New Aesthetic for Materials

Aesthetics are not static, as this exhibition’s projects show.

A New Aesthetic for Materials compiles the results of the research projects ‘Ready’ and ‘From Fiber to Form’, both of which study whether material-driven design can help power the green transition towards a more sustainable textile industry and crystallise new ways of perceiving design.

The Ready research project develops design strategies through experimenting with recycled biogenic fibres. The ‘From Fiber to Form’ PhD project studies how the inherent colours of discarded textiles shape the aesthetic of non-woven materials.

Both projects provide new knowledge about material-based design processes and business models. They challenge predominant ideas of perfection and give prominence to the irregularities and varieties of materials as industrial design resources.

The projects present a radical shift of perspective towards re-imagining processes, aesthetics and material flows. In so doing, the projects propose new strategies which stake out a course towards a more sustainable future for textiles, based essentially on local sourcing, longer service life and reduced environmental impact.