creativity tools

Patent Depending, The “Nonsense” Inventions of Steven M. Johnson at Maker Faire

Patent Depending, The “Nonsense” Inventions of Steven M. Johnson at Maker Faire

By Gareth Branwyn

Gareth Branwyn

Gareth Branwyn is a freelance writer and the former Editorial Director of Maker Media. He is the author or editor of over a dozen books on technology, DIY, and geek culture. He is currently a contributor to Boing Boing, Wink Books, and Wink Fun. And he has a new best-of writing collection and “lazy man’s memoir,” called Borg Like Me.

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How the goofy inventions of Steven M. Johnson serve a serious design purpose.

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How to Make Fidget Spinner Toys

How to Make Fidget Spinner Toys

By Gareth Branwyn

Gareth Branwyn

Gareth Branwyn is a freelance writer and the former Editorial Director of Maker Media. He is the author or editor of over a dozen books on technology, DIY, and geek culture. He is currently a contributor to Boing Boing, Wink Books, and Wink Fun. And he has a new best-of writing collection and “lazy man’s memoir,” called Borg Like Me.

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Work off some of that nervous energy with a “fidget toy” you can easily make yourself.

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5 Essential Meta-Level Tips for Makers

By Gareth Branwyn

Gareth Branwyn

Gareth Branwyn is a freelance writer and the former Editorial Director of Maker Media. He is the author or editor of over a dozen books on technology, DIY, and geek culture. He is currently a contributor to Boing Boing, Wink Books, and Wink Fun. And he has a new best-of writing collection and “lazy man’s memoir,” called Borg Like Me.

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Let’s look at some of the top-level tips to consider around the art of creativity and making things.

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All-Star Pattern Seeker Trading Cards

All-Star Pattern Seeker Trading Cards

By Gareth Branwyn

Gareth Branwyn

Gareth Branwyn is a freelance writer and the former Editorial Director of Maker Media. He is the author or editor of over a dozen books on technology, DIY, and geek culture. He is currently a contributor to Boing Boing, Wink Books, and Wink Fun. And he has a new best-of writing collection and “lazy man’s memoir,” called Borg Like Me.

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The other day, I bumped into these interesting (but sold out) “trading cards” from mysterious and delightful Imaginary Foundation. I immediately did a web search and found a remaining set ($18) at an e-tailer (they only had one deck left). They came today, and they’re really nice. It’s a shame they aren’t selling them anymore. […]

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John Kenn’s dreamy Post-It Note art

John Kenn’s dreamy Post-It Note art

By Gareth Branwyn

Gareth Branwyn

Gareth Branwyn is a freelance writer and the former Editorial Director of Maker Media. He is the author or editor of over a dozen books on technology, DIY, and geek culture. He is currently a contributor to Boing Boing, Wink Books, and Wink Fun. And he has a new best-of writing collection and “lazy man’s memoir,” called Borg Like Me.

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Years ago, I published an art and early cyberculture zine, called Going Gaga. I did an issue devoted to doodling. I’m fascinated by doodles, scribbles, “crazy walls” (those string-connected, associative wall collages that Hollywood serial killers and the cops who pursue them all seem to need), and all forms of loose-brained/non-linear thinking. The very precise […]

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Top 10: Whiteboards, Blackboards, and Brainstorming Tools

Top 10: Whiteboards, Blackboards, and Brainstorming Tools

By Sean Michael Ragan

Sean Michael Ragan

I am descended from 5,000 generations of tool-using primates. Also, I went to college and stuff. I am a long-time contributor to MAKE magazine and makezine.com. My work has also appeared in ReadyMade, c't – Magazin für Computertechnik, and The Wall Street Journal.

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Our roundup of ten clever and useful projects for making blackboards and whiteboards.

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