Rachel Webb press pack

Rachel Webb Corian速 Solid Surface Exploration

A

research project of material testing and developing with the product DuPoint Corian® Solid Surface; supplied from CD UK Ltd. Within this project aims were to fully explore possible design and new techniques advances for Corian®; including a series of recorded tests incorporating aspects of hand dyeing, sublimation printing, exploring flock and foil printing plus the use of hand tools to manipulate the surface and using the laser cutter to experiment with cut, raster and etch. Within some sample testing techniques were combined to see how well designs could look layered together, and to also explore how techniques reacted with one another, and in some cases this makes a standard piece of Corian® visually exciting.

The Corian® samples have been designed and developed with a natural theme in mind; living nature within urban spaces is constantly developing and becoming more prominent within design; Patrick Blanc’s live garden walls have been a huge inspiration for creating textured and colourful urban wall exteriors. Within this project soft subtle designs and colours make hard materials and surfaces appear delicate and calming.

The Corian® surface becomes intricate and detailed which is achieved with layering laser techniques, the designs are visually engaging for people to look at.

Now the initial research and testing phase of this project has been completed plans are to continue and develop this project through into Final Major Project. Within the testing and research phase of this project sizes of the Corian were generally small, therefore the next stage is to increase the scale of the Corian®, and experiment with how different sizes can work with designs and techniques.

Currently I am thinking the future market of the Corian® samples are for Interiors; focusing on wall surfaces, especially exterior surfaces.

Using natural elements such as flowers, ferns and leaves to create and inspire colours, texture and prints that could be transferred or applied by a technique or a combination to the CorianŽ. Using real flowers inspired the delicate approach to designs and texture for the surface; it’s interesting to have such subtle designs on a hard surface which can deceive the eye to make a surface appear softer.

Sublimation printing onto the surface

Developing techniques: exploring how techniques react with one another was a huge development within the project. A series of samples were disperse hot water dyed and then laser effects were applied on the Corian速, which revealed the top layer of the Corian速 did not take to the dye, due to it being a non-porous; which was really interesting as it then allowed contrasts within the design and technique phase.

Contact * rachele.webb@aol.co.uk ( 07703040963 8 www.rachelwebbdesigns.wordpress.com

With special thanks to CD UK Ltd for supplying the Corian速 samples