What is Alternative Materials?
This is a room within the technical areas of Maudslay, ran by technician and ex-film industry maker Emily Quinn. In the space you can:
- discuss material options
- browse our material library
- experiment with biomaterial creation
- carry out processes such as sculpting, mouldmaking, casting, and lamination.
Order of access
1. Contact Emily to make a 'project chat' appointment
Speak to Emily in-person or message her on Microsoft Teams to arrange an appointment time. It's okay to not know exactly what information you need and to just want to have a chat. When messaging, include bit of info about yourself / your project (emails are welcome as well but they are more likely to get accidentally missed). Project chats are typically 30min-1hr long. Feel free to drop by the room (MAU110), if you are close by - although you'll kindly be asked to come back another time if Emily is busy and/or with another student who has a pre-booked appointment.
2. Turn up for your appointment
Bring as much information as possible (sketches/laptop/models) to help Emily fully understand your project and work out how Alternative Materials might be useful. You'll discuss on-campus making possibilities, potentially be signposted to other technical areas, and/or be linked to suppliers. Do not expect to start practical work within this first appointment.
3. Leave with a plan and a time for your next appointment (optional)
During the chat, if appropriate, you'll make a step-by-step plan for any practical work you hope to carry out in the area (or elsewhere with the technical support of Emily) and timescales will be made clear so you understand what is achievable in the time you have and can manage your expectations of your result.
Arrange a time to return for 1 or multiple practical sessions to carry out the work discussed. Before these sessions, you may be required to prepare certain things in other technical areas beforehand, or personally order any pre-approved specialist materials that you need so they arrive in time. It's completely okay to rearrange your practical sessions due to these factors and more - just make sure you message Emily to let her know! Who likes to be ghosted? Noone!
Opening Times
Alternative Materials is open for student support on weekdays 10am - 5pm. Closed for a lunch hour 12:30-1:30pm and closed on Wednesday afternoons for area maintenance and CPD.
Emily is contactable between 9am and 5:30pm. Times may vary so please message Emily on Teams for her on-the-day availability.
Materials Library
This is a collection of samples, cast in-house by Emily, left behind from past students' projects, and donated by or bought collections from material manufacturers/suppliers.
Alternative Materials does not have usable stock of the majority of the materials in the library - it is simply a point of reference so you can hold materials in your hands, decide whether they may be a good fit for your project so you then have the confidence to make your own purchase.
Some of the samples are of Alternative Materials' stock moulding and casting materials - readily available materials for your project will be pointed out to you during your initial appointment.
The materials library is an ever-growing asset, with plenty of gaps still to fill! If there's any materials you think it should have, let Emily know!
Biomaterials
Considering sustainability is a growing request from project briefs, courses, the university, and the planet! Alternative Materials would like to facilitate as much exploration into natural materials as possible.
The world of biomaterials is just as vast as the world of synthetic ones, so even though it is not possible to stock all ingredients - there are recipe books in M110 and digital resources available to help you know what ingredients you need to gather and what equipment and processes are involved (these can include: cooking, baking, freezing, and/or dehydrating).
If you think your project will heavily include the use of biomaterials - it is recommended that you approach the established biomaterials facility in the Nottingham School of Art & Design (Bonington) to ask for advise or a cross-school induction to get you started. Once you feel comfortable making your own samples, you are welcome to continue the process over in Alternative Materials if the space and equipment is available.
Bringing in products to Alternative Materials
Remember to double-check with Emily before bringing a substance to university that isn't already a stock material. Anything new that you'd like to use on campus needs to be evaluated for safety, with COSHH paperwork completed before you can start working with it.
Avoid this hassle by speaking to Emily before you order anything. It may be that the material you want is already stocked, or certain other stock materials may be suitable for the current stage of your project / could act as a safe alternative. She can also send you links to products that have already been COSHH assessed so there is no delay in getting you started.
For example: many past students have arrived for their initial conversation with an overpriced kit of silicone they purchased from Amazon. Not only can they not use it straight away because it hasn't been COSHH accessed, but they find out during their appointment that silicone is one of Alternative Materials' stock products that they can use in their projects free of charge.
Be safe!
Just like other labs and workshop areas, Alternative Materials has put in measures to ensure you can work in the safest way possible. Any PPE you might need is provided in the space, including: safety goggles, disposable gloves and aprons.
Don't come in Gucci to pour resin! It's recommended that you wear 'workshoppy/decorating' clothes when coming in to do practical work. Many of the substances used within Alternative Materials permanently stain and cure into fabrics and cannot be washed out.
Have fun!
Alternative Materials is an area that works to foster your imagination - encouraging experimentation and play. It can be difficult to remember to enjoy yourself when you're working to deadlines, so this is a reminder that every project can be a fun investigation, and we are here to help you carry that out in a safe, inspiring environment!
Emily Quinn
Experience
- BTEC in General Art & Design
- BA (Hons) in Modelmaking
- 5+ years experience in the UK film industry as a mouldmaker, caster and occasional sculptor/hair-puncher for props, creature and make-up FX departments
- Previous HE role held at the Royal College of Art, co-running a moulding/casting facility
- Technical role held at NTU for 6 years
- Side-experience in 3D printing and Autodesk Fusion 360