Rough and Colourful / Rau und Bunt 
Alicia Hammerich & Janusz Elmi Sarabi
2026

In an increasingly standardised, sleek and uniform world, rough surfaces and colourful designs are becoming ever more important. They convey character and vitality, creating spaces that feel authentic and inviting. In this way, they provide a striking contrast to the often sterile perfection of modern design. The "rough and colourful " project investigated the production and surface properties of colourful chipboard.

The series of experiments focused on wood chips and their colouring, various binders, and their influence on the surface structure and appearance. The Brachwitz sawmill provided regional wood chips for the majority of the experiments. The boards were pressed in a handmade steel mould on a hydraulic workshop press with a pressing force of 100 tonnes.

The resulting surface samples reveal the diversity and unique characteristics of the material. To complete the study, four objects were developed as design applications, which test the material in different contexts of use and allow its aesthetic qualities to be experienced.
The result is rough and colourful.