Materials libraries

*That’s a peculiar article; it’s like a materials library for ideas about materials libraries.

http://www.digicult.it/news/material-addicts-when-open-access-becomes-a-cult/

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” ”Material Libraries” dedicated to design and architecture have thus delivered significant results. Some of them are: Material Connexion (materialconnexion.com), Materia (materia.nl), Materialbiblioteket (materialbiblioteket.se), Design inSite (designinsite.dk), IdeMat (www.idemat.nl), Materials Library (materialslibrary.org.uk). Their success owes much to the content offer, specifically designed with a view to design, combining technical performance with formal, perceptive and environmental qualities, whose application is useful in design-oriented domains. The language of these platforms, the type of communication and graphics are cleverly designed to be able to be perceived as relating to the project’s sphere, as opposed to traditional technical-scientific contributions.

“Other than collections of materials on the web, many of these “material libraries” are also places of consultation, display and interface between designers and materials. Contexts in which you can enjoy a direct and multi-sensory fruition of materials.
 Other than being places where various materials can be selected and all possible information can be acquired without having to refer to individual companies, “material libraries” often present themselves as opportunities for contemplation, almost places of worship, with a strong emotional and inspiring potential for a new generation of “material addicts” designers.

“For a designer, a visit to the New York office of Material Connexion, which offers access to over 7000 innovative materials, is an unforgettable experience, through which to appreciate the magnificence of “making”, the infinite variety of shades and opportunities of translating design theories to subject. Some of the mentioned “materials libraries” are important hubs promoting meetings, exhibitions, competitions aimed at stimulating, engaging and “encouraging” innovation processes shared among designers, scientists and manufacturers of materials. Intersection hubs foreshadowing future scenarios of new forms in the real world….”