
Efrat Barak
Materials & Design Innovation


My name is Efrat Barak, and I believe in the power of design to create meaningful change. I'm an independent consultant, mentor, and lecturer in the field of Material Innovation, with a special focus on integrating sustainability principles, strategic thinking, and creativity into product development processes.
My professional journey combines rich knowledge and experience: I hold a B.Des in Industrial Design from Holon Institute of Technology (HIT), and an M.A. in Environmental Studies, with highest honors (summa cum laude), from Tel Aviv University. For over a decade, I've gained extensive practical experience working with diverse materials and industries, and also managed the Material Library at the Holon Design Museum. This background allows me to bridge the worlds of design, science, technology, industry, and environment, creating innovative solutions that are both relevant and sustainable.
As part of my commitment to deepening and disseminating knowledge in the field, I'm continuously building and expanding a physical collection of material samples. This collection serves as a constant source of inspiration for me, and allows me to concretely and tangibly demonstrate the wide range of possibilities, innovations, and complexities of the material world in my lectures and workshops. It serves as a unique platform for researching, analyzing, and presenting advanced and traditional materials, helping professional and academic audiences gain a deeper understanding of their crucial role in the design process and in creating sustainable solutions.
I believe in collaborations and out-of-the-box thinking, and I always strive to bring a fresh perspective and tailored solutions to every challenge. If you're looking to drive innovation in materials, integrate sustainability into your products, or deepen your team's professional knowledge – I'd be happy to assist you.
Strategy Consulting & Business Development: Avi Sagi
"Materials form the fundamental basis for nearly everything in the world. Consequently, we must diligently consider how we source, produce, and utilize them; keeping in mind both present needs and future interests." -Efrat Barak
Consulting, research and lecture services for the development and implementation of innovation in materials based on design and strategic thinking. The services offered are suitable for start-ups, entrepreneurs, companies from various manufacturing industries, academia, and professionals who are interested in overcoming challenges and improving their abilities through learning, research, and the implementation of innovation in materials.
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Consulting and mentoring:
or creators, entrepreneurs, product developers and startups engaged in the development of new materials and products. The service includes formulating a design strategy, locating relevant applications, and adapting the material to specific target audiences. -
Materials Curation:
Exhibitions and displays of materials that tell their story, create contexts and reveal groundbreaking ideas to diverse audiences - from designers and architects, through entrepreneurs and industrialists, as well as to the general public.
Lectures:
Fascinating and thought-provoking lectures that expose the audience to groundbreaking ideas and materials. Suitable for professional audiences, students and anyone who wants to discover more about the fascinating materials that surround us and change the world. Topics: Materials Changing Reality | Nature has already done it before | Idea, Material, Space | Sustainable Materials | Living Materials


Publications
Selected articles:
“Extreme Materials | Materials trends and global changes”, “Synthetic fruit and genetic engineering: Science fiction or Design?” (Heb), “Folds and structures: Science turns to Origami” (Heb). Design Museum Holon’s Magazine.
"Material innovation for the construction industry" book by Adi Mager, Founder of "IRMI - The Israeli Raw Materials Resource Forum for the Construction and Infrastructure Industries".
“Material re-union-re-cycle” interview and cover of “Extreme Lab” by Naama Riva. (Haaretz, Heb)
Exhibitions
Curator:
"Extreme Lab" category of "State of Extremes" (2020) exhibition at Design Museum Holon. Curators: Aric Chen, Maya Dvash and Azinta Plantenga.
"Working Together: Design and Engineering" (2019) exhibition at Design Museum Holon. In collaboration with Dyson.
"Guest Materials" (2019) first of its kind pop-up exhibition at the Aharon Feiner Eden Materials Library at the Holon Design Museum. Curated with: Sharon Murro and Aya Zahavi.
"Vision Test" category of "Overview" (2017) exhibition at Design Museum Holon, exploring vision and optics trough Design and technology. Chief Curator Maya Dvash.
"Material Shading: Covering the City" category of "Urban Shade" (2015) exhibition at Design Museum Holon. Chief Curators Martin Weyl and Galit Gaon.
Co-Curator:
"Smart Materials, Stupid Materials" (2016) exhibition at HIT - Holon Institute of Technology "Vitrina" Gallery. Chief Curator Shlomit Bauman.
