#HTE

A Look at Flat-Packed Dinosaurs, Virtual Reality Meditation and the Making of a Luxury Candle 

An enormous global community enabling the creation of over 100,000 projects in the past six years, Kickstarter brings people together and brings projects to life. Earlier this month, the organization held their first annual day-long summer festival, celebrating all types of creators and innovators.

From virtual meditation to flat-pack dinosaurs and luxury candles, check out a roundup of the talent showcased at the vibrant festival:

Splyt Light

A tool to design DIY fixtures, Splyt Light is a kit of sockets and connectors that allows the creation of custom lighting. Inspired by hardware store y-connectors, the shapes are refined into matte plastic modules that can be combined into countless forms. In addition to a wall with the illuminated y-connectors, Splyt Light showcased their endless connection possibilities with an outlandish light sculpture sitting on the steps of Kickstarter Festival.

Hybycozo

A laser-cut geometric light installation, Hybycozo’s intricate patterns lit up the night at Kickstarter Festival. While the goal of their Kickstarter campaign was to raise enough funds to construct a triambic icosahedron for this year’s Burning Man, the polyhedrons displayed at Kickstarter were much smaller and less interactive than anticipated. Nonetheless, Hybycozo’s dazzling, golden, faceted shapes were an attractive addition to the festival.

Keap

A luxury candle at an affordable price, Brooklyn start-up Keap is on an admirable mission. In the process of becoming a certified B-Corp and striving for sustainability through 30% recycled and reusable glass packaging, slow-burning all natural wax, lead-free wicks and avoiding adhesives all together, Keap is unlike any other candle maker on the market. Having already reached notable success since reaching their Kickstarter goal in November of 2015, Keap made a return to the Kickstarter community to lead a candle making workshop at the Kickstarter Festival.

Boneyard Pets

Created by 32 Square, a design and fabrication shop founded on the idea of maximum production with minimum waste, Boneyard Pets is a fun three dimensional skeletal puzzle. Made of Komatex, a brand of PVC, the flat-packed dinosaurs are ready to assemble using interlocking joints that eliminate the need for adhesive. After an interactive day of puzzle solving fun and showing visitors Boneyard Pets’ endless mutant-dinosaur possibilities, the group displayed the skeletons around the grounds and in the trees, allowing the dinosaurs to appear as if they’re running into the night.

Photo Credit: Boneyard Pets

SoundSelf

Virtual reality is usually associated with doing things in an artificial reality, but SoundSelf’s use of virtual reality is more about not doing. Unlike most video games, this VR meditation has no end goal. The voice controlled experience generates mesmerizing sounds and visuals that are said to induce a hypnotic state. While the SoundSelf booth did not provide much for onlookers, those who had a chance to play the hour-long innovative “game” had quite the indescribable experience.