Materials

If Rainbow Brite Had An Office, It Would Look Like This

If Rainbow Brite Had An Office, It Would Look Like This

It's not an optical illusion—the glass inside the creative agency Canvas Worldwide's new Los Angeles office does change throughout the day. Like a visual mood ring, the iridescent expanse changes its gradient sheen depending on the time of day and the angle you see the glass. If Rainbow Brite were an account exec, she'd request this for her office.

This visual effect is thanks to dichroic glass, a material that interrupts light waves. The physical effect is called "thin-film interference," which is why soap bubbles and oily puddles sometimes have a rainbow sheen. Light hits one side of the film and is reflected at a different angle, changing the color our eyes see. 3M produced the glass finishes that created this brilliant rainbow effect.

Via fastcodesign.com 

Designtex President: Four Materials Trends in 2017

Designtex President: Four Materials Trends in 2017

As president of Designtex for the last five years, Susan Lyons leads a team of innovators known for a rigorous and dedicated approach to research and development of textiles, wallcovering and other applied materials with reduced environmental impact. Designtex, a Steelcase company, is the leading company in the design and manufacturing of applied materials for the built environment with an evolving catalog. Via steelcase.com

Pantone’s Color of the Year for 2017 Is Greenery

Pantone’s Color of the Year for 2017 Is Greenery

The Pantone Color Institute has spoken: at a time when it seems everybody is in need of some hope, the bright “greenery” should help provide some as the 2017 Color of the Year.

The idolized color authority announced its choice of the shade Pantone 15-0343 (generally called “greenery”) on Thursday. Pantone chooses a color each year that it expects to appear prominently in fashion, products, design and life—as well as reflect prevailing mood or sentiments, CNN Money reports.

“We know what kind of world we are living in: one that is very stressful and very tense,“ Leatrice Eiseman, Pantone Color Institute executive director, told the New York Times. “This is the color of hopefulness, and of our connection to nature. It speaks to what we call the ‘re’ words: regenerate, refresh, revitalize, renew. Every spring we enter a new cycle and new shoots come from the ground. It is something life affirming to look forward to.”

Via time.com >

11 Exciting New Materials Designers Should Watch

11 Exciting New Materials Designers Should Watch

Andrew Dent, vice president of library and materials research at Material ConneXion, is like a sommelier. Presiding over the world's largest library of materials, his job is to listen to the requirements of his clients—a list which includes Armani, Chrysler, Calvin Klein, Hermann Miller, Disney, Nike, Toyota, and many, many more—and come up with an innovative material that suits their needs. His level of obsession in this field is such that he makes Apple's Jonathan Ive, a fellow Brit, seem like he's never done his homework.

Via fastcodesign.com >

Could Flax Be The New Plywood?

Could Flax Be The New Plywood?

In early 2010, Dutch designer Christien Meindertsma became interested in flax. So she approached a local farmer, Gert-Jan van Dongen, and asked him to sow flax seeds on a farm in his field. By the summer, van Dongen had grown an entire field of flax, which Meinderstma harvested with the intention of using as a design material.

Six years later, the resulting Flax Chair has won two Dutch Design Awards (DDAs)—not just because it looks good, but because in creating it, Meinderstma was able to invent an entirely new sustainable material.

Via fastcodesign.com >

AN interviews “the design world’s number one power broker” (and you may never have heard of him)

AN interviews “the design world’s number one power broker” (and you may never have heard of him)

Éminence grise Michele Caniato is the president of Material ConneXion and is responsible for many colossal decisions in the design industry. With locations all over the world, Material ConneXion maintains the world’s largest subscription-based materials library. The Architect’s Newspaper sat down with Caniato to discuss the behind-the-scenes operations of his career and the industry at large.

Read the interview on archpaper.com >

How The Andes House’s Ensamble Project Uses Hardboard to Create Workspaces

How The Andes House’s Ensamble Project Uses Hardboard to Create Workspaces

Hardboard is a wooden fiberboard that is produced by compression at high temperatures, making a smooth and uniform surface. It is known for being highly flexible and very resistant to humidity. In spite of these qualities, the product has been pigeonholed for specific uses -- rear panels, bases, packaging -- losing visibility and importance in the world of architecture and design. Hoping to change how the material is viewed by designers and architects, Arauco invited The Andes House to develop an attractive and innovative solution that would allow the product's advantages to really stand out. 

Read the article on archdaily.com >

Noise reduction has become a "major preoccupation" in Scandinavian Interiors

Noise reduction has become a "major preoccupation" in Scandinavian Interiors

Stockholm 2016: acoustics are the hot topic at this week's Stockholm Furniture Fair, with designers and brands launching products aimed at making interiors quieter. The fair features more acoustic products than ever, with the usual sound-absorbing wall panels being joined by upholstered desktop screens for computer working, spongy wall-mounted booths for phone calls and even dome-shaped baffles designed to hang just above workers' heads.

Read the article on dezeen.com >

MATERIALS-FOCUSED WORKS BY SAM LINDERS

MATERIALS-FOCUSED WORKS BY SAM LINDERS

Wobble-Up is designed for those wanting an adaptable living environment. The carpet squares easily transform into “wobbling” spots for sitting on the floor when needed. Linders takes mechanically punched plastic squares and embroiders them into colorful patterns that fit together into a mosaic carpet or the clever seat. Wobble-Up was Linders’ graduation project.

Read the article on design-milk.com >