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Patent Project – Intro

A few people know that I’m a web developer during the day, and create poly art whenever I can squeeze it in. What many won’t know is that I’m a tinkerer/maker and have been working on the development of my own product idea.
I can’t tell you what it’s about just yet, as I’m in the process of trying to get the idea/item protected, but what I thought would be important would be to share my experiences and show a gradual update as to where I’m getting with it as I look to get it patent protected and then into a manufacturing process.

As a basic overview, the item I’ve developed would be small enough to be mass produced in a manufacturing process and is designed to make a certain aspect of home DIY easier and to some extent arty through the way it is used.

Life is hectic, and it can be difficult to have the courage and conviction to put yourself and your ideas ‘out there’, especially when there’s already plenty going on. Making time for anything extra is difficult so progress for this process isn’t going to be lightning fast. It’s almost easier to impart the advice for someone else to use than taking it myself, which I guess is how this blog has come about.

Before I rattle through the process, I think it’s a good idea to explain a bit about me and where I’m coming from.

My background is in print and web design, but that doesn’t mean my ideas are exclusive to those fields. I have ideas about games, apps, trans-media experiments, artwork, film concepts and much more on a fairly frequent basis. There are half written stories and sketches for other prototypes littering my house which I know will never come to fruition, but I write them down as if to acknowledge their existence and to remove them from my thoughts. Tinkering with objects has always been a part of me. Building my own PC’s was to some extent an extension of dismantling and rebuilding toys and even repairing them as a child. I’ve always been a more practical person and revel in a DIY project or two.
I’m sure my wife would point out that I should try finishing a few projects before starting new ones, but that’s how my mind works. I get excited about an idea, so I then have to gather all the information that I can about it and work through it with sketches and prototypes until I’ve made some sort of tangible progress. Some things get shelved, contributing to my ‘mess’, and other things get completed, contributing to a slightly tidier mess.

It’s because of this ‘excitement’ that I’ve ended up owning a 3D printer and why I’ve also bought a lot of electronics equipment and components that include Raspberry Pi’s, Arduino Uno’s and much more. There’s a reason for each of the gadgets, gizmos and motors that have been acquired as they each fit a particular purpose. Sadly, each one requires time to understand and learn the full extent of what each item is capable of which is a problem in itself. If these components and information had been so readily available when I was half my age, then there’s a good chance I’d be in a different profession… and possibly rich! Okay, maybe not.

Over the next few blog articles I’m going to explain a little bit about my project, but more about the journey it is on.

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The maker in me

Okay, so it has been a while since I last posted, so I guess I had better get something up here.

There’s a lot going on right now in terms of potentially moving house and doing the best we can to ensure the house we leave behind is smart and ready for the next owners. So I’ve not had a lot of spare time.

I’ve also not done any artwork for a while, but that’s about to change (Firefly related possibly), and I’m also looking at a number of other projects that include infinity mirrors and magic/smart mirrors which incorporate the use of a Raspberry Pi. If you’re not sure what I’m going on about, then give them a search.

Getting my head back into electronics has become a little focal point. I’m probably not going to post any tutorials here until I’ve got my head around things, maybe just a few photos from the tutorials I’m following for the time being. I will link to and credit any tutorials I work from so there won’t be any secrets.

There is another project that I have been working on for a while that I’ll reveal more details on soon. Essentially, I’ve got a small product that I want to protect and get to market, but it’s proving quite difficult without either a large sum of cash or contacts I can trust in manufacturing. Hopefully by detailing my journey it might help others in making future decisions.

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Always Blade Runner

It seems no matter what subject matter I look at, I always come back to Blade Runner. I can’t hide that I’m a massive fan of both films and reader of the original book and comic book series, Dust to Dust.

To keep this fan boy enthusiasm, check out my latest poly art of Deckard from the original film.

This one isn’t on Etsy just yet, but if you take a liking to it, then message me on Instagram or through my Etsy shop.

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Etsy shop launch competition

The below information is for a CLOSED competion. Watch this site or my Instagram account for any future news on give-aways.

Okay folks, I’ve got a competition for you all.

To celebrate the setting up of my Etsy shop, I’m giving away a signed and framed (approx 30x40cm) poly fan art of the up coming Blade Runner 2049 movie.

August competition frame
Want to win a signed framed copy of this mini movie poster?

Entry is simple.
1. Follow @chrisgtwin on Instagram
2. Like the competition post showing the above framed artwork
3. Tag at least one friend in the comments of that same post

Doing that will gain you an entry into the prize draw. Each additional tag you make is another entry.
Entries close @ midnight BST at the end of 25th Aug 2017 and the winner will be selected entirely at random later that weekend.

I will post this anywhere in the world!

So if you want to win, don’t keep me a secret, tell everyone you know and get yourself loads of entries into this draw.

If all goes well, I may consider doing this on a regular basis.

Further rules and terms:

It is free to enter this competition.

Completing the three steps of following @chrisgtwin on Instagram, liking the specific competition post, and tagging at least one friend or contact will gain you a single entry.
Multiple tags thereafter will gain you an additional entry for each tagged person.

Tagging does not enter the person being tagged.

The winner’s tags will be checked to ensure they are real people and that they follow you (proof that they know you in some way). Anything suspicious rules you out. My decision is final.

The winner will be contacted through Instagram to get an address and must be able to provide a suitable delivery address.

There is one (1) prize on offer and no cash alternative is available.

All entries must be made by midnight BST at the end of 25th Aug 2017.

Once confirmed, I will announce the winner on Instagram, so the winner gives permission to have their Instagram account name highlighted in a post. No other details will be given/posted.