll talk with Andy about the basics of internet privacy, how CAD in the Cloud is affected by trackers, as well as some precautions you can take to make sure that yours and your clients’ data is safe in the Cloud.

To find out more about Andy and Ghostery, head over to Ghostery.com.

Also…be sure to check out Maker Galaxy over on iTunes and let us know how you like the show in the reviews!