Imagining new materials: Design as puzzle-solving

Abstract

How important is the imagination in the design and creation of new and innovative materials, and how can it be developed through formative processes? What happens when the real world becomes distinct from our imagination of it and what are the implications of such a rupture? These questions are considered with reference to a case study in the field of nanoscience and nanotechnology, which is examined with a focus on social relations, and formative processes in particular, emphasizing how these relations contribute to the creation–design of new materials. The author also examines the notion of imagination, focusing on its importance in the design of nanomaterials, which she conceptualizes as analogous to puzzle-solving. Two further examples enable us to reflect on different approaches through which the imagination might be understood and how the above questions can contribute to a rethinking of the hylomorphic and textility of making models.