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Re:Materialize

   

The Design Philosophy of Returning to Material Thinking

Re:Materialize advocates for a material-driven approach in the early stages of design, emphasising a "materials-first" philosophy. Through aesthetic reinterpretation and innovative applications of materials, it encourages designers to explore the essence and potential of materials, promoting sustainable and creative material design practices.

The showcase, jointly initiated by Rong Design Library and Design Shanghai, will invite interdisciplinary artists, designers, and material producers to create works inspired by the 2025/26 Material Trend Report’s three core themes. Following its debut at Design Shanghai in June 2025, it will be featured at Design Shenzhen with two exhibitions: Re:Materialize Luxury Residential Aesthetics and Re:Materialize Consumer Technology Aesthetics.

 

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2025/26 Material Trend Report

Fantasia Moments

Fantasia Moments

Fantasia Moments explores how design can activate sensory pleasure and imagination in everyday life. Through color, light, and form, it expresses a sense of spontaneity and emotional release.

Soft rainbow pastels are positioned as a new kind of neutral-reflecting a dream-oriented and gender-inclusive aesthetic favored by younger audiences.

This direction focuses on the fantasy and playfulness of materials, combining interactive technology with expressive forms to evoke subtle yet vivid emotional responses.

Changes in texture, sheen, and hue create immersive, toy-like environments where materials are no longer static, but responsive, luminous, and dynamic.

Sensory Refuge

Sensory Refuge

Sensory Refuge emphasizes the role of materials in supporting both the body and emotions. Through gentle textures, soft surfaces, and saturated color palettes, it creates a low-noise, slow-paced environment designed for rest and reflection.

This is a "quiet room" built from materials —a tactile refuge where materials themselves act as mediums for meditation. Sound-absorbing fibers, matte ceramic finishes, and thermo-sensitive textiles work together to create a sense of safety and physical comfort.

Here, technological finishes coexist with handcrafted imperfections, offering a sensory space where slowness, privacy, and calm become the essence of design.

Recomposed Matter

Recomposed Matter

Recomposed Matter focuses on how the lifecycle of materials can be extended-when old materials are broken down, they do not vanish into oblivion but are instead sorted, filtered, and reassembled into new substances.

This regeneration is not mere recycling; it is a logical, "patchwork-like recomposition" where impurities and imperfections become part of the aesthetic value.

In this journey from deconstruction to reconstruction, materials are recombined into new forms through the simplest of textures and structures. Editable and modular, these reconstructions respond to contemporary calls for circular materials and long-lasting design.

2025  Rong Design Library x Design Shenzhen

Re:Materialize Consumer Technology Aesthetics

Re:Materialize Consumer Technology Aesthetics

Re:Materialize Luxury Residential Aesthetics

Re:Materialize Luxury Residential Aesthetics

2024 Highlights