Material

MATERIALS: LIVING WITH PLASTIC

Plastic is a huge problem. final. But…. it is also an amazing material at the same time helping us to create amazing products, being the sole solution to most human technologies. We have seen the devastating affects plastic is having on our oceans and wildlife through countless documentaries. With the BBC’s Blue Planet II really hitting… Read More >

29 June 2018

Jim Biddulph in conversation with Shahar Livne

With a specific focus on plastic, and the release of our short documentary Materials, Living with plastic this month, it seemed fitting to talk to a designer who has explored the material and speculated upon it’s changing impact. Israeli-born and Eindhoven based designer Shahar Livne is a graduate of the Man + Leisure program at… Read More >

29 June 2018

Material: Concrete with Jim Biddulph

Whilst there are various material ages of humankind, the Stone Age, Bronze Age and the Iron Age to name a few, there is one material that not only built an entire empire, but literally laid the foundations for all of those to come. That material is concrete; a composite discovered some 8500 years ago and… Read More >

1 June 2018

Jim Biddulph In Conversation with Relay

With almost 10 years experience in seeking out and representing some of the very best furniture, lighting and surfaces around, Relay Design Agency know a thing or two about design. Founded in 2009 by Neil Walsh and Richard Healy, the Spitalfields based agency is synonymous with elegant and contemporary products with a strong scandi inflexion…. Read More >

23 May 2018

Materials: A Clear View Of Glass

Whilst it’s difficult to accurately date the moment of creation of glass, like last months material of focus ceramic, the substance that we look through, onto and swipe on a daily basis is a truly ancient human invention. The 2 are closely related, sharing very similar constituent parts and production methods, as well as exuding… Read More >

8 May 2018

Raku with David Roberts

During March we have taken the opportunity to discus ceramics and I hope that you have already enjoyed watching our first materials short documentary on ceramics. In this article we will look at the ceramic technique of Raku, a Japanese lead-glazed pottery which is traditionally used in tea ceremonies based around the preparation of green tea…. Read More >

2 April 2018

Materials: The Making of Ceramics

This year Design Insider has decided to focus in on Materials, learning more about their history, the latest innovations and where we can see the material be used in the future, interviewing a variety of well established BCFA members which are advancing the manufacturing techniques, whether this be carpet manufacturers turning to digital from the… Read More >

23 March 2018

Turning the page on paper

Some 2000 years ago a material discovery was made. Paper was invented in China, with the earliest examples dating back as far as circa 180BC. Perhaps inspired by a similar material that was derived from the pressed and dried pith of papyrus plants, where its name actually stems from, paper is in fact made of… Read More >

1 March 2018