Materials research in the design process Berlin

Many materials already exist. They have been researched, developed, and validated in the laboratory. Between the scientific findings and the product someone buys and uses lies a world of difference. Silvia Wald works precisely in this world.

To Berlin Design Week 2026 Aufschnitt reopens its doors. Silvia offers a presentation demonstrating how a new fiber, created from plant-based raw materials, recycled materials, or biotechnological processes, can be translated into real-world applications. She showcases examples and collaborations with research institutes for the development of materials used in home textiles, fashion, and technical textiles, such as those for the automotive industry. The presentation's unique aspect lies in its practical focus, the in-depth look at her work and processes, and the documented results of application tests.

What can you expect?

Over the past few years, Silvia Wald has conducted application tests for fibers in collaboration with leading textile research institutions and materials companies. These fibers have diverse origins: natural plant fibers, recycled textile fibers, and biotechnological processing.

The central question of her work: Where does a fiber work? Where does it not? What needs to change so that it is practical for everyday use, aesthetically pleasing, and ecologically sound? She will present the answers to these questions live in conversation at Berlin Design Week.

The research network

– ATB Potsdam (Leibniz Institute) – Scientific integration in biomaterials research
– STFI Chemnitz – Textile testing and standardization of fiber properties
– Re-Fresh Global – Recycled textile fibers as a raw material base
– Felde Fibres – Plant-based elemental fibers (hemp, nettle, flax) from German cultivation
– Daniel Hengst – Artistic research on plant material and perception

program

Date	May 28, 2026
Location	Cold cuts, Boxhagener Straße 32, 10245 Berlin
format	Live presentation & exhibition
admission	Tickets available at Eventbrite
Presentation	May 28, 2026 at 7:00 PM
Application areas	Home textiles / Fashion / Technical textiles / Automotive

About Silvia Wald

Silvia Wald works at the intersection of materials research and design application. She takes a holistic approach to exploring what a new material can achieve in the real world. As a designer and researcher, she acts as a bridge between science and product. She loves to express herself creatively as well as scientifically. This creativity is reflected in her Berlin-based label Aufschnitt, while her scientific approach complements her passion for delving deeply into the nature of matter.