The New Materialists
Experimental and innovative objects, where style meets substance
New materials are high on the agenda in the design world, with a steady groundswell of new ideas – from young talent in particular – dissecting what products are made from and, in many cases, experimenting with the reuse of industrial waste. At this year’s London Design Festival, some of the most impactful pieces at the shows were made from reused plastic or innovative composites. And they didn’t just tell a compelling story – they were beautiful, too, often in unearthly ways.
These are exceptional pieces in their own right, but just as important is that they are a force for good
In this spirit of innovation, Design Anthology UK has gathered some of the most striking examples of furniture, accessories and textiles that are challenging convention. Many take waste products as their starting point: Charlotte Kidger’s vessels and tables, made from the dust created by CNC machines; Studio Ilio’s stools, which use nylon powder left over from 3D printing; Jamie Shaw’s Plastic Baroque collection, created by firing waste plastic from an extruding gun; marbled plastic coasters from Weez & Merl; and Hyun-Jin Son’s tabletop pieces comprised of old newspapers. Marco Guazzini’s Marwoolus is made from marble dust and wool offcuts, while Valeria Sergieko has experimented with everything from styrofoam to glass for her Perception cups for Nome Design. For serious sensuality, look to Malgorzata Bany’s furniture cast in Jesmonite (a non-toxic gypsum-based resin) or Fernando Laposse’s vases, which are veneered with maize husks. Finally, biodesigner Natsai Audrey Chieza has created textile dye that uses far less water and petrochemicals than is the norm.
These are exceptional pieces in their own right, but just as important is that they are a force for good – whether because they minimise or recycle waste, use sustainable harvest methods or incorporate inventive material compounds that will benefit all of us in the long run.
