Material Matters: New Materials in Design
January 2011
By Phil Howes, Zoe Laughlin 

Material Matters: New Materials in Design explores the fascinating world of materials, surveying characteristics, properties and new applications of materials in diverse fields, from sustainable resources to medicine, architectural design to aeronautical engineering and interior design to ‘haute-culture’ and fashion. Material Matters profiles the most fascinating materials developed in recent years with full page profiles and colorful illustrations, examples include Aerogel or ‘frozen smoke’—used by NASA it is the lightest solid on earth at 95% air. Amongst the detailed profiles are texts that discuss the fusion between science, art and design in the creation of these substances and their importance within contemporary living, sustainability and expanding technologies. The book also includes the work of cutting edge designers Marc Newson, Ross Lovegrove, Apple, NASA, Intel, Ron Arad and household names.