Sensory and expressive qualities of materials for design

Abstract

The sensory properties of the materials are the first items users of environments and products relate with, and so determining well-being and comfort. Recently, moreover, the rediscovery and appreciation of the emotional experience through objects and the possibility to use the materials in order to enrich and enhance this experience, puts the designer under the conditions to operate in a context in which the richness of the expressive and sensory qualities of matter demands to be controlled and managed to become an integral part of the design process. The technological evolution, in fact, allowed to act on the matter designing it to your liking also with respect to a new sensory and communicative dimension, through which the objects express their own personality. It therefore deals with the complex issue of the classification of expressive-sensory properties of the materials, in order to develop appropriate tools useful for the selection and comparison between apparently similar materials families. This to be able to consciously choose those materials most suitable to intercept the needs, tastes and emotions of users.

Keywords:

• Materials for design
• sensory qualities
• expressive qualities
• materials classification
• materials selection

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 In November 2020, the scientific journal Graphicus published a monographic issue entitled ‘designing emotions’ which collects numerous research on the topic. For further information: Graphicus, November 2020, ISSN (print) 0017-3436; ISSN (online) 2282-4545.