Collaborations and installations at Material Matters 2023
After last year’s hugely successful debut, the Material Matters fair will return to Bargehouse, Oxo Tower Wharf during the London Design Festival. The fair, which runs from 20-23 September (Wednesday to Saturday), will bring together world-leading brands, designers, makers, and innovators to investigate and celebrate the importance of materials and their ability to shape our lives.
The fair is free to trade visitors. Pre-registration is essential: register via Eventbrite.
Bert Frank – headline sponsor
Material Matters is delighted to announce its Headline Sponsor this year, Bert Frank. The award-winning British lighting brand was founded by designer Robbie Llewellyn and manufacturing specialist Adam Yeats in 2013. It will mark its tenth anniversary with new product launches that celebrate the considered use of exceptional materials as well as reimagining some of its most popular designs.
The new Rinato range, for example, has been inspired by early twentieth-century glass holophone refractors and Art Deco geometric forms. It combines solid brass, steel, glass and refined leather details to produce a classic mid-century design for the contemporary market.
Together these launches signal an exciting new chapter for the brand, which has championed quality, craftsmanship and innovation since its inception. ‘We are delighted to be working with Bert Frank on this year’s fair,’ says Material Matters co-founder William Knight. ‘It’s a brand that understands the importance of the marriage between design and high-quality materials, creating products built to last. The company’s space on the second floor promises to be fascinating – combining product and process – and we are joining forces to throw one of the best parties at this year’s festival.’
Isola – Nothing Happens if Nothing Happens
Isola, the Milan-based design platform, will host a new exhibition on the third floor of Bargehouse. Nothing Happens if Nothing Happens will feature emerging designers using regenerative resources and repurposing waste materials. According to the brand’s co-founder and CEO Gabriele Cavallaro: ‘Our vision for an international network of design professionals that gathers around the world, exchanges ideas, and creates a real community is becoming a reality. Our global stage is expanding even more, and this debut in London will open the doors for new and exciting opportunities.’ Designers to look out for include AbarStudio, Byron, Jihyun Kim, MushLume Lighting and Vaagn Mikaelyan Architects. Meanwhile, Colab, the first purpose-built material library in the United Arab Emirates, will share its innovative archive.
The brand will also team up with some of its regular international partners. Design studio IAMMI will work with Isola’s creative director, Elif Resitoglu, on the installation design, while 3DD Factory is developing an AR app that will reproduce the products on display, give access to more information and provide interactive content.
Look out, too, for special events taking place in the lounge area over the course of the four days.
Insight Publishing – The Works Place
Material Matters has also joined forces with Insight Publishing, one of the world’s leading brands for workplace news, commentary and features through its magazines IN and Works, as well as Workplace Insight, the UK’s most widely read publication dedicated to the design and management of workplaces.
It will create The Works Place, a space that showcases the latest and most innovative thinking on sustainable office design, circularity and innovation. Products and concepts will be presented in various working settings so visitors can see how they could be applied in their offices and other spaces.
‘Workplace design is vital to so many lives,’ says Material Matters co-founder Grant Gibson. ‘We are keen to discover how it’s changing and what role materials might play. According to a recent Gallup report, 90 per cent of UK workers are not enthused by their work and workplace. Can design be used as a tool to re-engage people? I can’t think of anyone better than Insight Publishing to find out.’
Wood Awards – shortlist unveiled
Wood Awards - Russell Jones Architecture
Once again, the Wood Awards will unveil its shortlist at gallery@oxo – directly adjacent to Bargehouse. The installation will feature exceptional wood-centric work from some of the UK’s most important architects, designers, and makers across nine categories.
Wood Awards - Mentsen
Established in 1971, the awards recognise, encourage, and promote outstanding wood design, craftsmanship and construction. The unveiling of the shortlisted projects at Material Matters will provide a window into how timber can enrich our lives and contribute to positive change in the built environment.
Tanja Kirst – Planted
Tanja Kirst
Danish designer, Tanja Kirst, has created this year’s entrance installation for the fair. She asks the simple question: can oranges, seaweed and hemp be transformed into textiles without compromising aesthetics?
Her extraordinary pieces contain citrus yarn created from cellulose from Italian orange and lemon peel, pineapple yarn, seaweed yarn and hemp yarn. All the yarn has been dyed using bio-dyes and spun in various compositions at TextielLab in the Netherlands.
It promises to be a beautiful way to greet visitors.
‘We’ve always believed in the power of collaboration,’ says William Knight. ‘And we’re delighted to join forces with lighting specialist Bert Frank, international design platform Isola, workplace expert Insight Publishing, and the brilliant textile designer Tanja Kirst, as well as welcoming back the Wood Awards. Each highlights a different but important part of the design world, and we feel lucky to be working with them so closely. We have some wonderful products and ideas at this year’s fair, and these features will provide visitors with an extra layer of interest. We can’t wait for September.'
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| Banner Image: Bargehouse, Oxo Tower Wharf - Products from Material Matters 2023