MATERIALS CLASSIFICATION IN FURNITURE DESIGN – FOCUS ON SUSTAINABILITY

Abstract

The materials classification increases in complexity as new materials are constantly released on the market. The furniture designer, usually a designer or architect, needs to stay current with the emergence of new wood panels, new composites, new metal alloys, and so on. The choice of materials is a crucial moment in the project, as it marks the transition between the conceptual design for the actual project. The currently available classifications are generalist and, strictly speaking, fit for any product. However, the practice shows a difficulty in selecting the most appropriate materials considering the specific area of each project. The present article initially demonstrates the difficulty of the available tables, shows case studies in furniture projects and finally presents a classification proposal focused on furniture design.