Shimmering Wood Monomaterials by SCS
Basic information
Project Title
Shimmering Wood Monomaterials by SCS
Full project title
Shimmering Wood Monomaterials by Structural Colour Studioc
Category
Shaping a circular industrial ecosystem and supporting life-cycle thinking
Project Description
Shimmering wood monomaterials are created through interdisciplinary research between design and material science. In the project, we create shiny and iridescent colors entirely from wood. This color is nontoxic and produced in an economically viable process. Shiny or glittery effects – very popular in design today – are usually created using toxic pigments, plastic-based materials, or metallic foils. This structural color presents a sustainable alternative to these traditional colorants.
Geographical Scope
National
Project Region
Finland
Urban or rural issues
It addresses urban-rural linkages
Physical or other transformations
It refers to a physical transformation of the built environment (hard investment)
EU Programme or fund
Yes
Which funds
Horizon2020 / Horizon Europe
Description of the project
Summary
Shimmering Wood Monomaterials by Structural Colour Studio
Nature’s brightest colors – like those found in peacock feathers or butterfly wings – are created through microscopically small nanostructures. When light hits these structures, our eyes perceive intense and vivid colors. Unlike traditional pigments or dyes, this color arises only from the material's physical structure, without the need for chemical compounds.
Wood is usually associated with shades of brown, grey, and green, humble colors that feel down to earth. Here we are changing this narrative by turning wood into iridescent colors.
The color presented here is nontoxic and produced 100% from wood in an economically viable process. Shiny or glittery effects – very popular in fashion and design today – are usually created using toxic pigments, plastic-based materials, or metallic foils. This structural color presents a sustainable alternative to these traditional colorants. Also, unlike most existing dyes, structural color does not fade in sunlight.
The Structural Colour Studio (SCS) is a platform for collaborative projects between design and material science in the field of biobased structural color. The key members of the platform are designer Noora Yau from Aalto ARTS and material scientist Konrad Klockars from Aalto CHEM. Together, using methods from both design and materials science, they develop wood-based structural color and explore its potential in real-life design applications such as architecture and furniture.
In the Shimmering Wood -project, we have created four colorful “monomaterials” - artifacts made entirely from wood, which present the possibility of using this material in the context of the architecture and furniture design. The purpose of the monomaterials is to demonstrate the technical properties as well as the sensorial experiences this nanocellulose-based structural color can provide. To show that even wood can shimmer.
Nature’s brightest colors – like those found in peacock feathers or butterfly wings – are created through microscopically small nanostructures. When light hits these structures, our eyes perceive intense and vivid colors. Unlike traditional pigments or dyes, this color arises only from the material's physical structure, without the need for chemical compounds.
Wood is usually associated with shades of brown, grey, and green, humble colors that feel down to earth. Here we are changing this narrative by turning wood into iridescent colors.
The color presented here is nontoxic and produced 100% from wood in an economically viable process. Shiny or glittery effects – very popular in fashion and design today – are usually created using toxic pigments, plastic-based materials, or metallic foils. This structural color presents a sustainable alternative to these traditional colorants. Also, unlike most existing dyes, structural color does not fade in sunlight.
The Structural Colour Studio (SCS) is a platform for collaborative projects between design and material science in the field of biobased structural color. The key members of the platform are designer Noora Yau from Aalto ARTS and material scientist Konrad Klockars from Aalto CHEM. Together, using methods from both design and materials science, they develop wood-based structural color and explore its potential in real-life design applications such as architecture and furniture.
In the Shimmering Wood -project, we have created four colorful “monomaterials” - artifacts made entirely from wood, which present the possibility of using this material in the context of the architecture and furniture design. The purpose of the monomaterials is to demonstrate the technical properties as well as the sensorial experiences this nanocellulose-based structural color can provide. To show that even wood can shimmer.
Key objectives for sustainability
Structural color has been an important aesthetic element in visual fields for a long time, but it is usually produced in a non-ecological way. These colors are often implemented using plastic-based or metal-containing materials. This problem has been noted by engineers, but the solution requires the involvement of designers and artists in the development process.
In this multidisciplinary research project, we are studying the use of bio-based structural color in design and the arts. The intent is to refine environmentally friendly metallic-mimicking and iridescent color for use in the above-mentioned fields. These effects can be created in an environmentally friendly way by using nanocellulose, which can be produced by deconstructing plant biomass, such as wood. These nanoparticles self-assemble into a certain nanoscale structure which, at a larger scale, produces a thin solid film or coating that functions as a paint layer, giving rise to vivid and metallic, iridescent colors.
Since the 90s, nanocellulose have been known to form a nanostructure that leads to structural colour. However, most scientific studies have focused on developing this material towards technical applications, such as optical sensors. The possibilities of the visuality and the aesthetic features of this new colourant has yet received very little attention.
In our exhibition Shimmering wood by Structural Colour Studio – we had an opportunity to show, for the first time, the possibilities of this innovative colourant in larger decorative design applications. The purpose of the “monomaterials” was to present a glimpse of the future that is waiting us. A Future for sustainable, shiny and glittery colours. Materials, that are appreciated for their beauty, but also mindful of the environment and people working with them. Colours made from wood.
In this multidisciplinary research project, we are studying the use of bio-based structural color in design and the arts. The intent is to refine environmentally friendly metallic-mimicking and iridescent color for use in the above-mentioned fields. These effects can be created in an environmentally friendly way by using nanocellulose, which can be produced by deconstructing plant biomass, such as wood. These nanoparticles self-assemble into a certain nanoscale structure which, at a larger scale, produces a thin solid film or coating that functions as a paint layer, giving rise to vivid and metallic, iridescent colors.
Since the 90s, nanocellulose have been known to form a nanostructure that leads to structural colour. However, most scientific studies have focused on developing this material towards technical applications, such as optical sensors. The possibilities of the visuality and the aesthetic features of this new colourant has yet received very little attention.
In our exhibition Shimmering wood by Structural Colour Studio – we had an opportunity to show, for the first time, the possibilities of this innovative colourant in larger decorative design applications. The purpose of the “monomaterials” was to present a glimpse of the future that is waiting us. A Future for sustainable, shiny and glittery colours. Materials, that are appreciated for their beauty, but also mindful of the environment and people working with them. Colours made from wood.
Key objectives for aesthetics and quality
We aim to introduce a new material through our project, i.e., nanocellulose-based structural color. Because this material is new, and its potential is not fully realized, our project has focussed on what the color can look like and its design opportunities: What type of aesthetics and visual effects can be created?
What we are used to thinking about the colors of wood is often associated with brown and gray, earthy hues, and we challenge this narrative with our project. New types of colors can be created from wood that sparkles and shimmers in rainbow colors, are iridescent, and resistant to the effects of UV light, unlike traditional pigment colors based on absorption.
What we are used to thinking about the colors of wood is often associated with brown and gray, earthy hues, and we challenge this narrative with our project. New types of colors can be created from wood that sparkles and shimmers in rainbow colors, are iridescent, and resistant to the effects of UV light, unlike traditional pigment colors based on absorption.
Key objectives for inclusion
While we have tried to make science more understandable by participating in various exhibitions with the project and reaching the general public this way, we have also written and published research-related results, for example, at the EKSIG23 conference, and in Aalto Arts books' Biocolour book. In these texts, we have tried to bring out the importance of the collaboration between materials science and design and the new kind of aesthetics that can be created with structural colors based on nanocellulose.
Results in relation to category
Development of nanocellulose-based structural color towards architecture and design applications. Our work shows the potential of the colorant of the future to replace the current harmful dyes. Our project also opens up bold, new visuals that can be realized with this environmentally friendly material.
How Citizens benefit
The project has not yet had a wide impact on civil society, but in the future environmentally friendly colors from renewable natural resources could open up new business opportunities and contribute to the green transition.
Physical or other transformations
It refers to a physical transformation of the built environment (hard investment)
Innovative character
The problems facing the world and society are multidisciplinary and complex, which is why collaboration between different disciplines is extremely critical in finding answers to these problems. The project represents pioneering work in the interdisciplinary collaboration of design and materials science.
The monomaterials created are the largest wall pieces coated with nanocellulose-based structural color yet. The artifacts show for the first time the possibility of using this material in decorative applications in the context of architecture and furniture design.
The monomaterials created are the largest wall pieces coated with nanocellulose-based structural color yet. The artifacts show for the first time the possibility of using this material in decorative applications in the context of architecture and furniture design.
Disciplines/knowledge reflected
The project is a collaboration between material science and design. In order to reach the final result, the material had to be examined from its technical characteristics as well as from its aesthetic, social and cultural context. A close dialogue between design and material science was necessary to realize this goal. Changing the technical properties of the colorant also affects the color's visuality; for this reason, cooperation between a field accustomed to technical and a field accustomed to aesthetic considerations was extremely important.
Methodology used
The Structural Colour Studio (SCS) was founded from a collaboration between materials researcher Konrad Klockars and designer Noora Yau in Aalto University. The studio is a platform for developing sustainable structural colour using methods from arts, science, technology and design, towards applications in furniture and architectural elements. The platform was borne out of the need to emphasize the importance of collaboration. From the need to work with people from different fields to tackle the complex problems our environment & society is facing today.
In the studio design material science methods meet design methods, like prototyping and material tinkering. This opens us a possibility to conduct research with a wider perspective to traditional material science, and makes us not only to develop the new material, but also think about its possible impact and use in the future.
In the studio design material science methods meet design methods, like prototyping and material tinkering. This opens us a possibility to conduct research with a wider perspective to traditional material science, and makes us not only to develop the new material, but also think about its possible impact and use in the future.
How stakeholders are engaged
The project was implemented at Aalto University between the School of Arts and Design and the School of Chemical Engineering. The prototypes implemented in the project used wood that was ordered from local manufacturers in Finland.
Global challenges
Currently, the production of glittering and shimmering colors often requires the use of metal/plastic-based materials or toxic pigments. The effect pigment market is a large market worldwide and the problems of the color industry are widely cited in the research field. Our project could contribute to eventually bringing color production into the Nordic context, where wood and the forest industry play a big role and need new solutions where wood is used for high-value products.
Learning transferred to other parties
In particular, the cooperation realized in the project and the new information learned about the importance of cooperation in design and materials science could be meaningful to other communities.
Keywords
sustainability
non-toxic
design
material science
cross-disciplinarity
