Throughout 2023, we’ve listened to your questions at our seminars and roundtables, partner CPDs and lunch & learns. Across the board, a message from you - our community - has rang out, loud and clear: all of us in the built environment, together, must build better.
While we realise that sustainability is a complex arena of many moving parts, since Material Source first started, we’ve given a platform, and a voice, to those blazing a trail in developing bio and by-product based alternatives to the materials we rely upon every day. We feel it’s our responsibility to bring new, innovative materials of this nature to the fore. It’s in our DNA.
Starting tomorrow, we will do just this. Not all of the materials we share are market ready. Some are in their embryonic stage. But in highlighting their possibilities, our hope is that they – and others like them - will go on to be manufactured and secure the EPDs and certifications needed for specification, to help support a brighter future.
Over the next 24 days, we will move the agenda forward with 24 ideas for 2024.
There is no time like the present. We must act now.
This. Is. No. Longer. Speculative.
https://www.materialsource.co.uk/introducing-this-is-no-longer-speculative-24-bio-and-by-product-based-materials-for-2024/
#12monthsofMSS THANK YOU
You. Make. The. Magic. Happen.
And for this, we’d like to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for a fantastic first year of Material Source Studio.
12 months ago, we opened up a space that we’d created with you in mind. And you’ve truly made it your own.
We’d like to take the opportunity to wish you a Merry Christmas, and a bright and prosperous New Year.
We can’t wait to welcome you for what’s in store come 2023, but in the meantime, relax, stay warm, stay safe, and thank you once again for your support. It means everything to us.
Team MSS
#12monthsofMSS
#12monthsofMSS INNOVATION
Material and product development wouldn’t be possible without innovation. And at Material Source Studio, we’ve had plenty of innovators in our midst these past 12 months. As advocates of biomaterials, we dedicated our first exhibition, From The Ground Up, to championing and celebrating the designers pushing the boundaries of what’s possible and what’s coming next. This saw the bringing together of 22 trailblazing individuals’ and collectives’ work for display in our Gallery. We welcomed thousands of you through our doors to immerse yourselves in the imaginative array of pieces. And the exhibit even travelled to London for a pop up installation at Gensler’s European HQ. We also invited BIOHM’s Oksana Bondar to give a talk on the possibilities of a biomimetic future. Our current exhibition, A New Materials Horizon, features the intricate innovation of OPT Industries – a company that launched out of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). In addition, our Maker In Residence programme, in association with NOMA, has so far seen innovation in both material and form. And this is not to mention the continuous innovation from our partners. In 2023, expect more of the unexpected. #12monthsofMSS
#12monthsofMSS FUN
Today's #12monthsofMSS post puts a spotlight on fun. Because while all of the aforementioned elements of the Studio are important, this year has been made all the better for the laughter along the way. For this reason, all of ours and our partners’ events have mixed insight with socialising. And you’ve joined us for 189 of them over the past 12 months. From a demonstration on the 'endangered skill' that is neon sign making, to sushi masterclasses, LEGO competitions to gin tasting, and ending the year with a festive flourish of wreath making, the world-class brands that we're extremely proud to call partners have come up with engaging, fun and interactive ways to support you. Outside of these events, you’ve brought joy into the Studio on a day-to-day basis, and we’re honoured to have been the facilitators of friendships and genuine connections being formed. Using the word ‘community’ is one thing, but seeing it in action has been entirely another.
#12monthsofMSS SUSTAINABILITY
It goes without saying that #sustainability is crucial to the future of not just the built environment, but all sectors. And this is something that none of us take lightly. This year, we’ve put emphasis on the brands and designers that are truly working towards offering the most sustainable products and materials possible, following the Reduce, Reuse, Recycle methodology while ensuring there is no compromise on quality or aesthetics. As a collective community, there has been collaboration and cross-pollination to find better solutions. And our materialists have played their part in sharing insight into the latest products and materials on the market to suit your commercial interior projects. Tying into our insight-led ethos, sustainability will continue to underpin much of what we do here at the Studio in 2023, starting with our first MSS Presents seminar on 8th February. Get your RSVPs in now. #12monthsofMSS
#12monthsofMSS PARTNERS
Today’s #12monthsofMSS post is dedicated to our 40+ world-class partner brands. You’ve believed in our vision from the off, putting resource and imagination into making the built environment better for all. From your POD displays to magazine articles and events, you’ve offered our community the perfect balance of information and inspiration in bucketloads. From sustainable ways to view samples, to interactive tools to select colour palettes, and an unparalleled calendar of events, the way you’ve presented your brands this year has proven invaluable to fuelling the future of design.
#12monthsofMSS PRODUCTS
Our 40+ partners comprise the best set of built environment brands in the business. On entering Material Source Studio, you’ll find their latest products displayed in an accessible and useful way. We came up with our unique POD system, which facilitates mini installations complete with inspirational exhibits, room sets, mood boards, making processes and takeaway samples. Whether it’s furniture, tiles, floor or wall coverings, paint, technology, ironmongery or sanitaryware you’re looking for, you’ll always find a carefully curated collection of quarterly-changing products to inspire your specification journey. Not only have you browsed this selection over the last 12-months, but you’ve provided crucial feedback, which not only helps suppliers to tailor their offering to your needs, but has fed into a better built environment for all in the process. #12monthsofMSS
#12monthsofMSS MATERIALS
Texture. Provenance. Tone. Finish. Materials are crucial to the built environment. And, while the clue may be in our name, they’ve played a major role in our offering to you this year. We understand how important the specification of beautiful, sustainably-sound materials is to your craft. And to support this, we’ve scoured the globe to find the latest innovations across all disciplines, from wood to glass, wool to concrete, and clay to bio-based matter. This has inspired our Maker In Residence programme here in the Studio, in association with NOMA – so far exploring the possibilities of wood, concrete and biomaterials. And has sparked many of our website articles too. From Dutch Design Week to graduate design shows, we have our ears firmly to the ground so that whatever it is you’re seeking for your next project – no matter how outside the box - we can always support with the best possible solution. #12monthsofMSS
#12monthsofMSS Insight
When we originally presented the concept of Material Source Studio to you, Insight was a topic that came up time and time again. You were keen to hear discussion and debate around the topics most relevant to your practice. So in response we launched the MSS Presents seminar series. Hosted by Material Source Studio director, David Smalley, it brought together 23 expert panellists across 7 events. We also kicked off our MSS Asks programme, with 7 prolific thought leaders in the world of education - all pioneers in making positive change to both the learning and teaching experience, on a global scale - taking part in our Future of Education roundtable.
As part of our biomaterials exhibit, From The Ground Up, we held a celebratory event with a talk from Oksana Bondar, design director at BIOHM, one of the show's 22 exhibitors, on the possibilities of a biomimetic future, and how that might look. This exhibition also toured to London, taking up residence in Gensler’s European HQ. As anyone who's kept an eye on our What's On page will know, it's not just our own events that have proven popular, but also the packed programme of talks, workshops and lunch & learns from our 40+ partners, who have come up with engaging and interactive ways to support you, our community. And you’ve supported us by continuously coming along. Stay tuned to our website for more details of our 2023 events calendar. #12monthsofMSS
#12monthsofMSS
Students make up a crucial part of our community. You are our future. Over 1,000 of you - including scholars from local universities and colleges, and further afield, have joined us for Studio tours, dedicated events and to browse samples for your projects. We’ve hosted insightful workshops with industry professionals, such as CMF designer & author Laura Perryman’s colour talk for the Manchester Metropolitan University’s School of Art Unit X project – bringing together students from various disciplines to collaborate and skill share. And we’ve dedicated discussions to the future of educational design – putting your sector firmly in the spotlight. It’s been a pleasure to see so many of you complete your courses and enter practice – we launched our #NextGen magazine series to help aid this transition. As we approach 2023, education will continue to play an important role in the future of Material Source Studio. We look forward to supporting you in your next chapter.
#12monthsofmss
#12monthsofMSS
Our Community is the focus for day three of #12monthsofMSS. The people that make Material Source Studio the place it is are more than just occasional visitors. You’re a community. A collective of likeminded built environment professionals who share a common interest: making the world a more sustainable, interesting and functional place. From interior designers to architects, property developers to facilities managers, we’ve welcomed 5.6k of you from over 250 practices since opening our doors last year. With many of you – and more - featured on our website’s Interviews section. You’ve shared ideas, insight and plenty of laughs with us here at 1 Federation Street, and we can’t wait to welcome you for what’s in store come 2023.
#12monthsofMSS
For day two of our #12monthsofMSS celebration, we’re putting a spotlight on People. Because it’s the people that make the place. You’ve supported us by attending events – both ours and our partners’, you’ve dropped in for samples, worked from our Hub, visited our exhibitions and, sometimes, just popped in for a coffee and a chat. When you walk through our doors, our guarantee is that you’ll be greeted with a warm welcome from our fantastic team, while being surrounded by inspiration from our world-class partner brands.
When we came up with the concept for Material Source Studio, we asked what you wanted, and then listened and responded. And this is something we’ve continued to do over the past 12-months. For this reason we always knew MSS would be a useful space, but it couldn’t have become the hive of inspiration, innovation and collaboration it is today without you – the people that truly make it such a joy to run.
#innovation #inspiration #people
#12monthsofMSS
"The real magic happens when you bring people together" - stated a quote from Material Source Studio co-founder & creative director, Darren Clanford, in an interview six-months' in. Now six-months on, this sentiment still very much rings true as the Studio celebrates its first year in business.
After launching the 'industry-first' concept in November 2021 to a ready and waiting community of built environment professionals, the support surrounding Material Source Studio has been nothing short of phenomenal. And it's undoubtedly you - the people at its heart - that have made MSS a success.
Over the next 12 days, we’re celebrating #12monthsofMSS. Up first is Place – where the magic happens…
Two sleeps! #MaterialSourceStudio
It’s official 👀. Our doors are opening 22.11.21. We can’t wait to welcome you.
With the first Material Source Studio opening its doors in Manchester’s NOMA next month, we've got a few more partners to introduce you to. Meet Atkinson & Kirby, Brunner, Light Forms, Lutron and Pfleiderer: http://ow.ly/N37i50Giq5V
Meet the Material Source Studio partners
With the latest innovative products from 30+ global built environment brands, Material Source Studio in Manchester's NOMA will offer an unparalleled experience when it comes to specification. As we hurtle towards opening, meet more of our partners…Darwen Terracotta, Ege Carpets UK, Forbo, Panaz Fabrics & Wallcoverings, Oasis Plants & Whitebirk Sink Company
#materialsourcestudio #architecture #design #interiordesign #NOMA #Manchester #inspiration #materials #builtenvironment
First Material Source Studio to open its doors this autumn
We’ve got some hugely exciting news to share with you! This autumn, we will throw open the doors to our very first Material Source Studio, offering you an experience like no other. Our brand new 15,000sqft Manchester-based design destination will allow you to fully immerse yourself in ‘beautifully useful’ products and materials. Discover more:
https://www.materialsource.co.uk/first-material-source-studio-to-open-its-doors-in-manchester-/
#design #interiordesign #architecture #productdesign #furnituredesign #materials #biomaterials #brandnew #openingsoon
