Conducting Materials Research
“Material is the stuff that design is made of” - ASM International
General advice:
- Establish your audience and design with the user in mind
- Determine the precedent for an object and/or material.
- Search for case studies. Consider how other objects were made with that same material.
- Think “global”. Go beyond the discipline.
- Look in trade journals for inspiration and vendors.
- Consider the life cycle of a material when focusing on sustainable design.
Search terms
Search PrattCat for keywords related to materials, proccesses, and techniques. Here are a few search terms to get you started:
Building -- environmental aspects
Materials -- Technical innovations
You can also conduct a keyword search for specific materials. For example: wood, glass, and concrete.