Blog
26-4-21
Dare to Repair
This week, Institute of Making Director Mark Miodownik presents the first episode of a new BBC Radio 4 series: Dare to Repair (11:00, 27 April 2021). More
11-1-21
New plastics research project now underway!
We are delighted to announce the start of a new research project – Compostable Plastics: Unlocking Existing Barriers to Systems Change. More
01-8-20
Useful Links
The Institute of Making team is taking a break in August but we have compiled some useful links that might be helpful, if you are wanting to make something specific over the summer. More
07-5-20
Face Coverings - FAQs
We have drawn up a list of frequently asked questions around the making and wearing of face coverings, the answers to which we hope you will find useful. As we try out more patterns, adapt our masks and learn more, we will update this information. If you have a question that is not addressed, let us know and we will endeavour to add it to the list. More
17-3-21
Materials Love Letters From You
Following on from our Valentines-themed celebration of materials, we wanted to share a selection of the love letters sent by you, our wonderful community of materials experts and enthusiasts. More
25-2-21
Animate Materials - Call to action
Institute of Making Director, Mark Miodownik, alongside colleagues at the Royal Society, have published a new report and call to action on Animate Materials. More
11-2-21
Materials Love Letters
Join us to celebrate Valentine’s Day, Institute of Making style: by geeking out about materials in a series of love letters to alluring volcanic rocks, intense ceramic glazes, sticky gels, bounteous pencils, sulphurous vegetables and lustrous fibres, written by some of our wonderful team. More
17-12-20
What’s in our Materials Library stocking?
We’re starting to feel festive here at the Institute of Making, so we’ve dusted off some favourite winter holiday-themed materials for the occasion. Now…what have we got in our Materials Library stocking for you? More
17-7-20
Materials Up Close & Personal: ACRYLIC
This week we gaze into the hidden depths of ACRYLIC, a material we can thank for pearly dentures, prosthetic eyes and the perspex sneeze screens structuring our post-lockdown shopping experiences. Read on to find out what Cardi B’s glorious nail art and David Hockney’s technicolour scenes of Californian suburbia have in common, and why ‘tickling the ivories’ should really be called ‘tickling the acrylics’. More
15-7-20
Institute of Making: Seventh Year Report
Our yearly report shines a light on the projects, people, materials and making processes that were central to the Institute of Making in the past twelve months and summarises key activities of our seventh year of operation at UCL. More
03-7-20
Materials Up Close & Personal: WAX
This week’s Materials Library blog post gets lyrical about WAX, exploring its far-reaching and global relationship with divinity, art and fashion, examining the ancient roots of your waxed hairdo, probing why you shouldn’t be so hasty to remove your earwax, and delving into why vegans might want to be careful with their lemons. More
11-6-20
Materials Up Close & Personal: SALT
Scrape the surface of SALT in this week's blog examining our physiological need for simple sodium chloride, its hidden colonial history, and its cultural importance in food preservation, road safety, textile dyeing and soap manufacture. More
04-6-20
Materials Up Close & Personal: CORK
We’re back with a new Materials Library blog, and it’s a CORK-er. Pop open this cheeky little number to explore how this buoyant, waxy, natural foam has been supporting sailors, architects, wine lovers, scientists and medics for millenia. More
20-5-20
Materials Up Close & Personal: OVER TO YOU
This week we have put together a medley of the wonderful materials musings that you’ve shared with us over the last 5 weeks. It’s been wonderful to get a sneak peek into the substances you’ve been sharing lockdown with, and the new appreciation you’ve gained from meditating on your household matter. Now over to you! More