Welcome to the future. “Design Is MATERIAL”…the MA way

The world’s smallest mosiac from Brix

The MA way says that barriers are meant to be broken down, follow your own path to happiness, change the game and be bold! In the same spirit we are extremely proud of our newest platform added to Design Is Human Week, Design Is MATERIAL, all about the future and showcasing the latest trends in the fast-paced, ever-evolving world of materials.


Design Is Material Co-Curators, Matteo Caimi (l), MA Director of Architecture & Design, and John Cantrell (r), Senior Designer at HOK.

Matteo Caimi, Design Is Material Co-Curator
MA Director of Architecture & Design

Matteo Caimi represents the new attitudes in Italian architecture and design. Caimi studied architecture at the prestigious Milan Polytechnic. He is a member of The Order of Architects of Milan since 1998, and associate principal at C&A Architecture. In Atlanta, Georgia, Caimi serves as Director of Architecture and Design for MA (Modern Atlanta), overseeing MA’s design initiatives in the United States and internationally. His work relies heavily on research and analysis and other considerations including function, form, light, materials, and technology. His projects are published in leading international design publications including INTERNI, ARCHITECTURAL RECORD, and CASA ABITARE.

John Cantrell, Design Is Material Co-Curator
Senior Designer, HOK

“John Cantrell, senior designer at HOK, has a specialty in the design and construction of sustainable, high-performance buildings for commercial, retail, and science+technology sectors. In addition to architecture and interiors he has extensive experience in the commercial product design market with current product designs in both flooring and furniture. John serves on the Advisory Board for the Building Arts Department for SCAD as well as having served as the Sustainable Design Advisor for the Georgia Chapter of IIDA and chair of the 2008-09 Trash to Treasure Art Auction supporting Public Art for the Atlanta BeltLine.”

Design Is MATERIAL makes its inaugural debut in Atlanta on launch night in the form of a micro-exhibition/installation.


Star-Tek Gulfstone quartz surfaces are made up of 93% natural material known as Quartz with 7% of additives. www.startiles.co.uk

MA founding partner, Bernard McCoy, describes Design Is MATERIAL as “… a curator’s dream. I want this micro-exhibition to inspire visitors and open minds to other possibilities. Selecting materials, systems, and finishings are extremely important considerations in architecture and design, and we think Design Is MATERIAL will aid in making that process easy, informative yet fun, and a be rich experience come launch night. Design Is Material has a bright future in the United States, and each year Atlanta will benefit from the excitement to come.”


VMZINC Pigmento range is created by adding mineral pigments to a durable protective coating, creating beautifully organic red, green and blue pre-weathered zincs. www.vmzinc-us.com/PIGMENTO

360 degrees, design is MATERIAL walks you into the future and is sure to inspire fresh perspectives in the human pursuits of excellence, beauty, happiness, and preserving earth’s limited resources where the influence of materials are applied, and then showcases the best examples that truly generate excitement and successfully addresses the needs of humanity and the built environment.


LG Hausys promotional video for HI-MACS solid surface

LG Hausys

Also, as part of Design Is MATERIAL, be sure to check out the Korean Pavilion and its cutting-edge HI-Macs acrylic solid surface from Korea-based LG Hausys.





The Design is Material wall was built by local Cablik Enterprises, a proud sponsor of the 2011 MA Design Is Human Week. Cablik Enterprises is a premier builder of Atlanta modern homes through its modern homes division, Cablik Modern Dwellings. Cablik Enterprises can work with you to build your new Atlanta modern home, or remodel your existing home to have an updated look. Cablik Enterprises has built many of the Atlanta modern homes you see scattered throughout various parts of the city, and each Atlanta modern home is custom built to the exact specifications of the owner. Cablik is a custom modern home builder and can build out on your lot anywhere in the Atlanta metro area. Learn more about Cablik’s involvement in Modern Atlanta week on Cablik’s blog posts.