Today's designers are often presented with a seemingly infinite number of creative choices, with the ability to push their materials to the limits of what they can do. Understanding these materials properly helps designers make inspired decisions in a practical and confident manner. The Materials Sourcebook for Design Professionals is the one-stop resource for all design professionals, providing comprehensive, accurate information about the basic materials with which they work on a daily basis, as well as a complete breakdown on new and exciting developments in high-tech materials. Written by Rob Thompson, this book comprises six main parts on all the major design' material groups. These parts are then separated further into chapters that examine the properties of individual types of materials, e.g. Iron', Steel' and Aluminium'. In total, there are nearly 100 material types featured, each one supported by examples of how it can be used in a variety of industries, an outline of its most desirable properties and details on its form and texture. With 450 vibrant illustrations and a clear layout, the design professional or student is presented with a long-term reference tool that tells them everything they need to know about the materials they use habitually, with information delivered in a wholly unbiased and accessible manner.