Design notes

Brain dumps, explorations, and how-to guides for people working with materials

March 13, 2025

Brand VMD’s Favorite Solid Carpets

Solid color carpets, especially loved by the VMD team responsible for the brand's space visuals. Explore examples of solid carpet usage through various brand store cases.

February 27, 2025

HPL, Interpreted by Six Design Duos

Italian laminate brand FENIX’s exhibition at Milan Design Week. Six pairs of designers participated, exploring the themes of materials, surfaces, and duality, each presenting their own interpretation of HPL furniture. Visitors can enjoy not only the creative furniture designs but also the diverse HPL surface designs on display.

February 19, 2025

The Importance of Concept Extraction in Performance Design: Why Did Chungha’s Stress Stage Stand Out?

The Importance of Concept Extraction in Chungha’s Stress Performance—Of course, Chungha is beautiful and talented, but why did this particular stage create such a sensation? (From a designer’s perspective)

February 19, 2025

Color Stainless Steel: How is Stainless Steel Colored?

How is stainless steel colored? Explore two coloring methods and a variety of stainless steel samples!

February 11, 2025

Torriden Seongsu’s Spatial Design: What Materials Shaped Its Brand Identity?

What kind of materials leave a lasting impression on potential customers? Which materials make displayed products stand out the most? What should be the signature material of our brand? We conducted a simulated scenario to explore the process of selecting the sculptural glass cladding used in Torriden Seongsu. Initially, we considered various materials such as glass blocks, glass bricks, recycled glass panels, sculptural glass, and mosaic tiles. Through a meticulous selection process, we gradually narrowed it down to sculptural glass. This detailed exploration captures how we arrived at our final choice and the reasoning behind it.

December 18, 2024

Texture Playground EP2

At Conc 2024, the most searched keywords included “sustainability”, material categories like metal, and adjectives such as “new,” “unique,” “rough,” and “soft.” In <Texture Playground>, we explore various materials with different textures, accompanied by descriptive adjectives that capture their tactile qualities.

December 18, 2024

Texture Playground EP1

At Conc 2024, the most searched keywords included “sustainability”, material categories like metal, and adjectives such as “new,” “unique,” “rough,” and “soft.” In <Texture Playground>, we explore various materials with different textures, accompanied by descriptive adjectives that capture their tactile qualities.

December 16, 2024

Two Sides of Sustainability #2

We’ve categorized seven eco-friendly materials—wood, paper, clay, fabric, plants & fungi, seaweed, and plastic—into natural and recycled options, compiling relevant samples for each. In this edition, we explore the two branches of {plants & fungi}, {seaweed}, and {plastic}.

December 13, 2024

Two Sides of Sustainability #1

We’ve categorized seven eco-friendly materials—wood, paper, clay, fabric, plants & fungi, seaweed, and plastic—into natural and recycled options, compiling relevant samples for each. In this edition, we explore the two branches of {wood}, {paper}, {clay}, and {fabric}.

December 11, 2024

The 2024 collection of fragments has arrived

The 2024 collection of fragments has arrived

September 11, 2024

Guess which one is concrete? Part 2: Textures

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September 10, 2024

Guess which one is concrete? Part 1: Aggregates

Let's take a closer look at the texture of concrete by dividing it into two main categories. The first category involves concrete that contains aggregates. Various materials can be used as aggregates in concrete, including gravel, recycled plastic, waste glass, waste ceramics, waste stone, metal, and wood. There are a total of seven types of aggregates. Let's study each type with accompanying photos.

November 23, 2023

Dutch Design Week 2023

We visited the Dutch Design Week in Eindhoven, Netherlands! We are sharing our impressions from the exhibits around the city and a few tips for future visitors.

July 25, 2023

When you look at terrazzo, you can see the growth rings of Conc

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June 21, 2023

Material Showcase in 4 cuts #Recycled Plastic

Capturing the materials displayed at Conc Library in Seoul in four cuts. Today's star: recycled plastic!

June 21, 2023

Plastic-free Life from Zero

This edition explores recycled materials, specifically recycled plastics, along with their processing methods and usage examples.

May 24, 2023

Material Showcase in 4 cuts #Resin

Capturing the materials displayed at Conc Library in Seoul in four cuts. Today's star: resin casting samples!

May 24, 2023

Custom Resin Casting Your Way

What materials can I create according to my taste? We look into casting processes with resin, a great material for interior spaces and furniture.

April 26, 2023

Materials for Car Interiors

We explore materials and the latest trends for Car interior

March 22, 2023

Material Showcase in 4 cuts #Acrylic

Capturing the materials displayed at Conc Library in Seoul in four cuts. Today's star: easy-to-process transparent material, acrylic!

March 22, 2023

Fresh Transparent Materials

A search for transparent and translucent materials for fresh and unique designs.

August 8, 2022

3 Days of Design in Copenhagen 2022

Introducing 10 Brands We Encountered at 3days of design, the Annual Design Fair in Copenhagen

May 31, 2022

Hublot, a breathing hole in a plastic bag house

Hublot's Development Process of the Porthole-Inspired Circular Ventilation Window

February 25, 2022

If DDP were made of glass

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