Monocle on Design

Is the materials industry changing for the better?

00:00 / 00:00

9 March 2021

Episode 491

30 minutes

Photo: Courtesy of Spinnova

Materials are fundamental to any design project but in the quest for more sustainable buildings and products, they’re taking on even greater importance than ever before. From an eco-friendly sample platform to chemical-free textile fibres and an innovative new marquetry material, we explore how the industry is changing.

9 March 2021

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Chapter 1

9 minutes

Photo: Courtesy of Material Bank

Chapter 1

Material Bank

Media entrepreneur Adam Sandow discusses Material Bank, an innovative new platform to streamline the sample-sourcing process for designers and architects while reducing waste at the same time.

9 minutes

Chapter 2

3 minutes

Photo: Courtesy of Spinnova

Chapter 2

Spinnova

We find out how Finnish textile fibre-maker Spinnova produces fibres from waste and wood.

3 minutes

Chapter 3

11 minutes

Photo: Courtesy of Fernando Laposse

Chapter 3

Totomoxtle

Totomoxtle, a marquetry material made from corn husks, is in development under the careful eye of Mexican designer Fernando Laposse. He sat down with us to discuss the beauty and variance found in this natural material.

11 minutes

Chapter 4

7 minutes

Photo: Flashpacker Travelguide/ FLICKR

Chapter 4

Design Dispatch: Uruguay

Monocle’s Latin America affairs correspondent Lucinda Elliott gives us an update on the latest design news from Montevideo.