As part of our constant drive to better our designs through consistent research and collaboration, this year’s Material Matters show was first on our list for a visit during the London Design Festival.

The start of every new concept at Frovi is driven by the need to make a change, improve function, or drive new aesthetics with heightened materials that work harder than ever before. The research phase always forms an important chapter in the design rationale of the concept, it pushes us to be better as designers and understand more than ever before that every choice we make has an impact on not just the design intent, but people and the planet too.

This year as part of understanding what the future may hold for some of our new concepts, we headed over to the iconic OXO Tower and the gritty industrial setting of Bargehouse for this year’s Material Matters exhibition, hoping to once again open and expose our minds to new exciting materials and processes that would help guide best practice for our designs next year.

Material Matters investigates how the design industry can address issues around the circular economy and why material intelligence is so important to all our lives. Showcasing work from manufacturers, designers and, artists from multiple industries were our key takeaways from this year’s show.

3D printed everything

It was great to see a rise in 3D printing on an industrial scale with objects in a variety of scales and materials now being printed but more so as a valid supply chain option. Gone are the days when 3D printing was just for 1 off-prototyping. With a shift in mindset when it comes to supply and demand, 3D printing is a great way to sustainably manufacture.

More Composites

We are seeing an emerging movement in people experimenting and developing composite materials that come in sheets, and can be heat formed or injection molded. Mater have developed a full range of materials and applications that are one step on from the familiar recycled plastics seen in our industry. SolidWool have developed a material using sheep wool, which is a byproduct of the agriculture industry, that can be injection molded and also is available in flat sheets.

Reclamation

End of life has always been a touchy subject, but we are now seeing companies embrace this issue with an emphasis on using waste and discarded materials to create new ones. Pearson Lloyd‘s installation showcased an accessory range for Bene, which is 3D printed using waste food packaging. Goldfinger is using reclaimed timber from London felled trees to make beautiful wooden furniture.

The Process

With new materials, come new manufacturing methods. Hydro works with aluminum which they hydroform into beautiful complex forms not seen in traditional aluminum production, their pieces can also be anodized allowing a range of striking finishes on offer. Pearson Lloyd displayed sculptures demonstrating Camira‘s 3D knitted textiles which opens up a new dimension to textile use and allows designers to think away from traditional upholstery avenues.

Words by David King & Matthew Coules