Manipulating the Material Code. The Transformation of Material Meaning in Contemporary Japanese Design.

Materiality is known to be a critical dimension in the design of products and environments, yet the influence of material properties on the user experience is not well understood. A collection of examples produced by representatives of the current Japanese design vanguard reveals an astute understanding of audience expectations of material behaviors. By intentionally manipulating the expected material properties in their designs, these practitioners demonstrate the extent to which the act of transforming material characteristics can elevate user consciousness. This chapter highlights five primary strategies of material transformation employed by these designers: sensory manipulation, quasi-mimesis, transliteration, repurposing, and aggregation. Although these methods are presented in the context of Japanese design, the intent is to address universally applicable strategies that are not limited to a single culture or society.