What are the factors faced by designers for a design that contributes to the wellbeing of both people and the planet? How can designers make informed decisions about material properties? What new innovations, such as bio-based materials, are offering exciting options? Learn from our COMMON GROUND Symposium speakers as they reflect on materials, their impact on design and the environment.
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Highlighting our shared role in shaping a more resilient and regenerative world, the second session of COMMON GROUND Symposium explored a holistic approach to the materials we use in design. Titled “Selecting Materials for Design,” the session featured Designer and Founder of Natural Material Studio, Bonnie Hvillum, Industrial Designer and Founder of Tej Chauhan Studio, Tej Chauhan, former Managing Director of Material Bank Europe, Philippe Brocart, and Senior Designer at IKEA, Marcus Arvonen.

The Challenge

Designers are increasingly embracing sustainable materials focusing on minimising the environmental impact of material extraction, processing and disposal. By understanding the material qualities that resonate with us in everyday objects, can designers create products that not only reduce waste, but also contribute to a more regenerative future and what is holding us back?

Investigating the intricate world of materials and their profound impact on design, each speaker shared stories and discoveries that shed light on the bigger picture, where mindsets and processes are shifting, and where there’s room for improvement.

Inspired by the fluidity we see in cultural shifts, the way everything informs and influences in a dynamic system, Hvillum believes these shifts can also inform our choices in terms of architecture and design too.

“We can reframe understanding of circularity, if we start with the material rather than the product. Starting with the material we can design with a starting point from the local resources available. In this way we emphasize the question of how nature can inform and influence our designs in a more holistic way.” _{– Bonnie Hvillum}

Hvillum’s point was exemplified in her installation ‘White Utopia’ at the 3daysofdesign HUB at District Refshaleøen. It was Natural Material Studio’s most complex and ambitious installation to date challenging the boundaries of its Procel bioplastic, which is handcrafted and developed by the studio.

In an ideal world, from Chauhan’s perspective, clients would embrace the long-term attributes of materials over other choice criteria:

“How do we convince one to pick one product over another? Material selection is part of that journey, especially when trying to connect with a broad audience. Our original ambitions as designers are sometimes compromised beyond recognition by decisions mainly around the fear of the untried or tested, cost etc. We then become complicit in delivering products which don't relate to the original vision. In an ideal future, clients would come to designers committed to change, willing to collaborate and explore uncharted materials and processes for the long-term good.” _{– Tej Chauhan}

There’s hope on the horizon, because more people are searching for sustainable materials and what’s best for the planet. In Brocart’s experience:

“When architects and designers use Material Bank one of the top search is sustainability. It is a jungle to understand the properties of materials, their short-and long-term impact, the trade-offs choosing one material over another. However, people are looking for the right materials for their projects, they want to choose the best materials with minimum impact for the planet, and they are educating themselves along the way every day.” _{– Philippe Brocart}

Optimistic about the future, Arvonen can already see a change in thinking towards more eco-conscious choices, with more designs being made from recycled materials:

“We would all like an immediate revolution, but change takes place over time. More and more products today are designed from second or third generation materials with circularity - repairability, remanufacturing, disassembly and recyclability - in mind. We are keeping more and more materials in the loop, but more can be done and faster.” _{– Marcus Arvonen}

Finding common ground

This session offered insight into how thoughtful material selection and use can elevate our experiences while having minimal impact on the planet. Through anecdotes and examples speakers showcased the transformative potential of material to evoke emotion, shift cultural values, and drive sustainability.  

The entire session delved even deeper into materials, offering insights as to how thoughtful material selection and use can elevate our experiences while minimising impact on the planet. Including discussions about the transformative potential of materials to evoke emotions, shift cultural values, and drive the sustainability agenda forward.  

Interested in more materials? Watch designer Francisco Gomez Paz as he discusses materials and design with Dezeen’s editorial director, Max Fraser, at District Refshaløen - a 3daysofdesign district dedicated to materials.

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Learn more about our speakers from our ‘Selecting Materials for Design’ session

Bonnie Hvillum

Founder and Creative Director of Natural Material Studio, Danish designer Hvillum operates in a cross-section of art, design, research and architecture. Seen in her extensive, multi-disciplinary approach to installations, commissions and consultancy centred around bio-based materials.
naturalmaterialstudio.com

Tej Chauhaun

Dividing his time between offices in London and Helsinki, British-born Chauhaun explores the potential of everyday consumer products and technology to be more sympathetic and emotionally connective in his practice, Tej Chauhan Studio.
tejchauhan.com

Philippe Brocart

Brocart is a French businessman involved with design, responsible for the launch of Material Bank in Europe, the world's largest marketplace for searching, sampling and specifying design and architectural materials. Prior to his role as Managing Director of Material Bank Europe, he was CEO of Maison&Objet. Philippe now operates as an advisor to Material Bank among others.
materialbank.eu

Marcus Arvonen

Inspired by designs and pattern formations found in nature, Swedish Arvonen works primarily with wood, metal and post-consumer recycled plastic. As a Senior Designer at IKEA, having joined the company in 2005, Arvonen is keen on encouraging people to see their role in making responsible choices.
ikea.com

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COMMON GROUND Symposium was hosted by 3daysofdesign in collaboration with IKEA Denmark. Innovators, designers and thought-leaders explored ways sustainable design practices can be more inclusive, equitable and protective of the planet. Moderated by Veronica D’Souza, social entrepreneur and keynote speaker on design, impact and inclusivity, we organised four sessions spanning a variety of pertinent topics, such as social sustainability, ESGs, materials and what good design really means.