Material ConneXion
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Materials consultancy |
| Founded | 1997 |
| Founder | George Beylerian |
| Headquarters | New York City, New York , United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | George Beylerian (Founder) |
| Parent | SANDOW (since 2011) |
Material ConneXion is a consultancy specializing in materials, with its main office located in New York City, New York.
History
Established in 1997 by George Beylerian, who previously served as vice president of marketing and creative director at Steelcase Furniture, Material ConneXion was created to fulfill Beylerian’s vision for a specialized materials library service.
In 2011, the company became part of SANDOW through acquisition.
Beyond its New York base, Material ConneXion maintains additional offices in Bangkok, Daegu, Milan, and Skövde, along with a comprehensive online materials database.
The organization’s tangible library includes more than 10,000 materials and processes, organized according to their chemical makeup: Polymers, Naturals, Metals, Glass, Processes, Ceramics, Cement-based, and Carbon-based categories.
In 2016, a collaboration between the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) and the American Chemistry Council (ACC) led to the establishment of a Material ConneXion Library at ASID’s Washington, D.C. headquarters. This facility emphasizes innovative materials that enhance health and wellness within built environments.
Notable Projects
Material ConneXion provides services to architecture and design firms, government entities, as well as prominent corporations such as Adidas, Target Corporation, PUMA, and BMW.
In 2001, designer Sandy Chilewich utilized a woven vinyl material sourced from Material ConneXion’s collection to launch her Chilewich brand. The firm also supported designer Harry Allen in selecting sustainable polypropylene packaging for the Ukuru cosmetics line by Aveda. In 2004, Material ConneXion contributed to Nike’s innovation by repurposing monofilament sleeving—commonly used for protecting PVC pipes—for the design of the Air Jordan XIX sneaker.
Through partnerships with McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry (MBDC) and the Environmental Protection and Encouragement Agency (EPEA), Material ConneXion stands out as the exclusive materials library offering access to Cradle to Cradle evaluated and certified materials. Additionally, it is the only consultancy providing Cradle to Cradle Certification alongside product development services.
Critical reception
In 2007, The New York Times honored Material ConneXion as a “Top Eco-Innovator” for its role in enhancing designers’ and corporations’ access to sustainable materials and environmentally conscious design methodologies.