Sensory Materials; Exhibition design by Studio Joseph; Photo: Matt Flynn ? Smithsonian Institution

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2018

2025

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1200, Sensory Materials

Materials are the flesh and bones of objects and buildings. Plastic, metal, ceramic, and glass have distinct qualities of hardness, roughness, and shine. A material's ability to conduct heat or trap air makes it feel warm or cool to touch. Textures speak to the eye as well as to the skin, enriching surfaces with real or simulated depth.

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This object was previously on display as a part of the exhibition The Senses: Design Beyond Vision.

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