Materials Education for Students—Live, and On Demand
Material Intelligence is an official provider of materials and sustainability content for the Interior Design Educators Council (IDEC).
We’re able to offer materials education at no charge to IDEC member schools, thanks to our generous sponsors:
Classroom Presentations
Material Intelligence has been offering materials education for practicing architects and interior designers for more than a dozen years. Founder Kenn Busch is a seasoned public speaker with a passion for engaging the next generation of interior and furniture designers. He brings a global perspective on sustainability and aesthetics to your classroom. Learn more
Material Guides for Commercial Specifiers
Practical definitions and applications for a wide variety of surfaces to help you choose the right materials for your project. Get the Material Guides for surfaces and substrates for furniture and interior architecture and the technology of surface design.
What Materials Are Climate Positive?
Visit ClimatePositiveNOW.org to learn the story behind nature’s perfect carbon sink and why these materials will build the way to a better future.
Global Exhibitions + Events
We visit some of the most important international furniture, design and material fairs to capture the essence and energy of the event, interview the thinkers and doers, and bring it all back to you, the busy visionaries charged with creating the future of our built environment. Get exhibition and event highlights here.
Material IQ, a Design Solutions Blog
Choosing the best material for each market, surface, and application can be an art in itself. Properly balancing design, durability, cost, and environmental impact for your clients is key to your success. In Material IQ, you'll find an ever-growing catalog of real-world stories of material triumphs that can help guide your specifications.
Don’t Specify the Wrong Material
Why do other people's mistakes always make us feel better? They remind us that we‘re all human. Over time, veneers and solid woods in high touch settings don’t always wear well. Consult our Material Guides to make sure you’re choosing the best material for your projects!
Supplier Stories
Explore the sustainability, design, and technology behind the materials in these supplier stories.
Voices + Visionaries
Video interviews and story highlights from just a few of the young designers we’ve encountered in our travels to the world’s biggest and most exciting exhibitions and trend fairs.