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An upcoming conference in Frankfurt has two titles. We prefer the first, Material Vision; the second is more descriptive, but a total mouthful--Materials for Product Development, Design and Architecture
International Trade Fair and Lecture Forum.

36 products and materials distinguished by a combination of innovative materials, successful design and intelligent functionality have been chosen for the Design Plus Award on the occasion of Material Vision in Frankfurt am Main from 16 to 18 June 2009.

Materials on display range from flexible stone(!) to superelastic resins, hemp-based parchments and more.

The Material Vision website has a brief interview up with Design Plus juror Christof Struhk:

...Why is Material Vision worth visiting?

Material Vision is a must for visitors seeking contact with companies, who have come to realise that ultimately it’s the designers and product developers who decide how a material is used. What they can expect from the exhibiting companies is a receptive approach to communications with designers. Unfortunately this is not a given – in many companies the belief still reigns that the only appropriate people to talk to are the technicians and engineers. As far as manufacturers are concerned, I can recommend Material Vision as the perfect place to make contact with the creative target group. It is also the place to be seen for anyone who understands that the creative is an indispensable part of the product development process.

Read the rest here.