The surface spectacle that is Surface Design Show has returned to London’s Business Design Centre from today until Thursday 9th February, showcasing an exciting and ethical array of new material trends - plus the latest innovations within the industry.

This years overarching theme of ‘Shaping Communities’ points to champion innovative surface solutions with ambition to improve the surroundings for all, through collaboration and meaningful design solutions.

Located right in the centre of the Show, Surface Spotlight Live (SSL) features ground-breaking materials for visitors to touch and feel, giving a truly ‘hands-on’ experience for its visiting architects and designers.

Curated by leading trend expert, Sally Angharad and sponsored by CDUK , SSL will present a selection of surfaces, finishes and materials that celebrate the power of creative thinking, demonstrating how ethical innovation is providing positive design solutions.

Sally comments: “This year’s selection of materials celebrates finding a common ground between the latest innovations and ideas that have a positive impact on people and places. New conversations are showing how human experience and a community’s identity are central to design development”.

Exhibitors showcasing across Surface Design Show have been selected in the following trend categories at SSL: ‘Common Ground’, ‘Let’s Talk Tactility’ and ‘Collective Thinking’.

Common Ground - Surfaces that explore processes and applications that balance aesthetics with sustainability, so we can live in harmony with our environment.

Cemher (stand 301) delivers superior performance and appearance without exception. Offering a wide range of microcements to suit different uses, it ensures a seamless surface finish and a unique alternative to tiles. Applied continuously by hand-trowel, so there’s no need for joins or grout lines. The cement-based finish is incredibly strong, durable and 100% waterproof. It can be applied to a wide range of substrates creating floors, walls, bathrooms, wet rooms and worktops with a finished depth of 3-4mm.

Rough Old Glass (stand 260) handle countless pieces of antique mirror glass, which portray the unique qualities of old mirror glass. Suitable for both commercial and residential interiors, Rough Old Glass lends itself to use of decorative wall panels. These classic antiqued mirror finishes can also be toughened for use as a kitchen splash back or a tabletop. From the lightest finish ‘Foxed’, to heavily degraded finish ‘Really Rough’, all of their antiqued mirror glass is cut to the client’s specifications and hand- silvered, resulting unique designs and patination.

Let’s Talk Tactility - Nature inspired pattern and texture permeated surfaces that spur emotional connections through sense of touch, enhanced by the interaction of light.

Ketley Brick (stand 242) connect inside and outside spaces seamlessly with their clay quarry tiles. They appear to be integral to the building, as if they have always been there and with a range of natural clay colours and sizes available, there is great scope for different designs and laying patterns. Their product offering provides the opportunity to combine traditional construction methods with modern systems. Designers can use their range of Staffordshire brick products to gain efficiency in creating exciting textured facades, using solid and special shaped bricks and using modern lightweight construction methods with extruded brick slips where appropriate.

Designer Walls (stand 462) is dedicated to offering interior decorative wall panels with surface texture beyond imagination. They offer innovative wall panel solutions from exclusive European designers and manufacturers which use the finest materials known. Using natural products with modern twists to suit today’s design and architectural requirements - with a healthy appetite for recycled products. The Faux Stone & Slate range uses a system of panels that fix to the wall, giving the effect of exposed stone walls. A natural, warm and timeless look which works well in a home or hospitality setting.

‘Collective Thinking’ - A conceptual approach to post-consumer waste to stay out of landfill, with materials combined onto new colourful offerings.

COAT Paints (stand 261) are the first and only paint company to receive the prestigious B Corp Certification, supporting their anti-greenwashing ‘speak in facts’ ethos in the market. They make their paints using high-calibre raw materials, meaning that they use quality pigments, lots of good resin and high-grade titanium dioxide. Coat’s Luxury Eco Paint hides imperfections and covers them effortlessly. The paints are water-based, low VOC, as well as deeply coloured and durable.

Smile Plastics (stand 368) is the UK’s leading material design studio producing 100% recycled and recyclable decorative panels for retail, interior, furniture, and product design. The reimagined materials have gained a substantial following in the design industry, building an enviable variety of clients from award-winning gastro-start-ups to luxury brands including Christian Dior.

Spared® is a start-up by design agency Volume Creative (stand NT30), born from a desire to support brands in re-using their own waste in their environments by turning waste into beautiful objects, furniture, art and surfaces, spared from landfill.

To register for the show, please click here