This February, Surface Design Show 2022 returned to the Business Design Centre in the heart of London. Following a turbulent two years, the exhibition provided the design community with the perfect opportunity to share and inspire, celebrating the design feats that have emerged, and exploring the direction in which the industry is moving. Delving into our passion for materials, we visited the show to discover the innovative surfaces and upcoming trends. Here are our top picks.
The expectation on designers to protect the planet and develop sustainable materials has continued to grow, with the pandemic highlighting the role that nature has to play on our health and wellbeing. Surface Design Show demonstrated this continued environmental commitment, with a wealth of materials produced with reused waste. Through technological advances, exhibitors displayed these new developments and demonstrated the path towards a circular economy.
Transforming urban waste into sustainable and unique artefacts, Blast Studio employ 3D printing technology to save waste from landfill, creating something beautiful in the process. Founded in 2018, this design studio is still in its infancy but is certainly one to watch as they continue to evolve, using robots to reimagine discarded materials into new artefacts and architecture.
Blast Studio
While Blast Studio works with urban waste, Ottan Studios opts for agricultural and garden waste as their founding material. Offering sustainable alternatives to wood, stone and marble, Ottan’s multifaceted collection of surfaces can be used in a range of areas, from wall decor to within the automotive industry. Promoting diversity through design, the variety of materials offers designers the creative freedom to find their perfect interior match.
Ottan Studio
Continuing the trend for repurposing waste, Jessica Turnbull combines deadstock with donated yarn, ensuring each creation reflects her passion for sustainability and a circular economy. Producing a versatile collection of patterned materials, Jessica takes inspiration from architectural references of the urban landscape, focusing on a clean and elegant aesthetic that is rooted in a single harmonious bond between two colours. Combining fibres based on their behaviours to create a structural knit the resulting material has a playful nature that stimulates movement.
Jessica Turnbull
As the design community continues to commit to reducing wastage, it’s exciting to imagine how waste will be transformed in the future. The materials featured here show the fantastic accomplishments that are possible and that through dedication and innovation, we can all work towards a more sustainable future.
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