Now more than ever the combination of material innovations, advances in hardware, and AI are allowing designers to bring ideas to life in surprising ways and in unexpected places. The cost of advanced computing power continues to decline, allowing designers and engineers to deploy intelligence into the world at a much higher density than previously possible. At the same time, taking advantage of these remarkable breakthroughs will raise questions for designers.

What is that actually made of? OEMs are developing proprietary materials with new names that can sometimes be hard to decipher. What are the properties? How can we evolve the public perception of recycled materials, to tell their story in a way that increases their value to consumers? How can you incorporate AI into your process to help identify failure points in your design over the product lifecycle?

The best ideas need the right materials to bring them to life. Materials matter, and their importance in industrial design cannot be overstated. Materials play a crucial role in the functionality, aesthetics, appeal and usability of a product, all of which greatly impact its success in the marketplace.

In this video, Niko Palosuo & John Skabardonis from Covestro, a leading producer of advanced polymers and high-performance plastics in the United States and around the world, discussed some of the design trends observed at CES 2024 with a keen focus on material trends. You can take a look at what they unearthed here, and for more videos and interviews check out the CES 2024 Playlist from Covestro on their YouTube channel.

Enter a caption (optional)