Michael Szivos, who founded SOFTlab in 2005, has said that the New York-based design studio is about material, experience, effect and engagement. Four words that go a long way toward explaining why the studio’s collaboration with 3M is so successful?it’s certainly hard to imagine a more material- and experience-centered company.
“Many engineers, architects, designers and artists around the world are using our 3M materials as a great source of inspiration,” said Eric Quint, Chief Design Officer of 3M Company. “Their specific structures, visual appearances and physical properties give endless opportunities to experiment with and create new solutions. Our collaboration with designers like Michael Szivos at SOFTlab, help us explore the boundaries beyond imagination and amplify the way people interact with our materials into new experiences.” Last year the design studio won Flatiron Public Plaza Holiday Design Competition and then collaborated with 3M on Nova, an installation that created an urbanized gazebo.
The exterior of the cell-like structure was clad in aluminum while the interior was laminated with 3M Dichroic Film, which created a glowing, kaleidoscopic effect. When SOFTlab partnered with 3M for the LifeLab at SXSW 2015, they again reached for 3M?s dichroic film. It is a magical product. The film mimics the look of dichroic glass?a material that the Romans were fond of using. The Romans managed to get the iridescent effect by spri...