Because We Can blogs

BWC featured in the book "Make Space"

Jillian Northrup — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 16:32:14 +0000

Our friends Scott Doorley and Scott Witthoft over at the D-School of Stanford have released a new book, and we are in it! The book is called Make Space: How to Set the Stage for Creative Collaboration and is available for purchase on Amazon.

It is a book all on making interesting spaces, and each project in the book is very thoroughly outlined from original inspiration and need, to design to fabrication.

For the book we used an in house project of our downstairs library space, as seen here in the finished phase. Pick up a copy and check out the whole project!

Diner sign

Jillian Northrup — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 18:33:46 +0000

It's so nice and pretty to work with aluminum.
Here, a wood backed aluminum sign with acrylic spacer for the floating bits.

This sign is for our ongoing clients over at Clifbar.
Here is some of the other work we have done for them, and some more recent stuff.

We just love how nice and clean this came out, and the font is super cool too!

Soon to come: photos of this whole completed project!

Happy Holidays!

Jillian Northrup — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 18:53:37 +0000

We've just put up our tree in the office!

Decorated the library....

And put lights on our robots!

Happy Holidays from all of us at BWC!

Core77 Interviews Because We Can at AU2011

Jeffrey McGrew — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 00:59:38 +0000

While we were at Autodesk University, we got the chance to sit down with Core77 and do a little four-part interview. Honored to get asked! We love Core77, it's a big inspiration for our work. Enjoy!

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Keynote Speech at Autodesk University 2011

Jillian Northrup — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 01:39:08 +0000

Jeffrey McGrew, our principal and co-founder, gave a keynote speech at Autodesk University this year! The whole keynote is embedded above, and Jeffrey's on around 24 minutes in.

Core 77 also transcribed his speech, and posted it on there blog, with a nice little forward.

Come see us at Autodesk University 2011. Because we're keynote speakers!

Jeffrey McGrew — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 00:52:05 +0000

We're very proud to announce that our own Jeffrey McGrew will be giving one of the keynote presentations at this year's Autodesk University.

With over 9,000 people attending, this is very exciting news indeed! We'll be briefly sharing the story of Because We Can and some of the work we've done. Buy a robot and change the world!

We're also giving a more formal hour long presentation on 'The Five Myths of Digital Fabrication'. We'll cover the five most common mistakes (and how to avoid them) that we see people make when they first get into making things via Digital Fabrication.

We'll also be doing a bonus talk, more informal, in The Lounge about how we made the tails for the Serpent Twins (that we made a recent Instrucable for).

We hope to see you in Vegas!

SoCal Office Building

Jillian Northrup — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 03:12:11 +0000

We are renovating a historic building in Southern California to be an office building and machine shop. It is a big fun project! And we are finalizing the design concepts now.

Here is the facade of the building, a cleaned up and renovated version of the current existing historical building. To the right is the building's parking lot and on the left is the enclosed patio and then machine shop.

The machine shop facade echos the office building in shape, but then plays with different materials. We are making the designs here very solar conscious, which is why we have the slats in front of the windows. Due to the intense sun down there, we feel it is necessary to optimize shade with the exterior treatments so the interior cooling of the buildings can be at a minimum.

Here the conference room looks out onto the patio, which is shaded with greenery and stretched fabric shades. We are designing the whole interior, patio and much of the furniture for this project... so stay tuned for more updates on that!

Instructable on the Serpent Twins Tails

Jeffrey McGrew — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 18:00:02 +0000

Our good friends over at the Instructables asked us if we wouldn't post up how we made the Serpent Twin's tails. So here it is!

Enjoy! It's our first big instructable so we'd love for you to go there and leave us a comment on it.

Also, if you want to see the Serpent Twins in person, there is a big party this weekend at Jon's shop. All are welcome!

East Bay Mini Maker Faire this Sunday!

Jillian Northrup — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 00:02:31 +0000

Come to East Bay Mini Maker Faire this Sunday!

Use this code and get a discount on tickets: BECAUSEWECAN
You can buy tickets here

Use that code and get 15% off tickets for the event on Sunday, October 16th
at the Park Day School campus + Studio One Art Center in the Temescal district of Oakland

We'll be there!
& hope to see you there!!!

Halloween Open House at BWC!

Jillian Northrup — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 18:44:28 +0000

This Friday - Oct. 14th - 6PM to 10PM
2500 Kirkham St, Oakland

We are having a Halloween Open House, and all are invited!

WATCH! As a giant robot moves using the powers of E-Lec-TricitY.... and CUTS! everything in it's path!

MARVEL! As EVIL Professor Kitty SHREDS! another office chair!

COME! To West Oakland! and see some ART in progress!!!

It will be horrifying in the best way.
Hope to see you here!

Because We Can
2500 Kirkham St.
Oakland
510-922-8846

Costumes and extra drink welcome!