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Society of Materials is an experiential design intervention that reimagines how designers engage with materials beyond traditional reference books. Born from my semester exchange in Europe, this project bridges the gap between theoretical material knowledge and tactile understanding by creating a curated material library and exhibition.

During my time in the Netherlands, I developed a deep fascination with material exploration - collecting, documenting, and experimenting with over 100 materials ranging from conventional to experimental.

Upon returning to the National Institute of Design in India, I transformed this collection into an interactive exhibition organized across four conceptual domains:
1. CONTRAST (materials with contradictory lifecycle implications),
2. ALTERNATE (unconventional European materials like bioplastics and apple leather),
3. COLLECTION (culturally significant material artifacts), and
4. INVESTIGATIONS (experimental material research).

The exhibition, displayed at NID Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar campuses, invited viewers to physically interact with each material sample, accompanied by a carefully designed booklet providing deeper context.

By emphasizing tactile experiences over purely visual or textual information, Society of Materials encourages more informed, ethical material decisions and expands the material vocabulary available to designers in India.

This initiative not only documents my personal material journey but establishes a framework for material education that connects two vital societies - the society of people and the society of materials.