10 Kickass Kickstarter Projects From 2012

1. Amanda Palmer

   Goal:$100,000
   Pledged:$1,192,793

   Singer/songwriter Amanda Palmer spent four years writing a record and putting her band together. Formerly part of the Dresden Dolls duo, Palmer broke away from a major record label to do her own thing.

   The album, supported by Kickstarter, was the first million-dollar music project on the platform. It debuted in the top 10 of the Billboard Charts a few months later.

   Image courtesy of Shervin Lainez

   

2. ArduSat 

   Goal: $35,000
   Pledged: $106,330

   ArduSat is a tiny satellite that weighs no more than 1kg, but it has made a huge impact on the future of space research. Created by NanoSatisfi, this Kickstarter project went well beyond its $35,000 goal in just one month.

   The project has democratized space exploration, making it feasible for anyone to run his own space experiment, depending on how many pledges he gets.

   Image courtesy of NanoSatisfi

   

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4. Double Fine Adventure

   Goal: $400,000
   Pledged : $3,336,371

   This was a particularly groundbreaking year for gamers on Kickstarter. One of the most important projects, Double Fine Adventure became the first multi-million dollar video game campaign.

   The game reached its $400,000 goal in less than 24 hours, making it one of the fastest-funded projects on Kickstarter. Gamers suddenly realized their ideas were viable, and more campaigns like the ones for OUYA and Shadowrun Returns had the opportunity to shine.

   Image courtesy of Double Fine

   

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6. Lowline

   Goal: $100,000
   Pledged : $155,186

   What do New Yorkers want from an old, abandoned trolley terminal in the Lower East Side? Not more public transportation, but the world's first underground park.

   LowLine, a project by Delancey Underground, will use solar technology for natural illumination. The 1.5-acre space is located on the Lower East Side, and has been out of operation since 1948.

   Image courtesy of Delancey Underground

   

7. Continuum Fashion

   Goal: $10,000
   Pledged : $11,249

   3D printing is no longer just for architects and prototypes. Design duo Mary Huang and Jenna Fizel, co-founders of Continuum Fashion, want to help fashion lovers create custom garments by using an app. Every design is uniquely made to order.

   Continuum used Kickstarter to host a private beta. Any pledge amount gave users priority access to the service.

   Image courtesy of Continuum Fashion

   

8. Daniel Mustard

   Goal: $15,000
   Pledged : $16,262

   In 2009, when Daniel Mustard was homeless, his cover of Radiohead's "Creep" went viral on YouTube. Mustard told Mashable the exposure gave him back his will to live.

   Mustard lauched a Kickstarter project in July to pay for the cost of producing and distributing an EP. Most of the songs were inspired by his tribulations. The musician is no longer homeless, having found temporary access at shelters and using the Internet to mingle with fans at Apple stores.

   Image courtesy of Daniel Mustard

   

9. Elevation Dock

   Goal: $75,000
   Pledged: $1,464,706

   The Elevation Dock was a simple concept with one main mission: to make docking an iPhone as seamless as possible, especially when the device is in a case.

   This was obviously a common problem among iPhone users. Designer Casey Hopkins and ElevationLab were the first million-dollar project on Kickstarter. And the dock set the bar for high-quality craftsmanship.

   Image courtesy of ElevationLab

   

10. Penny Arcade

    Goal: $250,000
    Pledged : $528,144

    Online advertising has changed drastically from late '90s standards. Penny Arcade, one of the most popular gaming webcomics currently online, realized that web banners were no longer cutting it.

    The site used Kickstarter to replace ad revenue with crowdfunding. The leaderboard on the homepage would be removed if they reached the minimum goal of $250,000, expanding to even more ad removal throughout the site as it surpassed higher goals.

    Image courtesy of Penny Arcade

    

Crowdfunding has become a popular way to introduce products to people directly and raise awareness on important issues. Consumers no longer have to wait for a brand to innovate a product. Instead, they're finding simple solutions themselves and bringing it straight to consumers.

Crowdfunding platforms like Kickstarter have revived artists, democratized space exploration and helped make the world a better, greener place. These 10 Kickstarter projects may not all have been huge monetary successes, but each made a distinct impact.

What Kickstarter project was your favorite from 2012? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Image courtesy of Shervin Lainez