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Materials First

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Touch, Layer, Discover 

In 2026, materials expert Chris Lefteri returns with a new edition of the Materials First interactive installation. Centered on the essence of materials and the idea of re-creation, this experiential space invites visitors to actively engage with materials—discovering how they respond through layering, contrast, and transformation. The installation seeks to reveal the value of materials in design and inspire fresh ways of thinking about surfaces, textures, and finishes.

Moving away from traditional static displays, this feature embraces dynamic interaction. Through intuitive, hands-on exploration, visitors are guided to uncover the innovative potential of CMF design.

Across three curated interactive themes—Digital Speckles, Colour Distortion, and Pattern Twist—visitors can freely layer translucent films, reflective sheets, colour filters, patterned mesh, or light-responsive materials over a variety of textured bases. As visual and tactile perceptions shift with each combination, visitors will find themselves immersed in the boundless possibilities of CMF.

 

2026 Highlights Preview

In 2026, the exhibition will further advance a “Materials First” methodology, placing material thinking at the forefront of design enquiry. Chris Lefteri will bring elements of his London studio’s research systems and experimental frameworks to the fair, presenting a rigorous, end-to-end process — from investigation and testing to real-world application — through tangible material samples and forward-looking case studies.

Curated around four principal themes — Earthy, Sustainable, Digital and Technology — the showcase extends beyond the intrinsic properties of materials to examine their broader relevance across brand identity, product experience and digital interfaces. As product forms become increasingly reductive and interactions more seamless, CMF evolves from a question of colour and finish into a holistic strategy spanning product, space and digital touchpoints. Within this context, Materials First establishes an experimental platform that moves from sensory exploration to strategic insight, reinstating materials as the origin point of design decision-making.

Materials Highlights

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2026 Materials Highlights Review

Digital Materials

  • Reconstituted Wood 
  • Shredded Paper Tile 
  • 3D Printed Fabric 
  • Two-tone 3D Printing
  • Dichroic Resin Panels 
  • Dichroic Glass 
  • Rainbow PVD
  • Synthetic Suede
  • Glass Effect Polymer
  • Glass Effect Resin 
  • The Aesthetics of Digital Technology
  • Lense Rock  
  • Mesh Tape 
  • Transparency, Revealed
  • Ombrea Surface Texture 

Earthy Materials

  • Porcelain Plastic 
  • Ceramic Inspired By Paper
  • Recycled Cement Panels
  • Plastic from crab shells
  • Olive Based Plastic
  • Shell Based Concrete
  • Bio-plastic Kitchenwear 
  • Volcanic Pumice Rock
  • Ceramic Foam 
  • Metal Foam 
  • Waste Fabric Board
  • Wool Filled Plastic
  • Wool Packaging
  • Wool Fabric 
  • The Aestehtics of the Earth
  • Metal Inlays 
  • Mycelium Based Leather
  • Fibre Filled Bio-polymers 
  • Panda Poo Paper 
  • Decorative Natural Fibre 
  • Bio-degradable Kitchenwear
  • Natural Plant Coatings 
  • Tea Plastic 
  • Wood Wool Accoustics 
  • Mineral Filled PP 
  • Reconstituted Wood 

Technology Materials

  • Pleated Fabric Technology
  • Auxetic Materials 
  • Origami Furniture 
  • Sharkskin Swimwear
  • Marbled EVA
  • Thermo-formable Woven Fabric
  • Thermo-formed Fabric Phone Case
  • Plastic from seawater
  • Translucent Concrete
  • Virgin Plastic Free Decorative Trims
  • CLAD Metal 
  • AF 32® eco Paper thin glass
  • Porcelian Like Plastic
  • Thin glass from phones to interiors
  • Multi-colour Moulding
  • Accoustic Perforation 
  • Inflated Metal 
  • Pattern Change Micro-textures
  • High performance E-TPU
  • The Aesthetics of Technology
  • 3D Printed Meta-materials
  • Circular 3D Printing Filament 
  • Liquid Crystal Polymer 
  • UV-Sensitive Ink 
  • UV-sensitive Polymer
  • Expandable ink 

Sustainability Materials

  • Designed for Disasembly 
  • Light Reflecting Tiles 
  • 100% Plastic Recycled Carbon-Neutral Decorative Panels
  • The Aesthetics of Sustainability  
  • Shredded Paper Tile 
  • Bio-based Flooring
  • Chewing Gum Polymer
  • Flexible Wood 
  • Circular, Bio-based Hand-bag 
  • Water-based Binders 
  • Fruit Based Leather
  • Leaf Leather
  • Expandable Paper Vase 
  • Anti-Waste Packaging
  • Moulded Fibre Packaging
  • Injection Mouldable Paper
  • Bio-based Wall Panels 
  • Recyced Paper Pulp Packaging
  • From Paper to Performance 
  • Tea Waste Plastic - EnZence©
  • Tea Waste Leather
  • Bio-based Leather 
  • Grape Based Leather