A new iphone app allows users to show clients material samples of Corian and Zodiaq products for surfaces. While useful, the author of the blog apparently ignores, or does not deem sufficiently important, the necessary translation of material qualities that must occur between the digital and physical realms. As we have explored throughout the semester, the differences between these two realms exist in important ways and can be exploited to our own design advantage. Also, having worked in an architecture and interiors office, I can speak to the differences between the image of a material on the computer screen, in a book, and in the physical sample. While this app is perhaps a useful tool, I would not make an expensive material decision for a project based on anything less than a physical sample of the material.
"wow so that one has dark speckles on a light background!"
ReplyDeleteThat is pretty much all that tool will tell you. Like you say, without the actual sample there is no telling what the material will look like in the current light conditions. Especially with a material like Corian where the differences between each color are so minute and the sheen and finish of the material are so important.
I would put this app in the "We need an Iphone app to be trendy" category.