Surface Design Awards – Complete

• INTERIOR SURFACE OF THE YEAR - NEW
  This is a new category that recognises wall, floor, ceiling and surface design products, including decorative, creative and inventive surfaces for the interior of buildings including both commercial and residential properties.

Sweat Betty has recently introduced a new store design at Liverpool One, which they plan to implement across all their stores and concessions in Europe. They partnered with DUZST to create custom surfaces for key product areas within the store. The store design combines a minimalist aesthetic with a soothing Wimborne white wash, creating a natural backdrop that allows their products to shine. This minimalist approach provides an opportunity for intricate detailing in the store's furniture. DUZST was tasked with crafting something both natural and durable, with a high-end technical feel and personalised branding.

Our patented process enables us to create bespoke materials using a variety of core materials or dust, including stone in this instance. Our material made here primarily consists of stone dust waste, accounting for 95% of the composition, and is backed with flexibility for easy application. We have the capability to design and fine-tune textures, contours, and finishes. Our goal was to retain the essence of stone while imbuing it with a textured, leather-like feel. This texture is a micro repeat of their branding, discernible to the naked eye, and its precision profile adds the desired technical sophistication to the details.

All our products are handcrafted in the UK using sustainably sourced waste quarry dust. We exclusively employ natural, chemical-free additional materials. Our air-drying production process minimizes CO2 emissions. While we use electricity for prototyping, our manufacturing phase involves no machinery. Essentially, we repurpose waste or byproducts into high-end finishes instead of relying on virgin materials.

Two significant challenges were overcome in developing this material. First, achieving the right colour, Wimborne white, required sourcing specific quarry waste, a task that posed a considerable challenge. Second, creating the micro pattern on the surface involved extensive experimentation, ranging from water cutting and 3D printing to lasers and CNC technology, until we achieved the desired texture. The skin detail measures just 0.4mm thick, and the entire product is less than 2mm thick, necessitating precision in our handmade production.

If you'd like to experience the product firsthand, we can provide samples upon request. Sensory materials like these are best appreciated through touch and feel. We hope our innovative approach to sustainable material design is well-received, and we look forward to the possibility of recognition in this year's awards for our efforts in sustainability and innovation.