Bamboo and Other Eco-Friendly Veneers

Bamboo has become the “it” material for many gadget designers. PC maker Dell has launched its Studio Hybrid PC with the option of a bamboo case, while Asus offers a Bamboo series notebook. There are also bamboo speakers, a keyboard, mouse and USB hub available, all wearing the woody-stemmed grass.

“The use of authentic materials is a strong trend in product design right now,” says Gadi Amit, principal designer and founder of product-design firm New Deal Design, which worked with Dell on its Studio Hybrid PC.

The trend goes far beyond the PC industry, with many designers in other fields adopting the ostensibly eco-friendly material. Watchmaker Nixon has a model with a bamboo strap. Bikemaker Craig Calfee showed bicycles with bamboo frames at a recent show. Bamboo has even taken the clothing world by storm as one of the hottest textiles. It’s used in everything from T-shirts and boxer shorts to high-end hotel bedsheets.

Bamboo is catching the attention of product designers in much the same way as titanium or fruit-colored translucent plastics did a few years ago. Bamboo is an easy way to send a message about the green credentials of a product, say industrial designers. It also appeals to people who want a very visible way to show they swing green — a visible complement to their Anya Hindmarch “I am not a plastic bag” bag and their Priuses.

But at least in the PC industry, the use of bamboo could be considered partly greenwashing, designers acknowledge. Despite its positive connotations, bamboo cases are usually optional — and even then are just an exterior veneer glued to a carbon-fiber or plastic body. “To some degree it is a gimmick or a shallow attempt,” says Amit. “But it still signifies the emergence of a new aesthetic that is more rough, less polished and one that reconnects audience with the green movement.”

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via: Wired