Abstract
Material designers worldwide are transforming how innovation emerges through local engagement, moving beyond conventional material selection to create materials that reflect and embody their originating contexts. This research examines how locality influences design motivations, resource utilisation, and collaborative approaches through a systematic analysis of 635 material design projects across 56 countries, complemented by questionnaire responses from 19 practitioners across 14 countries. The mixed-methods research establishes the state of the art by mapping ingredient sourcing patterns, fabrication processes, and stakeholder engagements across diverse geographical contexts, while illuminating designers' conceptual frameworks regarding the role of locality in material development. The research reveals the mindset of locally-aware material designers; how geographic and cultural factors function as active design parameters rather than passive constraints. This comprehensive analysis provides foundational knowledge for place-based material innovation, offering researchers and practitioners the foundations of a framework for developing territorially responsive design practices that advance sustainable material development.
Keywords
Local materials; materials design; DIY materials; material innovation
DOI
https://doi.org/10.21606/drs.2026.949
Citation
Deniz, G., Pedgley, O., and Ayala-Garcia, C. (2026) Locality as a Driver for Transitional Materialities, in Simeone, L., Gray, C. M., Verhoeven, A., de Götzen, A., Bakırlıoğlu, Y., Zohar, H., Stead, M., and Buwert, P. (eds.), DRS2026: Edinburgh, 8–12 June, Edinburgh, United Kingdom. https://doi.org/10.21606/drs.2026.949
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
Included in
Locality as a Driver for Transitional Materialities
Material designers worldwide are transforming how innovation emerges through local engagement, moving beyond conventional material selection to create materials that reflect and embody their originating contexts. This research examines how locality influences design motivations, resource utilisation, and collaborative approaches through a systematic analysis of 635 material design projects across 56 countries, complemented by questionnaire responses from 19 practitioners across 14 countries. The mixed-methods research establishes the state of the art by mapping ingredient sourcing patterns, fabrication processes, and stakeholder engagements across diverse geographical contexts, while illuminating designers' conceptual frameworks regarding the role of locality in material development. The research reveals the mindset of locally-aware material designers; how geographic and cultural factors function as active design parameters rather than passive constraints. This comprehensive analysis provides foundational knowledge for place-based material innovation, offering researchers and practitioners the foundations of a framework for developing territorially responsive design practices that advance sustainable material development.