• Launch of Ciba® IRGAZIN® DPP Cosmoray™ Orange
• Launch of Ciba® XYMARA™ Satin Black Pearl
• Color Trend Vision - Introduction
• MetalFX® printing technology

What material trends do you perceive in your market segment?

XYMARA.com’s editor-in-chief is interviewed in a special issue of form magazine devoted to materials trends, released this month, alongside issue #217. The issue, entitled Exciting Materials!, also contains features on Ciba^® IRGAZIN^® DPP Cosmoray™ Orange, Ciba^® XYMARA™ Satin Black Pearl, the Color Trend Vision Color Evolution Guide #1 and a page printed using MetalFX^® printing technology.

We are pleased to re-publish the contents of the article below, with kind permission from form.

By Le Vin Chin

There is a lot of development going on with multifunctional materials – which not only look good, but have other effects (e.g., protection, or specific membrane qualities, or altered coloration).

Metallic colors, especially silvers and chromes, have been “in” for a while and we expect this trend to continue, with further developments in two directions: a wider scope of metallic colors (brownish, reddish, bluish, yellowish metallic) and a wider range of materials (woods, plastics, leathers and other upholstery).

form #214

form #217

The concept of “authenticity” is ringing large with an accompanying return to “natural” materials - while still incorporating high–tech developments. We can see this, for example, in the use of wood. Wood is back, not only in its most raw, natural form, but also with innovative coatings which create novel surface effects.

One current buzzword is “tactile” and I expect to see a lot more play with materials which have a certain visual texture but a completely different tactile texture.

High-tech materials themselves are finding wider application as they start to meet performance (or price!) requirements. Included here are also electro-luminescent materials, novel conductive materials, and - the buzzword of the decade - “nano” materials.

Lastly, there continues to be a demand for environmentally sound materials as awareness and accountability increase.