We are a team of five students from the Royal College of Art, each bringing diverse creative expertise across Graphic Design, Design Products, Architecture, Contemporary Art Practice, and Painting. United through AcrossRCA—an ambitious interdisciplinary program that connects students from all RCA MAs—we came together with a shared vision to explore sustainability through our creative practices.

 

As part of the Climate Crisis group, we were inspired to look at the environmental impact of the materials we use in our daily work and practices. Through collaborative ideation and research, we developed the concept of a Material Archive—a dedicated collection and resource for sustainable materials at the RCA. 

 

To ensure a clear and accessible evaluation process, we designed the Hexagon Material Index, a simplified framework for assessing sustainable materials based on six key factors: responsivity, decomposition, reusability, sourcing, material characteristics, and potential as an alternative to existing materials. As creatives working across various disciplines, we wanted to create a tool that would make finding sustainable material alternatives easier for anyone developing models, products, sculptures, paintings, and installations.

 

The first iteration of the RCA Material Archive Collection was exhibited at the Battersea Campus Library and the Design Products studio. Reflecting the hexagonal structure of our material index, the physical collection is displayed in a modular, beehive-inspired arrangement, with hexagonal material tiles mounted on walls and surfaces. Each tile can be physically interacted with, and a QR code links to this online Material Archive, where visitors can explore material details, related projects, and purchasing information.

 

This initiative is designed to grow through student and staff contributions, ultimately building one of the largest and most unique material libraries within a UK university. We invite the entire RCA community to participate—by creating, sourcing, and sharing sustainable materials, we can push the boundaries of responsible making!