Material Conference Update

😷 Hello everyone. We're sending a quick Material Conference update. COVID-19 has impacted Iceland much less than other countries. The infection levels are relatively low, but that doesn't mean we can disregard safety measures. It is a fragile web.

We really want to be able to announce a time and place where we can all meet in person to chat, learn and discuss the Web and some of the underlying ideas. Unfortunately, now is not the time.

As much as we'd like to set a date for our rescheduled 2020 event, it is too soon. Iceland and the EU have not opened the borders with the USA, which is a big setback since many of our attendees will come from abroad.

Right now, we are researching, asking questions and learning about the needs of our attendees and about the mission of the conference. We could become a virtual event. Many other conferences decided to go remote this year, but at the same time, there is something special about meeting in-person and having a tactile experience at a conference called "Material".

The story of Material is not over. We still believe there is a lot to explore when it comes to better understanding the fundamental affordances of what the Web and digital have to offer. Only once we master the material, we can master the craft.

We look forward to the day we can reschedule our event and you'll be the first to know.
 

🎓 In the meantime, here are a few updates about two of our Material Alumni. 🎓

Design March 2020

Material 2020 was going to be held the week before Design March, an annual design showcase event in Reykjavik, Iceland. Due to COVID-19, Design March was postponed until the end of June. Two Material Alumni, Halldór and Björn, had exhibitions.

Halldór Eldjárn

Halldór had two interesting items. An inorganic plant garden: this is an Arduino and receipt printer that uses solar power to 'grow' the leaves according to the amount of sunlight falling on the sensors.

Björn Steinar

In 2018, Björn introduced us to "Catch of the Day". Over the past two years, he continues to turn wasted fruit into a premium vodka label.

For Design March, he converted the Vodka distillery into producing an alcoholic spritz to sanitise guests' hands. He provided each venue with this important safety protection.

⛑ Stay Safe, Stay Weird 👽