Design, in this larger sense, is not simply the making of things but rather a striving for wholeness. At its best, ecological design is the ultimate manifestation of love--a gift of life, harmony, and beauty to our children.

- David Orr

Fabrication Materials & Supplies

The materials and suppliers listed in this section are an introductory sampling of materials and suppliers that have been used or recommended by museums or sustainability colleagues, or selected based upon our own research and information from suppliers. The list is by its very nature subjective, and is in no way comprehensive, or an endorsement of the products listed. It has been culled together to give examples of available materials that can be used in place of standard fabrication materials used in exhibit construction. Some of the products listed are new and have not been fully tested while others have been used by only one museum. What worked well for one museum may perform poorly for another museum with different criteria.  

In many cases we have listed national suppliers who have regional distributors wherever possible. It will be necessary to go through the main distributor to find someone who carries the product locally.