As a designer, I am aware that it is important to strike a balance between inspirational materials and processes being developed in laboratories, and the fundamental materials and processes that make up the objects around us. Even so, many of the technologies now being used to produce consumer products, like computers and mobile phones, are becoming well-guarded secrets, giving brands their competitive edge.

My recently published book, Manufacturing Processes for Design Professionals, covers a wide range of innovative materials and manufacturing processes that are having an impact on the design industry. The plan for this blog is to build on the success of Mode of Production, an exhibition that I curated in London last September during London Design Festival.

I saw these composite plastic panels at the Surface Design Show in London this year. They are produced by Bencore, an Italian manufacturer, and demonstrate some of the most endearing qualities of plastic - they are bright, colourful and lustrous. Both the cylindrical core and tough outer sheets are polycarbonate (PC). An amorphous polymer (unorganised and non-crystalline molecular structure), PC has excellent clarity, is tough and resistant to impact. All of these qualities have contributed to the widespread application of PC in consumer products, furniture and the iconic Apple iMacs.

Other materials used by Bencore include styrene acrylonitrile (SAN), high impact polystyrene (HIPS) and polyethylene terephthalate modified with glycol (PETG), all of which have excellent optical properties. I've seen these panels used in trade fair stands, shops, interiors and furniture. They look great backlit. There are many more types of plastic and composite panel and some interesting structural ones too (suitable for floors and wall), which I will talk about another time.

Image: Bencore composite panels