3 Maker Topics I’m Obsessed With For 2026 Builds
It’s that time to start thinking about what projects I want to tackle next year (and which are in my goals from a previous article).
This year, I haven’t built as much in my garage workshop because I’ve been focusing on building out the business. In 2026, I’m still focused on building the business, but it will also involve making more projects. For example, I’m going to be filming in my home office more, so I want that background to look better than the cluttered wall it currently is.
That is going to be a massive project, but it has many components that I’m currently obsessed with.
Topic 1: Hexagons
After a few years of Making things, I’m tired of making boxes.
I’ve been fascinated with hexagons for as long as I can remember. It helps that I graduated from Georgia Tech, which has tons of hexagons in their branding (because Yellow Jackets make honey apparently…who knew). Plus, making big pieces hexagonal will let me work on my angled cuts and joinery, which is lacking right now.
As another bonus, hexagonal “boxes” work very well with the third topic on this list.
Topic 2: Custom Smart Home Integrations
It’s no secret that I have a fascination with custom lighting.
However, I really want to dial that obsession up by working on custom smart home integrations so I can trigger something on one device and have another do an action or activate with Alexa. While plenty of smart bulbs and plugs are on the market, if I create my own, I can move beyond lighting and sounds though and have things move with motors or actuators. Combine that with the options for additional sensors like NFC, proximity, heat, and light and suddenly I’d be able to trigger automations based on how bright it is (time independent), whether I’m drinking hot or iced coffee, or whether I walk into my office or one of my kids sneaks in (cue evil dad laughing).
While I’m not completely sure what it looks like yet, I’m imagining my office feeling like it’s a living thing that reacts to you in the moment without consciously asking it to.
Topic 3: Star Wars Office Transformation
Again, Star Wars is not a secret obsession of mine and transforming my office into a Smuggler’s Ship has been on the list for almost 2 years.
The timing for 2026 is absolutely perfect though. I don’t know of any business videos that are set inside a Star Wars ship vs “more professional” settings (which are usually boring and look like 100 others). Building out my Star Wars office—finally—meshes with my business plans, content plans, non-overhead lighting quirk, and other Maker obsessions.
I’m excited to put these topics into projects in 2026 and talk more about them, why I built them, and why being a Maker is the best thing you can do next year.
