Ben Sharkey leads a truly 3D life. A designer at visualization tech firm Real Time Technology, he moonlights as a  honey-smooth jazz vocalist. Okay, so he sings on the side, you say. Still, how many part time jazz singers do you know that boast YouTube fans in the hundreds of thousands?

If anyone doubts that Metro Detroit is a hotbed of invention, entrepreneurship and creative thinking they just haven't been paying attention. Metromode once again unearthed a treasure trove of people, companies and communities that are evolving our sense of place, building our new economy, and promoting innovation at every turn. As we ring out the year we look back at a baker's dozen of stories that inspired us!

There is a method behind the madness associated with creations like a Red Green Robot or a Cupcake Electric Vehicle, we promise. Their inventor, i3 Detroit hackerspace co-founder Nick Britsky, is here to talk this week about his community toolbox, the Maker Movement, and the state of DIY.

For nearly 100 years the College for Creative Studies has influenced the world of design. From automobiles and advertising to fine art and film, its students represent the creative class professionals Michigan needs to transform its economy and communities.

Think of them as high-tech tattoos. Dearborn's Laptop Design customizes your computer to express your brand, identity or fetish. From company logos to famous works of art to personal photographs, they can transform your laptop or keyboard into the ultimate fashion statement.