A CAD-designed neon frame built on a flight to NYC

Unremarkable things we made in 2026

Neil Chen shares two DIY projects from 2026: an aluminum extrusion standing desk frame that doubles as a bike repair stand and arm-wrestling trainer, and a neon acrylic picture frame he CAD-designed on a flight to replicate a cafe's display piece. The frame's 25x19-inch size exceeded his Epilog laser cutter's 24x12-inch workspace, so he used dovetail joinery to assemble it from smaller parts.