Recent Blog Posts

Design Influences (part 2)

Spitfire P7350 (front) flies alongside Hurricane LF363 (back). The aircraft are part of the famous Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) of historic RAF aircraft from the Second World War. Creative Commons licensed. Source, Flickr user Defence Images Following on from last week’s automotive influences, here are the more aeronautical inspirations for the Atomic Duck. [...] read more…

Design Influences (part 1)

A group of Fraser Nashes coming up the Mountain, Cadwell Park, 2001. Creative Commons Licensed. Source, Flickr user pdcawley Frazer-Nash As a bit of a petrolhead, I’ve liked the 20′s Fraser-Nashes for a long time, especially because or their reputation for oversteer when driven quickly. Without a differential, they will tend to understeer when driven [...] read more…

What’s a Velomobile?

Creative Commons Licensed Image. Source: Flickr user wim harwig Charles Mochet invented popularised both the velomobile and recumbent bicycle in the early 20th century. His velocars, are the forerunners of all modern velomobiles. Most commercially available velomobiles are very similar to each other, with few layout variations. Most are 3 wheeled, normally with two wheels [...] read more…

Cory Doctorow, "Makers"

...maybe not yet, but it is already beginning.

The world still lives with mass-produced products; designed to averaged, normalised, focus grouped specifications, where one-size-doesn't-quite-fit-anyone. It buys proprietary products, locked boxes with stickers that say "warranty void if opened". But contrary to popular misinformation, products are never finished. There is no "best" design. How is what you need the same as what everyone else needs?

What if a product was open? What if you could see the work that went into it? If your ideas were as valid as the designer's and made-at-home was just as good as made-by-us?

That's what we do. Open Source Design Engineering.
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