The Materials Sourcebook for Design Professionals

Synopsis

Rob Thompson’s Materials Sourcebook for Design Professionals is the kind of reference that earns a permanent spot on the studio shelf. Organised by material families, it pairs clear photography with at-a-glance performance data and notes on processing, finishing and environmental considerations. Metals, polymers, ceramics, glass, composites and emerging bio-based and 'smart' materials are all covered, showing where they excel and where they fall short. For designers, architects and specifiers, it’s the book you reach for to sanity-check a choice, find an alternative, or uncover a supplier you hadn’t considered. Thorough without being dry, it’s a pragmatic map of the material landscape, and a useful companion to anyone practising material intelligence.