iDesign Hub

On the 25th of February Level 4 Interior Design students had 6 companies come in to talk all about the world of materials! 

 

The first company was Solus Ceramics who won us all over by bringing in food, free samples and free goody bags! They are a wall and floor tile company offering products in many different materials such as porcelain, ceramic, glass, metal and natural stone. We learnt all about the different specifications materials have such as slip resistance which is tested by someone walking on a surface which is raised until the person falls over!

 

The next company was Tektura who are a vinyl wallcoverings company for commercial interiors. They produce surfaces which look like wallpapers but are more durable and can be wiped down which is crucial in commercial interiors. They sell a range of unique designs which have been used in hotels, retail, offices, health care and educational environments. They also have a product called the Walltalker which is a write on/wipe off surface which can come on a roll and also be magnetic. They also do a Clear Erase 'paint' which you can put onto a variety of surfaces such as smooth wood which makes the surface become a dry wipe wall which is ideal for kids or in offices as the wall becomes like a whiteboard but can be any colour! We were given a large variety of free samples of the Clear Erase surfaces and the vinyl wall coverings which many of us used in our current projects on models and in sample boards!

 

Panaz was third to present to us. They are a company who specialise in contract fabrics and focus on the mood, wellbeing, comfort and colour psychology of the interior. We learnt about fire retardancy legislations which are very important to keep people safe in an interior and watched a video where we saw how quickly fire spreads in two identical environments except one had fire retardant fabrics and one did not. The difference of how quickly the fire spread was astonishing! We also learnt about intelligent textiles such as fabrics which are waterproof and can stop infection spreading. A care home was given as an example as furniture placement is key here as there must be contrast between the floors, walls and furniture so that those with bad eyesight can distinguish the different features. The acoustics, patterns, textures and artwork can also be important in an environment such as a care home for example we were told about one resident panicking as he thought there were faces looking through the window but actually the pattern on the curtain was similar to that of a face.

They then explained about colour psychology which I found fascinating so I will give a brief summary of what feelings colours can evoke and where they should and should not be used:

 

• White - means purity, innocence, the colour of perfection. Can increase heart rate and blood flow but not blood pressure. It shouldn't be used in living rooms and over exposure can lead to depression due to its clinical feel.

• Black - the colour of mystery, not to be trusted, hidden, fear, negativity. Not to be used in therapeutic environments.

• Red - passion, action, energy, determination, irritability/agression. Should avoid in bedrooms and cardiac units. The colour red can intensify the taste and smell senses and can stimulate the nervous system.

• Orange - the colour of communciation, calming and can reduce depression and agression if the shade is burnt orange. Physical responses can include expansion of the lungs, relaxation and reduction of muscle tension. 

• Yellow - mind and intellect, optimistic, cheerful, can add stress, disturbs sleep and causes babies to cry more, can induce panic or fear reactions but can also be stimulating. It is a complex colour for the brain to process and should not be used for people with autism, in the bedroom or in communal relaxation areas.

• Green - balance, growth, nature, calming, better recovery, good for asthmatics, helps concentration. Light green should be used in work and study rooms whereas dark green is more relaxing and should be used in calm environments.

• Blue - trust, peace, loyalty, integrity, soothing. Can reduce depression and anxiety and dark blue is good for sleep as it represents the night. Over exposure to dark blue can lead to depression and tiredness. The colour blue increases metabolism, relaxes the nervous system and slows the heart rate. It decreases the appetite and some have said if your ceiling is blue you will have a higher IQ.

• Pink - love, nuture, hope. Can reduce agressive behaviours as well as be soothing and calming. However it is thought of as immature and girlyish and is best used as accents and contrasting shades.

• Purple - mysterious, colour of imagination, creative, practical, immature. It is also a complex colour for the eye to process. A violet shade can reduce irritability but leads to no appetite and low arousal.

• Grey - compromise, unemotional, detached, reduced clutter, compliments any shade. Light grey can be very cold and over exposure can depress the immune system.

• Brown - increases appetite, aids sleep and digestion, is friendly but serious and has low arousal.

• Beige - bland, lethargic, safe, natural. Leads to a poor appetite and should not be used in the bedroom as it is not therapeutic and deoes not aid sleep.

 

The next company was Interface Carpets who specialise in carpet tiles. Carpet tiles are more sustainable than a normal carpet because they can be changed at low cost, tac tiles are used instead of glue, and many different patterns can be created. They can be used in planks or squares and used to create patterns such as a Herringbone. We also learnt some more about fire retardancy and wear resistance as well as saw some examples of carpet tile patterns which suprised me at how good they can look.

 

After was Polyrey who specialise in laminate panels which can be decorative, plain and bespoke. They are used in restaurants, schools, retail, hotels, offices and hospitals and come in a varfiety of finishes. They are anti bacterial and moisture resistant as well as hardwearing. They are not for flooring but for walls and table tops etc.

 

Last but not least was Polyflor who produce safety floors which have a gritty texture. They are easy to clean and have good slip resistance so are commonly used in commercial kitchens and wet rooms. They come in a variety of effects including a concrete and wood look.

 

We learnt so much on this materials day and were introduced into a world of materials some of which we did not even know existed! I would like to thank all the companies that gave up their time to talk to us and Victoria Patterson-Burke for organising the day as well as taking the photos.