4. Resurgence of Surface Materials
After decades of focusing on screens and the hard, cold surfaces of technology, we’re moving away from digital reality and looking around at our surroundings. We want to touch, feel, and experience our environments; interact with and explore the world around us. This impulse is provoking the creation of surface materials that provide tactile stimulation while being sustainable and visually stunning. “Bricks built from recycled construction rubble, floor tiles made from compacted plastic bags, and metal accessories crafted from locksmiths’ debris. These materials and many others exist and offer unlimited opportunity to designers and manufacturers seeking to develop signature products with engaging stories that inspire and delight,” said Dent.
The Material ConneXion Library, located in the Plant Seven innovation hub at 410 West English Road in High Point, is the perfect place to start the creative journey to develop exceptional new products. With rows and rows of samples, intuitively arranged to guide the visitor through groupings like super textiles, bioplastics, rethinking waste, and adaptive construction, the library and its global database are accessible year-round. Visit during Market, or better yet, plan a dedicated trip to explore the countless wonders of a Materials Future.