building a material library and digital archive to encourage sustainable and responsible material use in creative practice
Client: rca.ac.uk, Royal College of Art, London, UK
Project Type: End-to-end Material Catalogue UX | UI + Online Shop + Material Design + AI-based Material Index
Role: UX | UI Designer + Logo Redesign + Digital Material Archive & E-commerce Interface Design
Industry: Sustainable Materials, Manufacturing, Art & Design
Tools: Wix Studio, Figma, JS (Velo), Wix CMS & Stores
Duration: Q1 | 2025
Georgie Richardson
Architecture
My role in the AcrossRCA project was to lead the development of the Material Archive by coordinating and curating a list of sustainable alternatives to existing making materials.
I designed the initial concept for the physical library, through sketches and renders, and developed/coded a web store (mobile and desktop) featuring an updatable material archive with an integrated blog for students to share projects made with their sustainable materials. I assembled and photographed the first RCA Material Archive as well as all of the individual sustainable materials.
Initial Library Concept Renders
We tested existing sustainability tools like Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), the Material Circularity Indicator, and the Higgs Index, but found them overly complex and data-heavy for creatives needing quick, practical guidance.
Realising that material sustainability is understood differently across disciplines, we developed the Sustainability Material Index, a framework that balances diverse priorities to assess and compare materials.
PROJECT SHOWCASE
Study for the Relic of the Future
Emulsion Paint Sculpture, by Joe Hodway. Media used, post consumer emulsion paint. Dimensions H: 30 cm x W 20 cm x D 14 cm.
Joe Hodway, MA Painting student, repurposed post-consumer emulsion paint into a sculptural bust, highlighting the potential of discarded materials as refined artistic mediums. By transforming a durable acrylic polymer with a silky finish, his work challenges traditional sculpting practices while sparking dialogue on sustainability in art.
The RCA Digital Material Archive, designed by myself, is a platform to purchase, compare, and share sustainable materials for design, art, fashion, and making. It acts as both a library and community hub, where RCA creatives can showcase projects made with sustainable material alternatives and upload or validate their own materials.
This idea follows earlier initiatives such as the “Inspiring Matter” conference in 2012, which featured a curated exhibition of innovative materials. Though temporary, it functioned like a physical library, demonstrating the value of a dedicated materials resource at the RCA, supporting its role as a pioneed in sustainability and creative innovation.
