..

Chaméléon Materials exhibition available now

As we move through a period of uncertainty economically, which ultimately can affect production, sales and the ability to make conscious long-term decision, there is a perpetual requirement to stay actively afloat and not sink by staying lead footed to the same point. Some say that smaller companies, although more susceptible to suffer from a downturn, are those that will have the ability to move the most efficiently and quickly with the changing times as opposed to the larger juggernaut sized companies that try and maintain out-dated working systems.  While the human world deals with what we perceive as crisis in waves and troughs, many animals face threats every day from potential predators, weather conditions and terrain.

Over time and through evaluation though, many animals have developed natural forms of defence or survival techniques.  One of the most visibly apparent examples of this is the Chameleon, a distinctive and highly specialized type of lizard.  Some, but not all, chameleons have the ability to change the colour of their skin as to blend into their surroundings and camouflage themselves from potential predators or prey.  This transformational ability and many more such as the possibility to cause change under the influence of electricity, light, water or movement to materials with varied optical effects can be found in Nordic Materials latest exciting and relevant Chameleon Material Exhibition.  From examples of use in the fashion and textile industry to materials that have been used for full building facades, Chaméléon is an up to date insight into a field related to the Biomimicry field many are exploring at present.

Click here to find out more details on rental or other related Nordic Materials products that could feed your interests in new and innovative materials.

Chaméléon Materials exhibition available to rent now

photos: © 2009 Nordic Materials

Leopards That Can Change Spots

While delving through our online digital resource as part of research for the latest exhibition Nordic Materials have available to rent, Chaméléon, we found a mass of exciting materials, initiatives and objects that followed the exhibition’s theme. From materials that could change under the influence of electricity, light, water or movement to materials with varied optical effects, there was a large amount of examples of their practical and aesthetic uses throughout.

Uses of Chaméléon materials we found during our research ranged from full building facades to microscopic changes that bared little impact to the eye but, served an important practical use.  An example of the latter can be found in Klimeo’s heat-regulating textiles which, combine the natural heat-regulating properties of Australian merino wool with micro-encapsulation technology.  The unique process ensures that the person wearing a Kimeo garment maintains a level and comfortable temperature throughout the duration of their use.  The high technical performance of this material means it can be used not only in the fashion industry but, even the automobile industry where high-performance materials are essential due to safety needs.  A more visible and interactive Chaméléon material we found was Modulor’s kinetic 3d-film.  A material that mirrors the effect of the shiny stickers many of us used to fervently seek out to fill our sticker albums during our youth, or for some still today.  The film has a layered honeycomb structure which, allows for the impression of depth and distortion to be accentuated or appear deformed - ideal to catch the eye of passer by.  The aesthetic nature of this material again lends itself to a more fashion related use such as  curtains, bags or for accessories and decoration.

photo: © 2009 Modulor

Making It With Metal Waves

We recently had the pleasure of introducing a high-school intern into the world of innovation and design for one week of work experience at Transplant.  In the duration of her week´s experience she learned about each individual´s role in Transplant and how they combined to make an end product.  To enhance the learning experience and understanding of the design process we developed a design brief and tutored her along the way, culminating in a presentation of the final design in the Nordic Materials library. It was exciting to watch as our intern learned about creative processes and realized the elements of design that she enjoyed the most.  The final product was a fashion garment and took influence from the surrounding landscape of sculptural green hills and deep blue fjords.

The choice of materials varied from decorative and high-end textiles such as Swarovski´s Crystal Mesh, a product of the CRYSTALLIZED™ - Swarovski Elements assortment, to Naturtex’s Plata and Marino fibers, normally used with fabric and rugs. While the material choices varied in aesthetic they were all based on metal mesh structures, perhaps testament to the hard with smooth landscape the design was influenced by.  It was also interesting that at a time when the haptic quality of materials is becoming more of a necessity than a fascination, materials normally seen as more rough and less touchable such as metal could be used for a delicate and styled garment. Another example of metal mesh finding haptic qualities could be found in the use of LED´s in Haver & Boecker’s new LED system ‘Imagic Weave‘ which incorporates LED profiles to the reverse of the metal wire mesh allowing users to create attractive indoor or outdoor lighting effects.  This material is also a recent arrival to Nordic Materials material library.

photo: © 2009 Swarovski

.

Recycled Audio Tape Finds a New Coat of Arms

At Nordic Materials we are constantly monitoring the material market and keeping in touch with what is happening in the world of materials.  Recently, during research, we discovered a charming material that showed the possibilities of reuse of rejected products.  Design Tex’s ‘Sonic Fabric’ was initially developed by the multi-media sound artist Alyce Santoro to finally be used as a dress for musician Jon Fisherman to wear and play on during a performance. It’s made entirely from old cassette tape.  While this material may not, at present, have great technological capabilities it is a good example of how we can think of product after-life.  As the realization that many of the new products released into the global market (one every three minutes in 2008) cannot find a home for life, it is important to understand that they cannot just be thrown away and added to already oversubscribed landfill sites.

‘Sonic Fabric’ was also recently displayed in a glamorous manner through the fashion designs of former pro skater Pierre Andre Senizergues.  Senizergues’s main piece for his most recent collection is a suit produced with the recycled cassette tape material.  An article about the collection and use of the material featured in seminal culture and fashion magazine Dazed and Confused.  Read it here.  You can also see the material in use as part of the ‘Fabric for Thought’ sustainable fashion exhibition at Koldinghus in Denmark from May 7 until September 6 this year.

photo: © 2009 Alyce Santoro

.

Sustainable Design as a Tool of Progression

‘Eighty percent of the environmental impact of today’s products, services and infrastructures is determined at the design stage.  Design therefore has an enormous impact on resource efficiency in our economy, and can make a critical contribution in the transition to sustainability.’
John Thackara, Director of Doors of Perception

Sustainable decisions may no longer be seen as a burden for companies to mull over or avoid.
Under pressure from new legislation (within individual countries and collectively) and with the guidance of the many ‘green-minded’ initiatives sprouting up around the globe, companies are enforced to no longer sweep the sustainable option to one side.  In fact, the act of embracing a more sustainable attitude to business should not be seen as a marketing buff, but an investment for increased earnings.  Initiatives such as Giraffe Innovation in the United Kingdom, a leading Eco-Design consultancy, are testament to the progress sustainable action can bring.

Up to now Giraffe Innovation have identified over £23 million of potential savings for British companies through a simple re-evaluation of their production process. Giraffe are not only guiding other companies on a consultancy basis but, they are also leading the way with their development of the first commercially available electrical goods, a Ferrari and Meridian branded hi-fi, manufactured using recycled material, HIPS (high impact polystyrene).  Another example of a company using innovation in sustainable choices, and achieving financial results, can be found with the DuPont company.  A larger organization than Giraffe Innovation, worth $25 billion in 2008, DuPont have saved nearly $3 billion over a period of around 20 years as the result of reducing carbon emissions.  Since 1990 they have reduced their global greenhouse gas emissions measured as C02 equivalents by 72%.

Whether companies choose to invest their own time in embracing and initiating change or involve the guidance and expertise offered by Eco-Initiatives or consultancies, will be a decision to take and not ponder.  At Nordic materials we offer the opportunity to share our knowledge and permanent research about sustainable materials and processes through Material Days and Material Dossiers.   For more information regarding these services or an answer to your queries please email us or call directly to Nordic Materials headquarters +47 577 355 96.

photo: © 2009 Nordic Materials

..

Growing Materials exhibition available now

From human kind’s initial forays into a world of materials to today’s hi-tech material advancements,   wood has been utilized as a material to hunt, survive, build and grow with.  It is testament to this material that even through today’s technological and scientific possibilities we are still using wood as a material and uncovering new properties in it that can improve everyday objects.   From strengthening of normally weak and unusable parts of a tree using techniques such as polymerization it is possible to breathe new life into what already exists and is readily available without a great environmental cost.

” The most recent research work makes it possible to use wood, and also other plant fibres, in ways and for purposes we could hardly have imagined even a few years ago.  Some of the noteworthy future technologies we can mention are heat-modified wood, welded wood, extrusible and sprayable wood-polymer composites, and supple or malleable wood.  All of these materials are presented in an exhibition entitled ‘Growing Materials’.  This is a unique opportunity for artists, designers and everyone who uses this multi-facetted material to discover it - or should I say to rediscover it.”
Jean-Marc Barbier, Design & Innovation Department, FCBA

Nordic Materials proudly presents the material exhibition ‘Growing Materials’, available to rent immediately and featuring more than 150 cutting edge innovative wood and wood fiber based materials.  Click here to find out more details on rental or other related Nordic Materials products that could feed your interests in new and innovative materials.

Growing Materials exhibition available to rent now

photos: © 2009 Nordic Materials

..

New Prototype exhibition available from Nordic Materials

Not many technological developments available to aide product development have evoked and stirred designers and engineers alike in the manner rapid prototyping has.  A technique and process that became available in the late 1980s as a response to a need for time efficient and precision manufacturing at a low cost, it has developed into a solution for not only product development but, also final production of quality parts in small numbers and a medium of expression for some artists that want to produce complex shapes. Through processes such as stereolithography, fused depostition modeling, powder sintering, 3D printing, metal powder melting and post-cure treatment, rapid prototyping has the ability to create imaginary scenarios in a 3D format.  From being an indispensable tool for those needing to envisage dangerous scenarios on oil rigs in the oil and gas industry to the designer who wants to know the limitation of a form at a certain angle, rapid prototyping makes it possible to achieve a comprehensive view of a product in terms of its shape, weight, appearance, capabilites and mechanical properties.

One relevant and contemporary example of rapid prototyping providing not only a selective view of a product in development but, a final finished piece and an insight into the possibilities of this particular technique is a range of furniture from the Swedish design collective Front.  Using a technique that the Front members developed themselves they are able to materialize free hand sketches from a pen directly into a finished 3D form.  Pen strokes are captured in action by Motion Capture technology, a technique usually used for animation, and automatically transformed into 3D digital files that are readable by rapid prototyping technology.  The captured 3D digital files can then be materialized through rapid prototyping into real pieces of furniture.  The materialization process involves a laser beam building up the inputted 3D form  layer by layer within a liquid plastic material.  After a few hours the final form is finished and ready to be treated.  While Front´s Sketch furniture range may communicate more through the production process rather than the final product´s function and performance, it is a significant example of the increasing commercial possibilities of rapid prototyping.  Indeed, it has been suggested that in the near future it will be possible for individual consumers to not only select and order products such as furniture online  but, to watch as their very own 3D printer materializes their selection before their eyes.

It may seem far-fetched to imagine such scenarios such are the limitations of such a process at this early stage of it´s development but, what is certain is that for a process that has been developed for a relatively short space of time rapid prototyping is an exciting and indispensable tool in the product development process.  If you are captivated and would like to learn more about rapid prototyping through physical samples, finished products, learning aides such as text, photos and explanatory diagrams  and access to a directory of service providers and machine manufacturers then we recommend you or your associated institute have a look into the possibilities of renting Prototype, our dedicated rapid prototype exhibition available to rent from April 2009. Click here to find out more details on rental or other related Nordic Materials products that could feed your interests in new and innovative materials.

Prototype exhibition available from April 2009

photos: © 2009 Nordic Materials

.

Vestnes Ocean is an experienced maritime interior builder and the initiator of the Willy furniture collection. We felt that the maritime furniture available on the market lacked an understanding of the living conditions on-board vessels. Willy, is the result of a strong knowledge of the boat industry and contemporary design skills. The designers Ralston & Bau,
introduced simple shapes, new materials and techniques to make user friendly furniture.”

“Low drawers are rounded, providing more floor-space for the feet and doors are soft, to make corners inoffensive. The furniture shapes are inspired by the famous orca Willy, who lived happily in a fjord
close to Florø on the west coast of Norway, where Vestnes Innredning is located. We wish you
a pleasant life in the company of Willy.” Jonny Bjørnset, Vestnes CEO.

After the concept sketching phase, we visualized the whole Willy range through 3D scale models in order to aide agreement with the project group over every detail. This also made it possible for us to visualize the functionality of the whole space.

The series has simple shapes and through the use of new materials and smart functions we created user-friendly, space optimized furniture.

The Willy furniture is designed in three series in different colour and material options for the sofa,
the wardrobe and drawers, the desk and table, the shelves and bed. An interior collection has also been designed to fit with the furniture. It comes in two colours and material options for the textiles, floors
and walls in each series.

The maritime furniture collection Willy was presented for the first time to the public in June 2007 at
the International Shipping and Maritime Exhibition and Conference NORSHIPPING in Oslo, Norway.

www.vestnesocean.com

Name: Willy
Mission: Maritime Furniture & Interior Collection
Client: Vestnes Innredning
Period: 2005-2008
Delivery: concept development, interior design, furniture design and development, strategy
See also: Willy - Identity & Fairstand

photos: © 2009 Vegard Fimland for Vestnes Ocean.

From top to bottom: View in pullman cabin / Willy pullman bed, sofa, desk and locker.

The Gentle Touch

We created Sens Unik as a Material Day that focused on how materials influence our senses.   The event took place earlier this year at our design and innovation center, Transplant, in the Sogn og Fjordane region of Norway  To stimulate the minds of participants and increase the sensory quality of their projects Sens Unik introduced participants to more than 50 materials and methods of integration of sensory criteria for the development of innovative products.  Contributors to this Material Day represented fields as diverse as art, food and product development. Below you can see a resume of the contributors and details of the actual event;

Lars Sture / ‘Artist’ A craft based artist of merit, Sture discussed his intimate relationship working and living with materials.  The unique materiality of combinations such as paper jewelery, sewn wood and more…

Ole John Berntsen / ‘Pastry Chef’ Voted best Pastry Chef in Norway in 2008, Berntsen created a unique degustation of unexpected tastes for participants and fellow contributors to explore and sample.

Stokke / ‘Manufacturers and Designers of Children’s furniture’ A global enterprise dedicated to the design, development and production of furniture for children.  Stokke transmitted their knowledge of senses by discussing how they apply it to their industrial process and how it relates to furniture.

Name: Sens Unik
Mission: Material Day
Client/s: Variér, FuggiBaggi, Zinc
Duration: one day
Delivery: workshop theme, speakers, visual communication of event

Click here to find out more details about “Material Days”.

Click here to book your very own Material Day.

..

Colours that make a difference

In 2008 we proposed to Denmark’s innovation and design institute ID Forum a desire to create a unique round table event about aspects of design that went beyond just being another product.  As a result of our joint discussions, we developed and proposed a Material Day exploring the related themes of colours, textiles and packaging.  The Material Day was called Colour Matters and included established professional guest actors such as colour pallette specialists NCS and exciting Oslo based  design studio Sukker Design.  The scheduled event included headline themes related to colour choice in design such as  ‘Do You Ever Get the Right Colour?’, ‘Cutting Edge Innovative Materials & Processes’, ‘We Give Colours a New Dimension!’ and ‘Let’s Put Colour in Context’.  Below is a brief resume of some of our collaborators for this event, the headline themes they communicated and the actual schedule;

NCS / ‘Do You Ever Get the Right Colour?’ One way to strengthen your brand is to address your target group with the exact right colour on products, packaging or marketing.  NCS provides world leading accuracy by offering you the right colour on any material, anywhere, anytime.

MERCK Pigments / ‘We Give Colours a New Dimension!’ Merck pigments for coatings, cosmetic, printing, plastic, security, food and drinks.  There are almost no limits to where you can apply and use their colour effect pigments.  Merck pigments make your product more unique

Nordic Materials / ‘Cutting Edge Innovative Materials & Proccesses’ At present Nano-technology allows for the implanting of high performance fragrance memories into textiles.  Now it is time for colours and more technical pigments. Nordic Materials  will examine the best current and future possibilities of these cross-over examples.  Nordic Materials founder Alexandre Bau and Material Girl Karina Siegmund  upgrade participants  knowledge and guide them from concept to product by brainstorming and coaching.

Name: Colour Matters
Mission: Material Day, Denmark
Client: ID Forum
Duration: two days
Delivery: workshop theme, speakers, visual communication of event

Click here to find out more details about “Material Days”.

Click here to book your very own Material Day.