At the start of the year I chose Materials Innovation as my expanded practice subject. I hoped that I would broaden my knowledge and skills in order to enrich my own graphic design practice. I felt that this subject in particular would be useful to me as it is something completely new and not included…
Biomimicry – Hedgehogs
Ohio based startup company Hedgemon have been looking to hedgehogs for biomimetic solutions for the sports safety industry. Their research has explored the impact absorbing properties of the humble hedgehog. Though we often think of hedgehogs as a fairly unadventurous, grounded species they actually spend a lot of their time climbing trees in search of…
3D Printing – Drugs
3D printing is becoming an ever more prevalent tool for designers in all fields and is set to revolutionise the way we live and consume. The latest innovation in 3D printing is in the world of medicine; UK based biotech company FabRx have been looking into the potential of printing prescribed drugs. Their aim is…
Grown Materials – Mushroom Packaging
Global furniture retailer IKEA are planning to use packaging made from mycelium as an environmentally friendly alternative to polystyrene. Whilst polystyrene takes thousands of years to decompose the mycelium packaging only takes a few weeks. The ‘mushroom packaging’ is made by cultivating mycelium around agricultural waste such as corn husks and stalks, this means it also provides…
3D – Neri Oxman
At my recent trip to the new Design Gallery in Holland Park I visited the ‘Fear and Love’ exhibition. I think perhaps my favourite piece was ‘Vespers’, this stunning series of death masks by Neri Oxman. 3D printed in high resolution using resin, the series is based on 5 imaginary martyrs, illustrating their last breath…
Colour and Materials Trends
Within the design world it is important to recognise themes and trends in order to cater for the consumer. By understanding where we have come from and where we are now we can start to predict where we might be heading. Whole companies exist in order to forecast what the latest fashions in colour, pattern,…
Biomimicry
Biomimicry is the practise of looking at biological processes as a model for human design. In the past humans have tended to work against nature in order to progress, consuming more materials than we can afford to and expelling toxic waste back into the environment. This is clearly not an intelligent way to continue if…
3D Printing
Like many new design processes 3D printing has taken a long time to find its place in the world of design. We think of it as a very recent process but it was in fact pioneered in the 80’s under the term additive manufacturing. Back then it was only used in very niche areas and…
Grown Materials
I’ve been doing some research into ‘grown materials’. It’s an exciting concept which is gaining popularity and I hope will eventually make its way into the mainstream. The idea is that we can grow materials which are completely biodegradable thus reducing the toxic waste and landfill that is generated through the production of familiar materials such…
Grown Materials – The Infinity Burial Suit
MIT graduate Jae Rhim Lee began research on the topic of toxins and human burial during her final year of her degree. She discovered that human bodies on average contain around 219 toxic pollutants which re-enter and harm the environment when we are buried or cremated. On top of this, traditional burial procedures use toxic cosmetics,…
‘The Toaster Project’ – Thomas Thwaites
“Left to his own devices he couldn’t build a toaster. He could just about make a sandwich and that was it.” – Mostly Harmless, Douglas Adams, 1992 This was the quote which inspired RCA graduate Thomas Thwaites to embark on a mission to make a toaster from scratch. He wanted to look into the “magical transformation”…
Exhibition
I recently took a visit to the British Museum and was drawn to the following two exhibits both of which make beautiful use of the material gold. Gold is a fascinating metal which has been prized for centuries for its rarity and beauty. It is a colour which I personally love and when crafted tastefully…
Barny Sharratt 