Why you should be a materialistic designer.

As a designer we want our projects to come out as the best reference for everyone else in the market. We strive to compete with the existing designers and want to inspire even the best of the best with our work. This passion for every project is indirectly proportional to the time spent on it. The more we spend time, the lesser we like to engage in its process.

Nonetheless, one of the final stages of the designing process is the selection of materials. Thus, it is crucial to understand that selecting suitable materials and finishes for the project is just as important as the combined process.

We start any design project by fixing upon a material board as a base for the concept development. The prime objective is to generate maximum performance at the most effective rate of resources. Selecting the materials from the wide range in the market is a tedious task, but starting off by shortlisting them is always beneficial.

1. Hard materials vs soft materials.

Every element of the design has a form or structure to it. Depending upon the strength, durability, flexibility, weight, resistance properties and abilities of the material, we can classify them into hard and soft materials. Wooden blinds can not replicate the spatial requirements of a cosy feel factor on a summer afternoon as a sheer linen curtain can. Similarly, silk, cotton, suede, leather etc can not stand in line with brass, wood, aluminium, etc to form the shape or structure required.

2. Pursuing the right texture.

Textures are as important as colour in a space. They fill up the picture like the direction of brush strokes fill up a painting. bumpy, glossy, matte, smooth, shimmer, rough, etc. Explore them as per your design story to make sure they add to the direction of your concept and do not divert from it.

3. Sticking to the same palette.

The easiest way to recognize the odd one out is through visuals. The user's eyes follow a pattern that we want them to follow. The path is broken when something is out of place. The Taj Mahal is extraordinary also because of how the two gates before it finished in red sandstone before we are exposed to the ivory marble monument. If the insides of the gates were finished in the same marble as the Taj, the sense of surprise will be killed. Similarly, if we use high gloss brass accents in Adobe schemed interiors, our eyes will notice the oddness of the space even if it is hard to pinpoint. The right materials help in sticking to the palette.

4. The human tendency to touch.

Many studies have confirmed that space, volume, colours and textures have a direct impact on how humans respond. It is the most basic human tendency when we like something or we dislike something- to touch it. We try to analyze with our own perceptions why this feels the way it is and why it is here. The right textures help the users absorb the design through this touch.

5. Form follows function.

We have heard it a million times and a million more times will we hear it- "Form follows function." It's almost impossible to comprehend the depth of this statement. If you are for this statement or against it, your end user will never come back to you for another design if you haven't solved their functionality issues. No one will buy an unpolished white marble kitchen counter in an Indian household, similarly, no one will ever agree with having high gloss bathroom flooring. The right material will have to take care of the functional responsibilities it has.

6. Efficient manufacturing/ construction.

Building kitchen cabinetry using wood, particle board, bison boards or even MDF is possible. However, see how your carpenter will react if you ask him to build it with softer materials like leather or suede. Some things are just not functionally apt to construct. The finish of it could be in leather, but the base structure still needs to be built. Understanding the material's ability to take up different roles is what will help in selecting the right material.

7. Sustainability.

The construction industry caters to 1 of 3 parts of the entire world's waste. If we don't know how we are going to recycle the already used materials, we could at least start to think now and choose those materials that give back to this planet.

8. Cost-effectiveness vs durability.

Every project has a budget. If your client is wealthy or not, they will allow you with only the resources they want to part with. Not more, not less. When we select a certain material it is important to note that the value of the material should be yielded. We cannot spend a handsome amount on the flooring if we need to change it in 4 years because the grouting is not as efficient in it. The right material should allow you to skip the stress of its longevity when compared to its price.

9. Scale of material.

In a bohemian house, covering the entire ceiling in cane with printed tiles on the entire floor already sounds like an excessive attempt. Every material is right when used in the right place, in the right amount. Keeping in mind the scale of a certain material will always help!

10. The mental perception of space.

Mentally we switch our perception of a space when we see it online and when we visit it in person. This is because our body is absorbing that space. This absorption is driven by every little element in the room, colour, texture, scale, form, intervals, etc. Every material makes you feel a certain way. Cane can make you feel at home if you grew up in a house with it all over your furniture. Understanding the user's needs, the design direction and the sense of visuals will help in selecting the right material.