Events
Materials Stories @Design Shanghai
At Design Shanghai 2025, materials are the new heroes—telling powerful stories through texture, origin, and transformation. From bio-based innovation to futuristic finishes, our curated themes invite you to touch, explore, and imagine. This year, don’t miss:
Exhibition: Materials Stories– an immersive showcase of material narratives across sustainability, technology, and sensory design.
Up Close and Personal with Chris Tour – an exclusive guided walkthrough of material and trend highlights.
CMF Training Workshop: June 6, 13:00–17:30 (TBC)
CMF Trends Breakfast Talk with Chris Lefteri at Workbench Ltd
Chris Lefteri will be speaking at an exclusive breakfast event hosted by Workbench Ltd during Clerkenwell Design Week, exploring how CMF trends move, shift, and shape the design process.
He’ll share why trends should influence your thinking from the start—beginning with materials, not ending with them.
Whether you’re a designer, manufacturer, or passionate about innovation and sustainability, this talk is for you.
Limited spaces available
CMF Trend Lab 2025
At CIFF – China International Furniture Fair, CMF LAB brings together designers and material suppliers for an in-depth exploration of cutting-edge CMF (Color, Material, Finish) trends. With a focus on both expert insights and forward-thinking innovation, this year’s showcase highlights how materials shape the future of sustainable design.
Co-curated by Chris Lefteri, along with Chief Curator Jamy Yang from Yang Design, and Xiaojing Huang and Markus Frentrop from RAL Colours, the exhibition presents SYMBIOSIS – a curated selection of game-changing products that define a new era of design where materials, technology, and sustainability converge.
CMF Conference 2024: Expanding the boundaries of Design (talk)
The CMF HOW'S Conference 2024 is a new event organized by the Ko Institute of Design Promotion(KIDP),during DesignKorea, focused on CMF. This conference invites global leaders in the CMF field to share the late and innovative ideas. In its inaugural year, experts from various industries gather to exchange their experiences and philosophies while exploring trends of CMF.
Future Materials Conference
Materials visionary Chris Lefteri joins acclaimed materials scientists and designers to dive into The Power of Storytelling in CMF Design, exploring how narrative shapes the sensory world of color, material, and finish. Adding to the inspiration, Gaia Crippa, Head of Materials Innovation, will present Driving the Future of Sustainable Design, unveiling groundbreaking circular CMF innovations that are paving the way for a more sustainable design landscape.
Materials Lab & Tech and Craft (Exhibition and talk)
Chris Lefteri curated Materials Lab at Design Mumbai showcases the forefront of sustainable and innovative materials. This interactive exhibit provides a unique opportunity to experience the latest advancements in material science, revealing insights into the future of design. Join us to explore how cutting-edge materials are shaping a more sustainable world.
Car Design Nigh - Rethinking Luxury in Automotive Design
Gaia Crippa will explore luxury in automotive design at 2024's Car Design Night, during Salone del Mobile.
Hosted by James McLachlan, with speakers like Maserati’s Klaus Busse and Swarovski’s Peter Widmann, the panel will explore opulence, trends, and technology in the industry.
Guangzhou CIFF - China International Furniture Fair 2024
Mon, 18th March 2024 - Thu, 21st March 2024
Chris Lefteri will be participating in the 53rd China International Furniture Fair, CIFF Guangzhou 2024, with a talk and workshop.
London Design Fair
"Materials: Ingredients for Sustainability" will unveil over 100 innovative materials applicable across diverse design realms.
Our curation seeks to simplify the intricate world of materials and sustainability by categorizing these materials into three distinct groups. Join us in navigating the ever-evolving landscape of materials innovation!
21-24 September 2023 | Truman Brewery
https://www.londondesignfair.co.uk
Sustainable Design China Summit
Chris Lefteri will be taking part in the Sustainable Design China Summit 2023 with an exhibition, talk and workshop.
Lineapelle Fair
Teaming up with the Mycel Project, we've harnessed the full potential of an advanced sustainable textile, born from mycelium.