FUTURES. Materials and Design of tomorrow
special show on biomaterials in design
GRASSI Museum for Applied Arts · Leipzig
21 November 2024–24 August 2025
Services
Material Consulting & Technology Selection
- Trend reports and road map analyzes
- Material and technology research
- Technology and materials advice
Sustainable Product Design & Material Development
- Innovation impulses and workshops
- Application scenarios for innovative materials
- Development of sustainable material solutions
- Sustainable product development
Innovation Transfer & Technology Marketing
- Material exhibitions and innovation shows
- Development and implementation of congresses and events
- Publications on materials and technologies
Events
Lectures
Nature Tech Materials for Interior and Design
Ingredients – Sustainability Talk #2
Ingredients – sustainability talk #1
3D-Druck supporting Ukraine
Magazine
Oil dispenser made from sunflower seed shells
23 September 2024
With Solio, Katherine Lopez has developed an oil dispenser in the form of a sample set made from sunflower seed shells, a secondary material from the food industry.
Furniture for the additive mass production
10 August 2024
The Swedish interior agency "Industrial Poetry" has investigated the inherent flexibility of 3D printed furniture in its COX system by taking advantage of UPM's wood filament.
Ecoblaq molecular wood colours
23 March 2024
Ecoblaq is a molecule manipulation method, a natural chemical reaction, making the wood change colour. That is why the natural wood patterns still shows, including the sense of warmth and structure…
Roasted lotus seeds
11 January 2024
Lotus seeds can be found in every supermarket in Asia. They are valued as a gluten-free and healthy snack and are available in many different flavors.
Natural fiber reinforced car seat
22 October 2023
The focus of the project "Design for Recycling" is a seat shell that is made from different natural fiber reinforced plastics (NFRPs) in order to significantly reduce the ecological footprint.
Natural fiber-reinforced lightweight design and vibro-acoustic metamaterials
10 October 2023
At the ELMIA Subcontractor in Jönköping, Fraunhofer LBF is showing promising approaches for sustainable manufacturing processes with natural fiber-reinforced materials and the lightweight design…
BMW visionary seat concepts
28 September 2023
With the visionary seat concepts, BMW Design presents ideas for concrete applications using other innovative materials and production methods that contribute to lower CO2 emissions and increased use…
Texoversum
15 July 2023
With the "Texoversum", Reutlingen University has put into operation a training and innovation center for the textile industry. The components were wound from fibers that are fixed with a special…
Invisible Terracotta Solar Rooftile
10 May 2023
The family-run business Dyaqua has developed a technology to integrate a photovoltaic panel into roof tiles with terracotta aesthetics, in order to bring solar energy to historic cities and their…
Floral foam made from cut flowers
23 April 2023
Thai designer Irene Purasachit uses discarded cut flowers to make eco-friendly floral sponge, paper and textiles.
Washbasin and toilet seat from wood cellulose
5 April 2023
Finnish company Woodio has developed the world's first toilet made from a biomaterial based on wood cellulose and resins. The product received the Design Plus Award 2023 at the ISH in Frankfurt.
Solar Blanket
17 March 2023
With her "Solar Blanket", designer Mireille Steinhage shows how the use of self-sufficient products can cushion the burden of rising energy prices.
MotorSkins morphing textiles
19 April 2022
Berlin based start-up MotorSkins designs and produces textiles with embedded fluidics for Human movement and Human-machine interaction. Their textile systems are capable of sensing and giving haptic…
Cocoboard
13 April 2022
NaturLoop has been developing a technology for biocomposites from agricultural byproducts and natural adhesives. Its first product, Cocoboard is made from coconut husk fibers and tannin extracts.
Hydrogen power plant for your own home
11 March 2022
A research initiative of the Fraunhofer IAP aims to produce hydrogen by operating small wind turbines for personal use. Small rotors and safe tanks are currently being developed for this purpose.
Green leather alternative from mushrooms
7 March 2022
With EPHEA, the Italian manufacturer Mogu presented a new mushroom-based leather alternative at Paris Fashion Week and expanded the options for the shoe and fashion industry.
Mushroom Chips
5 February 2022
Edible mushrooms are considered an important food source worldwide. An Australian company has launched salty mushroom chips as a nutritious alternative to standard potato chips.
3D printed salmon alternative
19 January 2022
Israeli start-up Plantish has developed a 3D printed plant-based alternative to salmon that has the same nutritional value as fish. It can be prepared in the same way as regular salmon.
Plastic-free DipWrap
7 January 2022
At Aalto University students developed the DipWrap, a bio-based protective film for cucumbers made from agar-agar, carnauba wax and dispersed cellulose nanocrystals as an alternative to plastic…
3D Pioneers Challenge 2022
15 December 2021
The 3D Pioneers Challenge 2022 adresses tech pioneers who pave the way for technology transfer to a sustainable future. Diana Drewes is part of the top-class jury.

Prof. Dr. Sascha Peters
Managing Director, key-note speaker, authorHonorary ProfessorJury member of the Red Dot Award
Diana Drewes
Biodesigner, material developerTechnology scout, authorExpert in biofabrication with fungi, proteins and bacteria

References
Technology analysis for chrome-free coating processes
At the instigation of Germany, chromium trioxide was listed as a dangerous substance in the European REACH regulation. This stipulates that approval permits…
Trend study on smart materials
As part of a material research, the status of development and the availability of smart and sustainable materials for use in long-distance trains were recorded…
Green Deal Materials Box
What do desert beetles, apples and carbon fiber have in common? They are all starting points for the development of innovative materials that will have a…