"Metallic wood" is as strong as titanium but five times lighter
University of Pennsylvania engineers have altered a sheet of nickel to produce a material they call "metallic wood", which is extremely strong and light. More
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Tessa Spierings' tactile sound system explores the acoustic properties of materials
Spierings' Echo combines bespoke speakers with removable tubes made of different materials that can be used to alter the properties of the music played by the system. More
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Tom Dixon unveils "mysterious" marbled material called Swirl
Tom Dixon has designed a collection of candle holders and bookends, made from a newly developed material that resembles three-dimensional marbled paper. More
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Margarita Talep develops algae-based alternative to single-use plastic packaging
Chile-based designer Margarita Talep has created a sustainable, biodegradable alternative to single-use packaging, using raw material extracted from algae. More
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Bastian Beyer uses bacteria to calcify knitting into construction materials
London-based architect and designer Bastian Beyer's project explores the potential of using knitted textile structures that have been biologically solidified as sustainable construction materials. More
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The Guardian newspaper switches from plastic to biodegradable wrapping
UK national newspaper The Guardian has scrapped its polythene packaging in favour of a compostable wrapping made from potato starch, in a bid to reduce its plastic waste. More
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BMW and North Face debut futuristic Futurelight camper concept at CES
BMW's creative division Designworks has teamed up with The North Face to design a futuristic camper concept, which utilises nanospinning technology to shelter its inhabitants from extreme weather conditions. More
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Nir Meiri makes sustainable lamps from mushroom mycelium
London-based designer Nir Meiri has created a series of table lamps using mushroom mycelium, as an alternative to synthetic materials. More
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Columbia University researchers create 3D-printed "wood" with realistic internal grain
Engineers at Columbia University have 3D-printed a block of "digital wood", using a voxel technique that enables the creation of objects with rich internal textures. More
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Tim Teven creates Recycling Reject furniture from paper-recycling waste
Design Academy Eindhoven graduate Tim Teven has developed a process for making furniture and building blocks using the waste separated from paper fibre during the recycling process. More
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Dezeen's top 10 innovative materials of 2018
Designers experimented with unusual materials throughout 2018, from innovative new products to waste. Design editor Augusta Pownall picks out 10 of the best for our review of the year. More
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Rowan Minkley and Robert Nicoll recycle potato peelings into MDF substitute
London-based designers Rowan Minkley and Robert Nicoll use waste potato peelings to create an eco-friendly alternative to single-use materials like MDF and chipboard, called Chip[s] Board. More
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Don Kwaning's Lino Leather is a vegan alternative to leather
Designer Don Kwaning has developed a new material, called Lino Leather, that emulates the texture of leather for interior and furniture design. More
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Novameat develops 3D-printed vegan steak from plant-based proteins
Italian bioengineer Giuseppe Scionti from Spanish startup Novameat has invented the "world's first" 3D-printed meat-free steak made from vegetable proteins, which mimics the texture of beef. More
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Plasticiet produces terrazzo-like material from recycled plastic
Dutch startup Plasticiet aims to create "something of value" from recycled plastic for use in interior and furniture design. More
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Yesenia Thibault-Picazo crafts objects from precious materials of the future
London-based designer Yesenia Thibault-Picazo has created three household objects for the anthropocene era, using materials she believes will be used by craftsmen hundreds of years in the future. More
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Oskar Metsavaht makes sustainable fashion garments from Amazonian fish skin
Brazilian designer Oskar Metsavaht has repurposed the skins from the pirarucu fish found in Amazonian rivers and lakes by transforming it into sustainable scaly garments and fashion accessories. More
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Zaha Hadid Architects and ETH Zurich debut concrete pavilion with 3D-knitted formwork
A double-curved concrete shelled pavilion, constructed using a 3D-knitted formwork developed by Zaha Hadid Architects and ETH Zurich, has gone on display in Mexico City. More
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Christopher Farr launches two patterned textiles from the Anni Albers archive
British textile brand Christopher Farr celebrates Bauhaus pioneer Anni Albers with its latest range of rugs and fabric designs. More
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Five materials that could help us design a more sustainable future
Designer Seetal Solanki has released a book exploring natural and manmade materials that could be used to reduce human impact on the planet. In a Dezeen exclusive, she picks out five of the most innovative examples. More
