Material ConneXion Announces the Publication of

Ultra Materials: How Materials Innovation is Changing the World



Design Miami to bring Ultra Materials to Life with Design Talk

“Material Innovators: How are cutting-edge designers harnessing the power of materials?”



Presented By Corian, Sunday, December 9, 2007 - 5:30-6:30pm

Featuring author George M. Beylerian, David Adjaye, Greg Lynn, and Tokujin Yoshioka



New York, NY November 2007 – Material ConneXion, the leading global platform for material innovations and solutions, announces the publication of its second book Ultra Materials: How Material Innovation is Changing the World, by George M. Beylerian, founder of Material ConneXion, and Dr. Andrew Dent, Ph.D, Director of the Material ConneXion Materials Library, edited by Bradley Quinn.



Materials are the single most important underpinning of all that is innovative in 21st century design. Smart substances, intelligent interfaces, and sensory surfaces are redefining our environment and transforming our way of life. Using groundbreaking products and projects of recent years, Ultra Materials reveals the new application of these materials in architecture, furniture, fashion, textiles, product and vehicle design. The book features interviews with designers such as David Adjaye, Hussein Chalayan, Zaha Hadid, Toyo Ito, Philippe Starck, and Marcel Wanders, who have made particular use of new

materials; an analysis of the transformative science being employed; and a window into the future drawing on the ideas of leading experts.



From self-cleaning materials based upon the surface morphology of a lotus leaf to outdoor pavilions made from inflatable membranes, this book features 400 of the newest materials; an in-depth glossary; a comprehensive directory of designers, material organizations and design publication; details of professional competitions, awards, and fellowships; and an index of new materials and their properties.



To mark the publication of Ultra Materials, Corian will host a Design Talk and Book Signing at Design Miami, the global forum for collecting, exhibiting, discussing and creating design. “Material Innovators: How are cutting-edge designers harnessing the power of materials?” will discuss how material advances are shaping contemporary design with Material ConneXion founder George M. Beylerian and architects/designers with experimental approaches to materials, including David Adjaye, Greg Lynn and Design Miami/ Designer of the Year, Tokujin Yoshioka. The talk will be moderated by Zoe Ryan, Neville Bryan Curator of Design, Art Institute of Chicago. The talk will take place on Sunday, December 9th, 2007, from 5:30-6:30 pm, with book signing immediately following, in the Design Miami/ Media Lounge in the Chatham Building located at 3626 NE 1st Court in the Miami Design District. The Talk is free and open to the public.



About Material ConneXion:

Material ConneXion is the leading global platform for material innovation and solutions. Built on the belief that Every Idea Has a Material Solution™, we are the trusted material consultant to Fortune 500 corporations, smaller forward-thinking companies and government agencies seeking a competitive edge through strategic material selections. With offices in New York, Milan, Cologne and Bangkok, Material ConneXion’s international network of material specialists provide a global, cross-industry perspective on materials and their potential uses.



Founded in 1997 by George M. Beylerian, Material ConneXion offers a variety of indispensable assets to architects, designers, and manufacturers. The Advanced Materials Solution Team advises in the development of materials and products by providing crucial material intelligence gained through extensive research. Subscription-based Material Libraries on three continents maintain over 4,000 materials reviewed by an independent jury on a monthly basis. Customized material “Innovation Alerts” keep companies, universities and non-profits on the cutting-edge. Public programming—exhibitions and our quarterly magazine Matter—contributes dynamic materials dialogue to the world at large.



  Ultra Materials: How Materials Innovation is Changing the World

  George M. Beylerian + Andrew Dent

  Edited by Bradley Quinn

  Publisher: Thames & Hudson

  Publication Date: December 2007

  ISBN: 978-0-500-51382-8

  $75.00 hardcover

  288 pages

  With over 900 color illustrations







Press Contact:

Sarah Natkins, Director of Marketing & Communications

212-842-1509 / snatkins@materialconnexion.com