With all the hype surrounding Facebook’s IPO today, Wired takes an alternative look inside the company with a division that has nothing to do with digital and all about analog. Since 2010, Ben Barry and Everett Katigbak have been hand printing posters to be distributed internally and throughout Facbook’s 36 global offices. The wood block or silk screened posters are designed with motivational messages to add to the already colorful office environment. The lab looks nothing like a dot com space, its literally a print shop with all the tactile tools one needs to get the job done. The light box was built by Barry with wood salvaged from old desks. See more photos from the Analog Research Lab on Wired.

People were either confused or dubious about the purpose of twitter during its early pivotal years. It took time for the general populous to embrace the social networking tool. Not so for Instagram. Like its name, it was an instant hit. It took a matter of months before it amassed millions of users and a little over two years before facebook valued the company at 1 billion dollars and snatched it up. We’re a fan – we believe it’s the best photo sharing tool. And we’ve come across some amazing people just by wandering around the app. A couple that I’d like to feature here are craftsmen from the other side of the world. One from Japan and the other from Australia.

Grandtide, based in Japan, has been posting some extraordinary leather goods. Surprising because he isn’t formally trained as a leather maker but you wouldn’t notice from the work that he’s done. You can see the results on his tumblr.

Martin Johnston from Australia is the son of a cabinet maker. He has adopted the trade, helping his father on projects as well as building and making things on his own. Using his training he’s made several incredible pieces including a custom made tool box for tattoo artist Tom Burrey, dabbled in refurbishing furniture, and shaping surf boards, he’s doing it all. You can see more of his work on his blog. His latest post shows his father building a kayak slowly and steadily, using the strip planking method, a technique that forgoes any nails and instead uses glue to bind the wood.

We’ve had our eyes on March in San Francisco since they’ve relaunch their store last fall. Previously a rustic but modern antique shop, March has transformed itself into a culinary store, specializing in kitchens and tabletops. With the interior designed to incorporate aspects of a kitchen, the owners have been able to do more with the space, by hosting events and dinners. Their latest event will be an exhibition featuring three New York artisans from various disciplines. Marker’s Mark will include works by wood turner Josh Vogel, ceramicist Maria Moyer and basket weaver Jonathan Kline. The show will be on view starting next week May 17.

Japan’s Huge Magazine is celebrating the launch of their “Made In USA” issue with their exhibition, Found the USA [sic] at Found Muji in Tokyo. Huge has assembled a collection of simple goods for the exhibition that explores and sells products that are all made in the USA. The selection of products spans from the functional to the amusing and fits within Found Muji’s theme of simple products for everyday use. The exhibition starts on April 24th at Found Muji the same day the issue comes out in Japan. It will reach the US shortly after through Kinokuniya.

April 24 – May 17
Found MUJI AOYAMA
Nakajima bld. 1,2F 5-50-6 Jingumae
Shibuya, Tokyo

It’s been over a year since we released the last episode to our craftsmanship series, and I’m happy to say that we’re finally ready for another. Come back tomorrow to see the brilliance of Josh Vogel’s work. You won’t be disappointed.

Craftsmen from across the country will descend upon Socrates Sculpture Park this weekend for Makers Market. Starting today until Sunday, the open-air market will host over 30 American makers. Items ranging from ceramics, turned wood bowls, glassware, motorcycles, knives, tableware, jewelry, baskets, furniture, lighting, textiles, surfboards and much more will be offered. Casual shops like the General Store and Mollusk Surf Shop will exhibit alongside more high end design shops like R 20th Century. The market is free to the public. See the full list of the participants and the schedule on their website.