MDE
- MATERIAL EXHIBITION DESIGN 2018
Initiated in 2015 by a group of product designers, the Material Design Exhibition represents a collaborative platform where manufacturers and designers join forces to explore unconventional applications of materials through a designer’s lens. This exhibition goes beyond merely presenting new uses, it reveals how material possibilities uncovered through creative experimentation can serve as sparks of inspiration, offering solutions to challenges across diverse projects.
For the 2018 edition, the collaboration between Mitsubishi Chemical and SYD delved into the untapped potential of elastomers, materials widely used in industrial settings but rarely examined for their aesthetic and functional duality. The research focused on merging the material’s inherent stretch-induced deformations with its light-transmissive properties, culminating in a series of experimental objects including containers, lighting, and stools.
The lighting piece redefined 3D printing constraints by strategically flipping sections of the printed elastomer to form self-supporting cavities that house the light sources, thus eliminating the need for additional structural supports while enhancing luminous diffusion. Meanwhile, the stool innovated seating comfort through graded infill density, adjusting the material’s firmness across different zones to mirror the body’s natural pressure points.
