New York’s Next Top Makers: The Finalists

An ingenious table that’s designed for small urban apartments, Penggu can be stored vertically, on the wall, when not in use.

In vertical mode, Penggu can also be used for shelving. By the way “Penggu” is just a working name. The creators are planning to solicit and test new names at World Maker Faire New York.

Designed for bicyclists who need to command attention in a noisy urban environment, MyBell can blast your favorite sound file LOUD. It also has a bright LED light.

The MyBell team used 3D printing to incorporate rider feedback into new iterations.

A customizable furniture system, Bonus Table’s universal segmented legs allow you to design the table that’s just right for you at the moment.

These building modules light up and change color as you play with them.

Adults may want to use these pastel cylinders for ambient lighting or as holiday and seasonal highlights.

This compact unit provides an efficient and inexpensive power source to charge appliances via USB from a car battery.

Designed for people with hand disabilities, like tremors, painful joints, or reduced dexterity, the Nautilus Bowl is ergonomic to hold and dignified to use.

The bowl was extensively tested to maximize its ergonomic ease.

Late last year, New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg (@MikeBloomberg) and the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) challenged the city’s makers to compete in a year-long New York’s Next Top Makers Challenge.

The goal of the challenge was to support design-driven production, promote a culture of innovation, and to foster the development of new businesses in New York City.

It appears to be working. Fifty five ideas were submitted and evaluated by a panel of judges; the public was also invited to vote. A few months ago, six finalists were named. All six are now finishing up a five-month studio residency, with assistance and mentorship from a wide variety of New York City-based businesses.

In a few weeks one of them will be selected as the Grand Prize winner, which comes with an $11,000 cash prize.

That winner will be announced at MAKE’s Hardware Innovation Workshop on Wednesday, Sept. 18 at a special evening reception at the New York Hall of Science.

The setting is appropriate. The New York version of the popular maker pro event focuses on industrial design, features investors from East Coast venture firms that specialize in hardware, local hardware startups, and promote entrepreneurs with early stage products and prototypes.

This one-day event, presented by GE, and sponsored by ShopBot and Engadget, will feature over 30 speakers with expertise in digital fabrication and manufacturing, 3D printing, and industrial design.

(For more details about the New York Next Top Makers event, and to register for the 2013 MAKE Hardware Innovation Workshop at NYSCI in Queens, NY, visit: makezine.com/hardware-innovation-workshop.)

Until then, the six finalist teams are still furiously working away, polishing their projects.

You can see all 55 submissions on the New York’s Next Top Makers submission page.

But here are the six finalists. Which one do you think deserves the Grand Prize?