disclaimer: do not try this at home, not a Ponoko service…….

We have all heard of laser tattoo removal to get rid of those embarrassing love/hate tattoo’s off of one’s knuckles, or to change Winnona into Wino Forever. But the democratization of access to tools of manufacture and self mutilation have now converged on the instructables site by Tetranitrate.
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ziplocked flatpack chair

zipit is a unique “do it yourself” chair by viktormatic based on a kit of wood modules, cardboard seat and backrest cushions, to be easily built up and disassembled only with zip ties connections.

“A new undefined human personality needs in my mind objects that own a variable adjusting and transformable character. thereby i developed this kit based chair whose connections are fixed with adjustable zip-ties. because of these uneasy connections, this chair tends to be loose and wobbly, but this is part of “a new way of sitting” idea.”
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rethinking technology and speed one pixel at a time

thehumanprinter is a group of people who print photos in CMYK or B&W by hand. Simply send in your images via email and they will very slowly convert your images to your preferred format, either greyscale, CMYK or Spot Colour, very slowly.

Why?
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23 ways to use a laser-cutter

Just wanted to direct Ponoko readers to a great collection of 23 incredible laser-cutting projects at the Instructables site. No matter what it is you want to do, chances are there is a laser-cut solution.

Love machines more than people? Exponentially increase your circle of friends by building these “autonomous, self-assembling robots“.

Miss your family while on summer vacation? Say hello to those back home with an etched acrylic postcard.

Want your nails to stand-out from all those other airbrushed and bejeweled fools? Get them laser-etched!

The Whittle Chair by Karen Ryan

So I imagine an overcast afternoon sitting at the kitchen table, staring idly into the middle distance when slowly the chair before you comes into focus. You get to thinking it’s ok I guess, but a little, boring. You get to thinking, what if I, you know, shave a little off here and a little off there it would be kinda nice.
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9 months for a slice of toast

Thomas Thwaites, a design student at the Royal College of Art in London has made a toaster - literally from the ground up. Thomas Thwaites has travelled to mines across the country to get the raw materials for his toaster. Processing these raw materials at home, (for example he smelted iron ore with a leafblower and in a microwave).

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A mix of design, innovation, a shaky global economy, and an abiding love for hand-stitched, buttery leather

“Craft Punk,” was a collaboration between Design Miami and Fendi, the LVMH-owned luxury goods brand known for its enduring baguettes and keen eye for talent (they signed up Karl Lagerfeld to design furs in 1965 and have held on to him since). In response to new currents in design practice and the present state of the world, Craft Punk is a celebration of tenacious creative expression, unruly experimentation, and brilliantly low-tech design processes.
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Eco Design for Everyone

Knoend is a design innovation studio that believe that design is a catalyst for change and has the power to create new experiences that will bring enhanced meaning to life. Knoend’s company name was conceived to describe the limitless possibilities that knowledge can bring to the world.
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Pollocks Pop Up Store Sells Your Junk Back To You as Art

Inspired by the recession and compelled to create something positive, ‘Worthless’ is a live art installation that explored the value of material objects in the heart of Seven Dials. For one week only (22nd–29th May) members of the public were invited to bring their own ‘worthless’ items into the store, and have them transformed into pieces of art.

The event tips it’s discarded hat to the institution that once was Woolworths, via ironic references throughout the installation space. A team of Pollocks creatives worked continually throughout the week on transforming items into works of art. The experience cumulated for the customer, when on collection of their item, they were asked to pay how much they feel the new item is worth (think Radiohead’s In Rainbows sans digital)

A pick’n’mix of ‘worthless to priceless’ creations was exhibited in the store from 1st – 5th June, with several items being auctioned at Octave Jazz Bar on behalf of the ‘MS Society’.

Born out of the ferocity of youth – a desire to run before one can crawl, rolling out of bed against the back drop of your mothers imperatives, and walking down the street to hyper bass lines and expletives – Pollocks is a dynamic fusion of Art, Music and Life.

“Our objective is to empower, inspire, and promote the creativity of the freethinking individual. The evolution of youth has resulted in a coup d’etat on stereotypical revolts against the establishment, breeding a brand of youth that are ready to take over the reins of the creative, social and political. Invite your lover to a Francoise Nielly exhibition, two-step to Skream, pop bottles whilst throwing up your peace sign.”

The Pollocks revolution will be digitalised, and it would be a pleasure to have your company.

via PSFK

Innovative use of CNC ‘digital joints’.

Panels 02 & 03 by Paris based sebastien wierinck will be shown at salone Satellite with the 101pct Designed in Brussels selection. The interesting thing about this work that sets it apart from much of the flat pack furniture in the field is the use of CNC specific construction joints, rather than emulating standard joinery or basic slots.
As CNC cabinetry becomes more accessible we will see some otherwise impossible (or at least really really difficult) digital wood joints being shared on the web.
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