Material Card
Using the logic of nutrition labels to make material performance, environmental and social information easier to read and compare.
- My role
Independent development
- Year
2025
- Context
Independent project
- Status
Research prototype
Project context
Material Card addresses scattered material information, technical barriers and the difficulty consumers face in understanding a material’s wider impact. It organises uses, price, durability, carbon footprint, origin and social responsibility into a consistent reading structure. Information hierarchy, colour and rating levels help users consider function, cost and environmental impact when choosing furniture, renovation or building materials.
The project organises information for 16 common building and household materials as examples and develops an HTML and JavaScript prototype with CSV import, manual entry and rating displays. Units are aligned and indicators classified before being presented as comparable tables and labels, exploring the process from raw information to material cards.
The research also considers missing data, disclosure standards and public access to information. Prototype ratings explore the method; the project further proposes a unified, public foundation for material information so that choices can include environmental and labour conditions.