• Blog from 100% Design London 2007
• Review of Material Vision 2007

By Ania Dardas

Look, touch, feel, and functional characteristics: materials today have to fulfil a broad range of requirements. The Material Vision trade show, being held as part of nanotech and material week at Messe Frankfurt in Frankfurt am Main, November 22-23, provides a platform for the latest in materials for industrial design as well as materials technologies. The show is aimed at product developers, industrial designers and architects who will be able to visit the stands of more than 60 industrial companies. The show is complemented by the Material Vision conference on November 22 with an all day line-up of top speakers. The subjects under discussion range from the significance and work of a materials specialist within a design office, renewable raw materials for exhibition architecture, miniaturisation and sandwich materials, to Myto - Konstantin Grcic's cantilever chair made entirely out of BASF's Ultradur^® High Speed - as well as biomimetic materials and how they can be applied.

Myto

This trade show revolves around lateral thinking, networking and discussion to give all the parties involved the opportunity to explore possible areas and methods of application for new materials.

Steel shade from Dominique Perrault

A fascinating part of the trade show is the Design Plus Award, which has selected 30 outstanding products. Among them, the kettle from Heat Concepts, IDEO, in the shape of a glass carafe and made out of a technical plastic developed by BASF. The material is so heat resistant that no handle is necessary. This plastic is particularly suitable for applications with temperatures that go up to 220°C, as the exterior of the object never heats up. There is also a contribution from Tupperware France S.A. called Full Contact. These are containers that can go directly from -25° to 160°C, from deep freeze to microwave thanks to a flexible lid of resistant silicone and valves that allow steam to escape into the microwave while the contents are being warmed.

Softwall by Molo Design

From polymers, metals and glass, through surface coatings and processes to stone, composites, nano materials and smart fabrics, Material Vision will raise questions and perhaps also find some answers to the use of materials in new, intelligent products.

Ultradur is a registered trademark of BASF AG