The Maker's Field Guide: Master Maker Edition is an extension of Christopher Armstrong's first book, the Maker's Field Guide — the definitive guide to the art & science of making anything imaginable. This special edition includes new expanded content on 3d printing, laser cutting, spray painting, kit-bashing, and a full new 'advanced projects' chapter, following two real-world industrial design and entertainment design prototype builds from beginning to end. The Master Maker is intended to be exactly that — a truly professional resource for master designers, engineers, and passionate DIY makers alike.
From 'The Maker's Field Guide': The first and only resource of its kind to to combine almost every single technique on making & building prototypes / models for design, engineering, and product development. The guide also elaborates on the fundamentals and advanced tools of the professional work shop — covering "old-school" tools of the trade, as well as the "new-school" state-of-the-art technologies. This guide is written for top professionals and curious DIY tinkerers alike — I have personally written this as a guide that I can quickly reference in the field or in the office, however because of it’s simple, non-technical language, it can be easily understood by anyone who may have little to no understanding of design. For anyone who enjoys the process of making, or for those who plan on building the next big Startup widget that will take the world by storm. Having the proper tools is half the battle to achieving successful results.This book has been written with advanced professionals in mind, but it is also meant to be used as a valuable resource for beginners, design students, or recreational hobbyists in mind.
Christopher Armstrong is a designer, creator, and passionate problem-solver who believes that anyone—whether you're a student, teacher, parent, or curious tinkerer—should be able to bring their ideas to life. After years spent working on real-world projects with brands like Sony PlayStation, Microsoft Xbox, Hot Wheels, and the NFL, he’s learned that innovation isn’t about fancy degrees or access to endless resources; it’s about the willingness to experiment, learn, and build.
Chris’s journey started with a desire to make things, not just think about them. After studying at The Art Center College of Design, he worked with clients across the globe, from small startups to major companies, to create products that solve real problems. But what really drives him is empowering others—like you—to do the same. Whether you’re a student looking for a hands-on way to learn, a teacher wanting fresh ideas for the classroom, or a parent hoping to spark curiosity in your kids, Chris’s goal is simple: to make the process of creating accessible, fun, and rewarding.
He’s also spent years teaching and mentoring, sharing his experiences with students at schools like Art Center and Concept Design Academy. He knows firsthand what it feels like to be stuck in a system that doesn’t always give you the tools to think outside the box, and he’s here to change that. This book is his way of offering you the shortcut he never had—so you can jump into the world of creation without the pressure or the high costs.
Chris is originally from Texas and now calls Austin home, where he continues to work on projects that push boundaries and encourage others to do the same. You can find his work and creative updates on Behance www.behance.net/christopherarmstrong, Instagram (@christopher_armstrong_) and X (@MrCarmstrong), or simply dive into this guide to start building the future, one idea at a time.
If you’re ready to get hands-on, experiment, and make something amazing, you’re in the right place. Chris is here to show you how.
I highly recommend this book for DIYers, industrial designers, mechanical engineers and makers. This book provides an excellent source of reference for almost any kind of small scale manufacturing, along with helpful tips on how to design and orientate your workshop. If you are looking to establish your own makerspace, or are interested in DIY, this is the book for you.
This book is a great tool for anyone looking to make things in shop. It goes through a wide variety of machines and methods, so if you are new to this sort of stuff, this book is a good idea to get.
This Master Maker edition is even better than Christopher's first book. I particularly loved the section about designing and kit-bashing a mech / robot model at the end, since it seemed to tie-in everything else covered in the book in a step-by-step process.