Wind turbines are currently in popular demand due to the growing necessity of green energy, but there’s a deep sense of calm involved in watching a much less advanced windmill for the land (turn forever, hand in hand). That’s the idea behind the W.I.P.: Windmill In Play installation by Taiyi Yu, a graduate student in industrial design at the Royal Academy of Art, The Hague, Netherlands.

Windmill In Play is a deconstructed windmill, meaning it takes the classic windmill design and simplifies it using everyday parts that make it easy to build and deploy. You can watch the process of constructing Taiyi Yu’s handmade DIY windmill design in the video linked below, meaning anyone with the time and energy can learn to build one of their own.

Designer: Taiyi Yu

As the windmill turns, it physically powers a series of mechanisms that shuffle sand from the base of the installation into a hopper that gradually displaces the collected sand in a unique shape as the wind moves the windmill around its 360-degree radius.

Most of the materials used in the Windmill In Play design are simple to work with – like wood, fabric, and piping – and it appears that they’re mostly recycled materials sourced directly from the trash. An especially impressive part of the design is the pink sail fabric, sourced and cut from old umbrellas as seen in the construction video.

Windmill In Play is not just a cool science project that creates a potential outlet for recycled materials. According to designer Taiyi Yu, it serves an artistic purpose as well, saying, “The project questions how winds have been harvested through windmills and reflects on how we perceive and appropriate winds.”

“The windmill, as a concrete example but also as a metaphor for modern industrialisation, is implicated in the dichotomy between humans and nature. It exemplifies the rationality of seeing the natural world as a resource, a power that reconstitutes experience through its mechanical structure.”

Even though the windmill itself isn’t designed to produce electricity, it could serve as a direct example of what’s possible with everyday materials – and hopefully, it could become a starting point for even more designers and creators who want to develop their own green energy solutions.

The post This deconstructed windmill installation design highlights the power of wind first appeared on Yanko Design.

In the digital age, it is refreshing to see a game that not only captures the nostalgia of classic 80s-90s gaming but also incorporates cutting-edge technology to create an engaging and educational experience. Super Slide, developed by Giiker, reminds me of the good old ‘Nintendo Game Boy’ but with a screen for varied use. It is a game that combines the charm of retro design with the convenience of modern interactivity. This innovative sliding puzzle game is taking the world of edutainment by storm, offering a range of benefits for both kids and adults.

Designer: FS GiiKER Technology Co., Ltd

Super Slide is not just a game; it’s a complete puzzle experience. This innovative game breaks the limitations of traditional question cards by gathering a whopping 500+ challenges into one compact console. These challenges are displayed on an LED screen, eliminating the need for physical cards and making the game more environmentally friendly.

To enhance the replay value and boost confidence, Super Slide expands its repertoire of questions and organizes them into levels ranging from easy to hard. This approach ensures that players of all ages and skill levels can enjoy the game, from beginners to seasoned puzzle enthusiasts.

The game not only reduces screen time but also instills competitiveness among players, encouraging them to strive for improvement. Additionally, the learning mode helps users build momentum and gain a better understanding of the game, effectively training their minds while having fun.

One of the standout features of Super Slide is its attention to detail. The game board and tiles are equipped with magnets, providing a satisfying sense of touch as players rearrange the pieces. This tactile feedback enhances spatial rearrangement skills and concentration, making Super Slide a valuable tool for cognitive development.

Giiker, the technology company behind Super Slide, is dedicated to the development of smart and connected edutainment products. Their mission is to provide children and adults with engaging, educational, and interactive experiences that promote problem-solving skills, logical thinking, and hand-eye coordination.

While Super Slide is designed with kids in mind, it has proven to be a hit with adults as well. Its blend of nostalgia and innovation makes it an enjoyable pastime for the whole family. In a world dominated by digital distractions, Super Slide encourages families to come together and spend quality time in an interactive and educational way.

Super Slide is designed to be as portable as your smartphone. Its small and lightweight form factor means it can easily fit in your bag, making it an ideal companion for travel or keeping kids entertained at gatherings. Whether you’re on a long road trip or attending a boring party, Super Slide can turn downtime into a fun and engaging learning experience.

Super Slide by Giiker is a shining example of how technology and classic gameplay can be seamlessly combined to create an edutainment product that offers numerous benefits. It fosters problem-solving skills, reduces screen time, promotes competitiveness, and brings families closer together. With its nostalgic design and innovative features, Super Slide is not just a game; it’s a learning tool that encourages spatial reasoning, concentration, logical thinking, planning skills, and hand-eye coordination. So, it’s no wonder that this game has earned the green light from both kids and adults alike.

The post This Tetris-like Analog Game Keeps Your Kids Entertained and Their Minds Active first appeared on Yanko Design.

Innovation is often seen as a reactionary force—a response to a problem or an opportunity. But when you consider it holistically, innovation isn’t just about developing new ideas. It’s about taking action and making those ideas a reality.

Hi, I’m Hussain Almossawi and I’ve worked as a Senior Designer and Art Director with companies such as Nike, Apple, Adidas, Ford, Amazon, and others. Throughout my career as a designer and VFX artist, I’ve had the unique opportunity to work with many of today’s top innovators in some of my favorite companies. Through those roles, I’ve had the chance to witness how these individuals think, how they approach problems, and how they take their ideas and turn them into action.

Innovators often have a different mindset than the average person. They see opportunity where others see problems. They’re not afraid to take risks and experiment. And they’re constantly learning and growing so they can be prepared for whatever comes next.

Click Here to Buy Now!

Here are a few things that have helped me throughout my design and innovation process, no matter what kind of project I’m working on:

1. Break a Concept Down to Its First Principles

Innovation is often birthed from a desire to fix a problem. It makes sense, right? You see a need in a particular area, and you want to create a solution that fills that need.

But an issue that many designers run into is that they try to solve the problem at face value. They see a need and an instant reaction is to come up with a solution that addresses that need.

One of the greatest ways to reconsider a problem is to break it down to its first principles. A popular method used by inventors and great thinkers such as Elon Musk, the “First Principles” method, is a way of deconstructing a product to its most basic parts and then starting to question every single part before reconstructing it back together again.

This allows you to really understand the nature of the problem you are trying to solve, ask the right questions, and come up with more creative solutions that address the root cause, not just the symptoms. Often, the resulting innovation is something beyond what anyone could have expected.

When I worked in the footwear industry, I had the chance to work on multiple high-level projects, as well as design for signature athletes. The first principles method was something we always used at the start of our projects and process.

Rather than diving right into sketching and creating ideas of what the future of a particular shoe could look like, we simply took the previous model of that shoe and broke it down into all its different parts. We laid them out on a table and started questioning what each piece does, does it truly need to be there, and if it could be improved.

As a result, we started asking more interesting questions – or rather, more insightful questions. This led to a better outcome and understanding of everything that went into the shoe. We would usually not only come up with great ideas but also ask questions that would lead to more innovative ways to manufacture the shoe and reduce our costs.

The first principles method is one of my favorite ways of getting to the core of the problem we are trying to solve. I love how it leads a designer down a path of seeing things with a newer and fresher perspective and offers a much higher understanding and appreciation for the minor details that go into a product.

2. Shift Your Mindset from Reaction to Action

There’s a common mindset I’ve found in many of today’s thinkers and leaders – I like to call it “The Follower Mindset.” This mindset takes previous ideas and attempts to resurrect them into something new.

In other words, these individuals constantly react to the world around them. They take what’s already been done and try to make it better. It makes sense – why reinvent the wheel when you can use existing ideas as a springboard to further innovation? However, sticking solely to a follower mindset can lead to incremental innovation and miss other unique possibilities.

Higher impact innovation is possible when you shift your mindset from limiting reaction to transformative action. This means taking a proactive stance in the world and approaching problems with a fresh perspective.

It’s about being curious and constantly learning so you can see the world in new ways. It’s about taking risks and experimenting with new ideas, even if they might fail. And it’s about having the courage to stand up for what you believe in, even when it’s not popular.

You’ve seen this at play in some of the giants in the business. Think of Apple vs. Samsung in the device wars. Perhaps my favorite example is Adidas’ famed Ultra Boost shoes – a design that used compressed palettes to create an ultra-comfortable sole. When Ultra Boosts began to fly off the shelves, competitor shoes began to spring up with the same design look and feel while trying to add their own twist to it. Rather than act on the consumer’s desire for lightweight, soft shoes, they simply slapped a new name and logo on Adidas’ innovation.

This mindset can occur on a personal level with design teams as well! I’ve seen teams with talented designers who find themselves hyper-focused on chasing designs based on existing ideas. Imagine what concepts are missed when we don’t push outside our comfort zones and explore the unexplored of design possibilities!

Designers and creatives have to balance the line between action and reaction. We have to be able to take in the world around us and process it in a way that allows us to see things differently – and then act on those insights.

3. Live Like a “Curious Sponge”

I love a good sponge. The ability to take in far more liquid than its own weight and then expand to hold that liquid is pretty amazing. And it’s this quality that I think we can all learn from when it comes to innovation.

You see, to be truly innovative, you have to be curious. You have to be willing to take in new information and ideas without judgment. You have to be like a sponge, soaking up everything around you.

Our brains are wired to categorize and filter information so we can make sense of the world. And while this is helpful in many ways, it can also prevent us from seeing things in new and different ways.

It’s far too easy to get siloed in our own little world, only taking in information that reinforces our existing beliefs. But if we want to be innovative, we must break out of that mindset and become curious sponges.

So how do you do that? Well, it starts with a willingness to learn. You have to be open to new ideas and perspectives, even if they challenge your existing convictions. You must be willing to step outside your comfort zone and explore new territory.

And you have to be constantly learning. Read books, listen to podcasts, go to conferences – do whatever you can to expose yourself to new ideas and ways of thinking. The more different and diverse information you take in, the more likely you will have those “a-ha!” moments that lead to true innovation.

Here are four practical steps you can take in your next design process to help you cultivate the life of a curious sponge:

1. Look Around

The world is much larger and more diverse than you may realize. And there’s a lot of interesting stuff out there if you’re willing to look for it. So take some time to explore your surroundings and see what you can find.

2. Be Open-Minded

When you’re exposed to new ideas, don’t immediately write them off. Give them a chance and really try to understand where they’re coming from. You may be surprised at what you learn.

3. Get Curious

If you hear something that doesn’t make sense or see something that doesn’t fit into your existing worldview, don’t be afraid to ask questions. The more curious you are, the more you’ll learn.

4. Push Boundaries

Do you ever feel like you’re stuck in a lane? Maybe you’re comfortable with the way things are and don’t want to rock the boat. But if you’re not pushing boundaries, you’re not going to find true innovation. So take some risks and see what happens!

The sky’s the limit when you open your mindset up to new possibilities. So go out there and start being curious! You won’t regret the new and fun ideas that come from it.

Supercharge Your Creativity with The Innovator’s Handbook

These three techniques are some that I always use amongst other insights that have helped shift my mindset and process towards innovation as a designer.

That’s why I am excited to announce the release of The Innovator’s Handbook: A Short Guide to Unleashing Your Creative Mindset. This new book, built on years of first-hand experience at some of today’s leading design companies, is packed with practical tips, tricks, and exercises to help you increase your innovation confidence and design mindfully.

This book is for you if you’ve ever wondered how to shift your mindset from being a reactive problem-solver to a proactive idea-generator. When you can unleash your unique creative mindset, you can start to bring innovative ideas to life. The Innovator’s Handbook is available on Amazon in paperback and ebook – pick up your copy and let’s start innovating together!

Click Here to Buy Now!

Hussain Almossawi is an industrial designer, visual effects artist, and author, who has worked across industries and around the world consulting for companies such as Nike, Apple, Amazon, Adidas, Intel, and Ford, among others. He is a regular keynote speaker on innovation and design and has taught at several universities. In 2019, Hussain founded Mossawi Studios, a multi-disciplinary design studio specializing in creating memorable, iconic, and bold experiences.

Official book page: https://theinnovatorshandbook.com/

The post 3 Tips on How To Be an Innovative Designer from “The Innovator’s Handbook” first appeared on Yanko Design.

Kramer’s (from Seinfeld) idea for a coffee table book that turns into a coffee table may be up to some stiff competition!

A winner of the Red Dot Design Concept Award, Cai WeiQun’s publication actually contains a weaving loom inside it that weaves small swatches of wool! Titled “XIU – This Book Can Be Weaving” the relatively large-ish book glorifies the traditional Taiwanese handicraft style while literally allowing the reader to weave their own yarn!

“Traditional weaving tools are huge and complicated, with weaving processes that are commonly difficult to learn. XIU hopes that being able to experience simple weaving techniques will pique the reader’s curiosity in learning more about the culture of weaving,” says designer Cai WeiQun. The weaving machine is directly demonstrated within the pages of the book, allowing the reader to simply flip through the pages and appreciate the art form not through text or images, but through actual experience!

Designer: Cai WeiQun

The name for the book XIU comes from the onomatopoeic Taiwanese word xiu, which is the sound the loom makes while you’re weaving. (The sound of the shuttle moving from left to right and back) WeiQun’s book provides an encyclopedic amount of information on weaving histories, techniques, and patterns, while the front of the book operates as a flying shuttle weaving loom, allowing you to actually practice what you’ve read in theory!

Celebrated for its unique way of allowing readers to inform themselves about weaving (by practicing the artform too), XIU didn’t just win the Red Dot Design Concept Award, he secured the Golden Pin Design Award along with the Taipei Award.

Besides, this isn’t the first time we’ve seen quirky creative books here on YD! This book from Bookniture turns into an actual stool, while this publication opens up into a vase for your flowers!

The post This book opens up into a miniature fully-functional handloom machine that lets you weave cloth! first appeared on Yanko Design.

Teaching kids proper table manners begins at home so it is mainly the responsibility of the parents or guardians or whoever is the primary caregiver. Knowing the proper tableware is a good start but what is more important is that children know how to feed themselves. Many will probably agree that knowing how a tool or tableware works is just half the battle because kids need to learn how to self-feed after some time. Allowing a baby or a toddler to feed himself acknowledges his power to make his own choices even at an early age. It’s just food, alright, but the act is good for a child’s development as it also aids in developing hand-and-eye coordination, hand and finger strength, and fine motor skills. This is true in most cases, but it can be observed that there are toddlers having a hard time learning self-control if they are still spoon-fed.

Designer: Jian Lu

Solutions for such a dilemma are available, but everything is not absolute, because what we are offered is only supplemental to what the adults should teach the children. Fadi enters the scene to teach a little person to self-feed while helping the adults and reducing the cleaning time for parents after a messy meal. Of course, toddlers will still be frustrated, but the Fadi tableware is expected to assist both the child in self-feeding and the parent in caring for the little one.

The Fadi baby tableware was recognized at the 2021 Good Design Awards for its thoughtful design, features, and aesthetics. Designed by Jian Lu, the patented learning tableware set is meant to allow a more efficient self-feeding and easier cleanup. A toddler’s utensil set should not be complicated and must be easier to use; however, some styles available in the market are not exactly helpful.

Taiwanese industrial designer Jian Lu understands the need for simple-looking yet functional tableware because feeding a kid is not really easy, so he designed the tableware with efficiency and comfort in mind. The whole set actually includes different pieces: the toddler bowl with a lopsided design and a suction, a standable bent spoon with a curved handle, and a TPU cover. The suction keeps the bowl from slipping, the bent spoon is to make things easier for the toddler to carry food, while the spoon with its bigger handle is for easier grabbing.  The design of the Fadi allows a more enjoyable mealtime experience for everyone, and after a delightful meal, carrying out and washing are also easier.

This concept tableware is mainly a baby bowl that can teach the baby to learn to self-feed. The bowl won’t slip or fall off because of the strong suction, so even if the baby wants to release it, the bowl won’t fall. The Fadi tableware offers many other thoughtful functions so every mealtime can be enjoyable for the tiny tot. A happy baby means a happy mommy—so yes, what parent wouldn’t want to have this?

The post Fadi baby bowl teaches little tots self-feeding first appeared on Yanko Design.

Polygon Lights by James Vanderpant

Everyone talks about portfolios, skill-building, certificates, master’s degrees, and internships, but nobody talks about the most readily available tool that provides the most effective crash course in product design and development. Crowdfunding is slowly and steadily becoming a brilliant way to test your ideas, refine them based on consumer interest and feedback, and actually translate concepts to products. Nothing helps you hone your design, marketing, and entrepreneurial skills than actually taking your idea directly to the public and gauging their interest.

The traditional journey of a designer’s concept has (up until now) had two paths – Path one starts with an enterprising designer looking to develop their product, leading to a collaboration with a manufacturer or the founding of a startup. Path two, the road more taken, ends with the concept being just another trophy in their design portfolio – a good idea that ended up being nothing more than a thinking and rendering exercise. If the latter sounds like something you may have done in the past, the Crowdfunded Summit is hosting its annual free virtual conference from the 24th to the 26th of May. Grab your free ticket here to attend!

Heng Balance Lamp by Allocacoc and Zanwen Li

Creating a concept for a portfolio is literally the path of least resistance when it comes to design thinking. I often make the argument that a product in its concept stage is more like ‘fiction’. It holds no grounds in reality until its designer hopes to bring it into reality. Concepts are great imagination tools to help speculate futures, but concepts don’t necessarily build them – they merely show directions. Product development, on the other hand, has a much more measurable impact on humanity… and while it wasn’t so easy to just ‘make products’ ten years back, crowdfunding is proving to be an incredible litmus test for public feedback, viability, and overall impact. Moreover, it’s also led to designers actually benefitting from their concepts, as the examples below will show you.

Visual Measuring Cups by Pam Daniels & Brandon WIlliams

When I think of the concept-to-product journey, a few names instantly come to mind. Having done this job for 8 years now, I’ve had the privilege of covering ideas and concepts that then transformed into award-winning, revolutionary designs that helped change the lives of not just the users, but the designers who made them too. The Heng Balance Lamp remains one of the most iconic examples, of a product with a unique interaction that inspires curiosity and joy. Designer Zanwen Li partnered with product development firm Allocacoc to help bring the idea to fruition. James Vanderpant’s popular modular touch-sensitive light first started as a student project too, that James then took to production with a business partner. Vanderpant now independently runs Polygon, a designed-focused company in NYC. Pam Daniels and Brandon Williams’ story too began with a benign concept – a set of measuring cups that visually looked like the fractions they represented. Just a year later, the Visual Measuring Cups became a Kickstarter success story and the duo even launched a set of measuring spoons based on the same visual principle. Maxime Augay’s AirHood is the most recent example, as he took his award-winning 2017 idea for a portable kitchen hood to Kickstarter, collecting 10x more than his original funding goal from eager backers.

AirHood by Maxime Augay

Being held over a period of 3 days, the Crowdfunded Summit too lets you embark on your product journey, taking your concepts to their next stage. The 2022 Crowdfunded Summit is a free global virtual conference that helps guide you through the crowdfunding journey. With virtual talks, AMAs, and presentations from companies like Indiegogo, Launchboom, Kickbooster, and many more, the 3-day event will cover every aspect of the crowdfunding journey, including elements like building a pre-campaign, designing the perfect crowdfunding video, reaching (and exceeding) your funding goal, gathering investors, taking your crowdfunded product to e-commerce, and finally, effectively shipping your product to your customers (an area where a majority of campaigns fail). The conference also covers the common pitfalls of crowdfunding and teaches you how to overcome them, helping hone your entrepreneurial skills.

Are you a designer or creator looking to learn how to generate ideas, launch products, and raise millions? Grab your free ticket here to attend the 2022 Crowdfunded Summit!

The post Crowdfunding – The not-so-secret tool that can help a designer unlock their true potential first appeared on Yanko Design.

Van Gogh’s very famous Starry Night is perhaps his greatest masterpiece. Of course, that is arguable, but we can’t deny the fact that it is widely replicated on almost any surface.

The iconic painting has been copied and immortalized several times. Last year, we noted that it’s getting its own Lego set, and now it’s here—almost. The set will be available beginning June 1, 2022, but you can sign up for VIP Early Access on the Lego website.

Designer: Truman Cheng (LEGO)

The Vincent van Gogh’s The Starry Night LEGO Set is a 3D representation of the famous oil-on-canvas painting by the Dutch Post-Impressionist painter. It’s another product of a Lego designer’s imagination put into production and turned into reality from an idea.

The final production set is up for purchase and is ready to sell fast. You can paint The Starry Night by simply following techniques and brush strokes. It can be copied, but you can also build a 3D set. As the famous painter spent every moment trying to make the perfect stroke or mixing the right color, you can also spend some of your precious time following instructions and making sure every step is followed. Brick by brick, you can say you’ve built a Van Gogh creation even if it’s just a copy.

As one of the most famous landscape paintings of all time, it can be easy to get lost in The Starry Night. And with a Lego set of its own, no doubt you will also get lost in the process. This set inspires creativity, but it requires following instructions. But unlike van Gogh who was not fully appreciated before, your finished Lego set will have everyone in awe.

Van Gogh’s legacy cannot be measured, but we believe his art will continue to inspire many people. Just like how the LEGO fan designer Truman Cheng was inspired and pushed him to create this set. His submission to the LEGO Ideas led people to believe in him, which made his work a winner. The LEGO Ideas community gave him more than 10,000 votes, and that made the LEGO team decide to work on the design.

LEGO teamed up with the MoMA (The Museum of Modern Art) to celebrate the launch. The museum presented a more detailed explanation of The Starry Night. Astrophysicist Janna Levin shared, “There’s a general idea for me in both art and in science that we’re navigating the divide between the subjective and the objective. Where the commonality is [between art and science], is in the curiosity, the asking questions about the world, to see the world differently, to see yourself differently…you’re compelling people to still be human beings and still view themselves in the cosmos.”

MoMA noted, though, that “the picturesque village nestled below the hills was based on other views – it could not be seen from his window.” Meanwhile, the designer said he “based the model on the original painting and added my own imagination for the 3D aspect of the design.” Just like the real Van Gogh painting, the LEGO set will have you studying the finished product in detail.

Fans of Van Gogh will love this The Starry Night Lego Set. It’s $169.99 which is a good price already. True blue Lego collectors will find this a worthy investment. Someday, it will be worth more, just like the real Starry Night painting.

The post Vincent van Gogh’s The Starry Night LEGO Set dropping soon with stunning details first appeared on Yanko Design.

Picking a design software is a lot like learning a language – it takes time, relentless practice, and constant communication with a dedicated community to actually be fluent at it. The difference between the two, however, is that while picking a language doesn’t require major financial resources, picking a design software can rack up costs well into the thousands of dollars… per year, because most software companies are moving to a subscription-based business model for higher revenues. However, there are a few rather capable candidates that are, even today, still completely free of cost… no strings attached. In fact, you could literally have downloaded their setups by the time you read this sentence and started the installation process by the time you reach the end of this sentence.

The biggest benefit of free software is that it LITERALLY has no barrier to entry. I’m a firm believer that diversity in design is better for the community as a whole, and free software ensures that finances, budgets, or access to a job that provides you with software licenses don’t come in the way of being able to hone your skills. Moreover, while a lot of these design software are pretty intuitive and user-friendly, to begin with, there’s always a vast repository of free material online to help you learn and perfect your skills, as well as eager communities that are more than ready to provide constructive criticism and guidance to help you get better. Finally, free software, especially if it’s also open-source, works out to be safer, better, and more transparent for everyone. Open-source software are truly hotbeds for innovation, as keen designers and developers help work out kinks and bugs, suggest future features, and push for a much more user-centric overall experience.

We’ve hand-picked 5 of our Top 3D Modeling and Rendering Software for you to get your hands on. For the most part, they’re open to any and everyone and are either entirely free to use, or have freemium plans that still give you an unrestricted modeling and rendering experience. Essentially, all you really need is some willpower and a decent internet connection! (And maybe some special hardware too, but more on that later)

H6 Julietta by Lee Rosario (Modeled + Rendered in Blender)

01. Blender

Let’s really get the most obvious one out of the way. Blender is, without a doubt, the best free 3D modeling and rendering software out there. There’s quite literally nothing that Blender can’t do – it handles modeling, rendering, video/film production, game development, VFX, physics simulation, and even your basic 2D modeling. It’s the kind of software that’s truly for amateurs as well as incredibly seasoned experts, all while having an installation package that’s under 200MB. Moreover, the internet is absolutely filled with free resources to help you learn the software, and if you can’t find something, you can never go wrong with BlenderGuru. Did I mention it’s absolutely free?
Price: Absolutely Free
Best Used For: Non-Parametric 3D Modeling, Organic Polygon-style Design Work (Any domain or discipline)
Where to Download: Blender.org Website

Polaroid Go by Spline Team (Modeled + Rendered in Spline)

02. Spline.design

Spline caught my eye earlier last year for being the first (that I know of) comprehensive browser-based 3D modeling software. You don’t even need to download a setup or anything. Just open a new tab and you can literally begin your 3D CAD and rendering journey. Now before I go any further, it’s worth noting that Spline is still in an incredibly early Alpha stage of its development, so there’s a lot that could change over time (including probably their business model), but as we stand right now, Spline is free to use, with a pretty versatile modeling and rendering experience. It does, however, have a paid PRO tier that lets you export videos and GIF renders, and share un-watermarked public 3D model links. However, the free tier lets you access all of Spline’s modeling features and even its rendering ones. The obvious benefit to using a browser-based 3D tool is not having to worry about two programs (your software and your browser) fighting each other for CPU and GPU resources. However, Spline takes its browser-based app to a whole new level by letting you access its entire library of 3D files that you can import into your scene, create interactive elements, output a public link that lets everyone see your 3D asset (wonderful for sharing with clients/collaborators), and even embed your model/scene into a webpage. They’ve got tonnes of resources within the app if you want to learn the software, as well as a burgeoning Discord community that’s ever-ready to help.
Price: ‘Free To Use’ with a paid plan for extra features like Rendering Animation Movies
Best Used For: Quick and Easy Design + Visualization, Collaborative Work, Showcasing/Embedding on a Website/Portfolio
Where to Download: Spline Web App (No Download Necessary)

Swell Chair by Kevin Clarridge (Modeled in Gravity Sketch VR)

03. Gravity Sketch

Gravity Sketch is a great example of a software that embraced the free tier. It used to be a paid application until the company secured enough funding to abandon its paying-customer-driven business model and offer the entire software for free to everyone. The software, brought to life through crowdfunding, has now gained cult status within the design (specifically transportation) industry for making 3D visualization and experimentation as easy as literally waving your hands. While most 3D softwares wrestle with the constraint that they’re still limited to 2D displays, Gravity Sketch literally lets you model in 3D. Designed primarily for VR (that’s the one caveat – you need a VR headset for the best Gravity Sketch experience), the app is also being gradually made available on the iPad, allowing people to at least sketch in 3D. Both the iPad app and VR software are free for individuals, although business and enterprise users are required to pay for the software.
Price: ‘Free To Use’ with a paid plan for Enterprise-level Usage
Best Used For: Immersive Design (Great for larger-than-life products/spaces and for collaboration). Taking your 2D Sketch and turning it directly into 3D.
Where to Download: Oculus Store (VR Headset Required) or iPadOS App Store (Compatible iPad + Apple Pencil Required

Apartment Real-time Archviz by Hoang Pham (Rendered in Unreal Engine 5)

04. Unreal Engine

What started as a small-time game flourished into an incredible rendering behemoth that’s responsible for everything from the highest-quality AAA games, to cult sensation Fortnite, and even Disney’s own Mandalorian. Unreal Engine is an incredibly powerful rendering and visualization software that often gets overlooked by traditional designers (I doubt it’s taught as extensively in schools either), but what makes UE so incredible is its sheer power and ability… and the fact that it’s free, well, kind of. You see, UE has a stipulation that it’s entirely free to use as long as you make less than $1 million in sales from it. If, however, you cross that threshold, UE takes a small share of your profits as payment. It’s safe to say that for the average designer, that’s really nothing to be worried about. Aside, however, from being free, UE also offers up an entire array of free-to-access 3D assets (courtesy of the acquisition of Megascans) that you can import directly into your scene, from buildings and roads to furniture, lifelike trees, and a whole host of other models.
Price: ‘Free To Use’ with a 5% profit-sharing model if you make more than $1 million with your project.
Best Used For: Incredibly photoreal rendering and physics. Great for Transportation Design, Architectural Visualization, Interiors, Game Design.
Where to Download: UnrealEngine.Com Website

Wk09 Weapon Sketch by D. Quach (A.I. Shading generated by Vizcom)

05. Vizcom

Vizcom is perhaps the newest kid on the block… and it’s my final pick for a very good reason because if there was one software that bordered on actual magic – this is probably it. You see, Vizcom isn’t a traditional rendering software, but what it provides far outpaces any rendering workflow. Vizcom is an incredibly capable AI that turns your sketches into rendered sketches. All you need to do is upload a rough drawing and Vizcom renders/shades it for you. You don’t need to worry about highlights, shadows, crosshatching, or using a brush in Photoshop or Procreate. Vizcom, in literal seconds, takes your pencil sketch and turns it into a rendered 2D image… WITH OPTIONS!
Price: ‘Freemium Model’ with basic features + 30 renders per month for free. Advanced features available in paid Pro plan.
Best Used For: Rapid Visualization. Quickly turning sketches into ‘Photoshop’ Renderings for sharing and client approval. Great for students learning rendering and how lights/shadows fall on complex 3D surfaces.
Where to Download: Vizcom.co Website

Why Autodesk Fusion 360 didn’t make it to the list, even though it’s free… technically

Obviously, Autodesk Fusion 360 was a contender for this list too. As perhaps one of the most popular software used within the industrial design circuit (and Alias within the automotive industry), it’s safe to say that there’s no ignoring Autodesk’s contribution to our craft… However, their software isn’t free. Yes, it’s free for students, and even for certain individuals, but only for a short period of 3 years – which is just about enough to learn a software. Autodesk’s model is simple – you have 3 years of free use to get a hang of the software and learn it inside out, but once you’re a seasoned expert, you better start coughing up some money. Now, that isn’t a knock on the company, obviously it needs to make money from somewhere, but that means Fusion 360 (and all of Autodesk’s other products) don’t really qualify as ‘Free’.

The post Top 5 FREE 3D Design + Rendering Softwares for Industrial Designers and Students in the year 2022 first appeared on Yanko Design.

In the past two years, we’ve seen an increase in interest in things like bacteria and viruses. Of course, we’d like to learn more about something that has drastically changed our lives. We searched for articles, watched videos, and viewed TikTok and Instagram posts, all trying to understand why this virus has affected us so. If you’re more of a visual learner, seeing all the videos and sketches of the COVID-19 virus was more helpful than just reading about it.

Designer: Luke Jerram

British glass sculptor Luke Jerram has been doing a series of creations called Glass Microbiology since 2004. What he makes is not just a basic interpretation of all kinds of bacteria and viruses but an accurate representation of what they really look like. He has created everything from the swine flu, to smallpox, to ebola. And then early 2020, Duke University commissioned him to create a glass sculpture to help the public better understand the SARS-COV-2 virus by visualizing it.

Jerram chose to use glass with his microbiology series since it is transparent and also brings tension to the viewer. The creations are both beautiful but it also represents something that can destroy our bodies. To add to the realism of the sculptures, he first collects scientific diagrams as well as electron microscopic images from a special microscope. After that, he starts creating technical drawings and then enlists the help of scientific glassblowers or lampworkers.

They will then use cold borosilicate glass to create the glass sculptures, melting it over the flame and then stretching and shaping it according to the technical drawings. This is the same material that is used for material test tubes. It doesn’t really follow the same procedure as traditional glassblowing because that uses molten glass for its first step. The latest sculpture that Jerram created was a little more positive, so to speak: he created a glass sculpture of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine.

Jerram has previously created moon sculptures which are also more scientifically accurate rather than the “romanticized” versions that we see in art. He also had a “Play me, I’m Yours” initiative that brought more than 2,000 pianos to various public places around the world.

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The Cuddly Playground is a place where kids can go wild. Of course, you can say it’s just another playground for the children, but this one is different. The concept alone is entertaining as it tells the story of Kayko and Kokosh with Cuddly the dragon. This public space is inspired by the animated series created by a resident of Sopot, Poland, who has become famous for his comic book series.

BUDCUD teamed up with Iza Rutkowska to make the playground concept a reality. The project is of a playground and public space that can be considered as public art. It takes advantage of creative spatial forms and practical design that deliver a playful narrative.

Designers: BUDCUD + Iza Rutkowska

The designers’ inspiration for the playground was the Mirmiłowo village, where the characters Kajko and Kokosz live. It features green wooden beams shaped like a silhouette of Cuddly the dragon. The Cuddly Playground features different zones where children can play and develop their psychomotor skills. The whole place is meant for the development and enjoyment of the children and even the adults who will be looking after them.

The Cuddly Playground is an exciting space for children who like outdoor adventures. Its total floor space is 274sqm, large enough for many children to enjoy the playground. If you’re familiar with the animated series, you will notice a lot of elements like the Slavic warriors at the entrance. There is the Mirmiłowo area where they can jump on the trampoline or swing on wooden platforms. Climb up the hill made of stumps and go down the slide. There are rubber EPDM surfaces on different areas in the playground for kids’ safety.

The Cuddly appears to be a large sculpture that you can play and interact with. The playground is meant to be explored by the bid kids and adults. Feel free to do anything like climb, slide, drum, jump, and swing. You’ll never run out of activities to do—the only limit is your imagination.

BUDCUD has described the Cuddlly as a sensory stimulation toy. It offers different kinds of experiences and learning, allowing kids to learn color composition and haptic experiences in other areas. Inside the belly of the creature is a cave that can be accessed through the tail. There is a net platform where the children can rest and lounge once they’re tired of playing.

The designers made sure the playground is environment-friendly with sustainable materials and elements. Even the rubbers surfaces are “green” as they are made of fine wood chips. Everything about the Cuddly Playground allows kids to exercise their creative cooperation skills and practice imagination.

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