AMP - Advanced Manufacturing Park

The Victoria & Albert (V&A) Museum will showcase a fusion of art, design and technology in a revolutionary exhibition taking place during the London Design Festival.

The exhibition: "Industrial Revolution 2.0: How the Material World Will Newly Materialise", curated by renowned designer, Murray Moss, showcases radical advances in digital and laser technologies, initiated by industry leader Materialise, and new additive manufacturing technologies.

Additive Manufacturing allows for the three-dimensional printing of objects; a sophisticated fabrication process once reserved for prototyping but which is quickly becoming ubiquitous and is permeating all areas of the contemporary material world, including fashion and domestic furnishings, as well as transportation, medicine, and architecture.

To emphasize the viral nature of this Revolution, Moss has commissioned eight designs from the worlds of fashion and furnishings, all sponsored and produced by Materialise which were chosen because they respond directly to corresponding masterworks in the Museumís collection, and/or to prominent locations within the V&A.

As Moss explains; "My aim was to initiate little narratives, some of which I hope will amuse - between certain of the Museum's historical holdings and these futuristic contemporary objects, not only shedding new light on the Museum's collection, but, in the process, demonstrating the wide reach of these new technologies.

Pieces being displayed include;

'Bloom Light', designed by Patrick Jouin, France, 2010. The Bloom light has an articulated shade that can be opened or closed like a blooming lotus flower, allowing for more or less light to be diffused. All of the moving mechanical parts of the shade are created in one print and the lampshade emerges from the printing machine complete; there is no assembly.

'Escapism dress', designed by Iris van Herpen, The Netherlands, and Daniel Widrig, Germany, 2011. 3-D printed nylon, built through Additive Manufacturing, which allowed for this sculpted ensemble to be produced without any seams - no sewing machine or handwork was employed.

'Fractal.MGX table', designed by Gernot Oberfell and Jan Wertel, Germany, 2007. 3-D printed epoxy resin with PU filling, built through Additive Manufacturing.

'Cellular' chair, designed by Mathias Bengtsson, Denmark, 2011. 3-D printed epoxy resin, built through Additive Manufacturing.

Materialise UK, based at the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham, has the largest capacity of rapid prototyping equipment in Europe. The advantages of additive manufacturing have been used by Materialise to develop unique solutions that make a world of difference for its many customers with their prototyping as well as production needs. These customers range from large companies in the automotive, consumer electronics and consumables sectors; to famous hospitals, research institutes and clinicians.