The Material of Invention: Materials and Design

Examines the possibilites for using new materials to design products that are lightweight, heat-resistant, elastic, transparent, or have special surface qualities. Includes sections on theory and history, examples ranging from hot water bottles to public parks, a technical appendix, and a glossary, but no index. The book is large (12 1/4>x 8<3/8><"> and highly illustrated; the text is non-technical, more for inspiration and enjoyment than for specific information. Annotation copyright Book News, Inc. Portland, Or.

Ezio Manzini is professor of industrial design at the Polytechnic of Milan; director of CIRIS, an Interdepartmental Centre of Research on Innovation for Sustainability; co-ordinator of the "Dottorato in Disegno industriale" (Ph.D. in Industrial Design); director of the master in strategic design. Currently he is also chair professor of design under the distinguished-scholars scheme at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. His work focuses on innovative processes in the system of production and consumption and, in particular, on the relationship between product strategies and environmental policies in the perspective of sustainable development. He is member of the Editorial Board of: Journal of Industrial Ecology (USA), Journal for Sustainable Product Design (UK), Design Issues (USA) and Design Recherche (France), Pluriverso (Italy).