Materials for Inspirational Design

How often do you pick up an object, and actually understand the materials that went into making it?

For Chris Lefteri, an industrial designer and now lecturer at Central St Martins, this curiosity has grown into a fascination about discovering everything about materials that make up our manufactured world. He investigates samples as a scientific or natural marvels; believing that understanding the magic of materials is fundamental to the design process. 

His book, ‘Materials for Inspirational Design’ is a 300 page encyclopedia of practical information, focussed on explaining the properties and applications of materials themselves. Chris explores categories such as ceramics, fibres, metals, plastics, wood and glass; providing historical context, explaining their properties and demonstrating their possibilities through a mixture of everyday, experimental and unexpected applications. Each page focuses on a different tangible surface, which, far from abstracted ideas of material science or theoretical education, are written in layman's terms, and grounded in concrete examples from the real world. 

Throughout you will find out what materials a Kaleidoscope is made from; how the world’s thinnest glass is manufactured; why the smell of wood is important. It is the kind of thing that lingers in your head and will pop back in when you least expect it. 

As a resource, Chris has referenced many suppliers from his research, such as where you might find grow-your-own plastic supplies; or the leading companies creating new forms of traditional materials. 

So for anyone interested in tangible surfaces, the material world, or wants to feed their own curiosities about objects in everyday life, this one is well worth having to dip into from the studio shelf. 

Related titles

Manufacturing Guide for Design Professionals - Rob Thompson

Making It - Chris Lefteri

Stuff Matters - Mark Miodownik