Plastics: Materials for Inspirational Design

A book exploring the use of plastic materials and their application within the context of product design. It develops my particular research based on how materials can be presented to designers in a way that provides a greater understanding of their properties and application in design in an original format.

The originality of the book comes from the presentation of information, which in all other cases is delivered to designers in a way that does nothing to aid the implementation of materials in the design process. There are also countless industrial websites but nothing that acts as research tool and a comprehensive resource. The focus of the research was exploring the presentation of materials in a visual format that attempts to evoke the essential visual characteristics of specific materials. The use of language is intentionally informal and draws on a variety of sources to provide information on a level which is relevant to this specific reader.

Selection of content was based around deconstructing and re-evaluating established and everyday materials that occur in the common practice of design, with information presented using elements of layout, language and image, to create a mechanism for objective interpretation by the reader. Information draws on a number of sources and experts within the materials field to enhance the knowledge that is available to the design community. This is achieved by providing key references, sources and suggestions for ways that new materials can be implemented within a project and the scope they offer to enhance the design process.

Chris Lefteri

Research Interests

Materials in the context of contemporary design, authored books, design and architecture

Current Research

The aim of the research is to enhance knowledge and understanding of a range of materials within the context of contemporary design. Initially this has taken the form of four books which discuss the use of specific materials within design and architecture. To pursue a range of projects that explore new ways that materials can be catagorised, documented and made available to the Design Community.

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