As designers, we are always looking for new and innovative products that will add the wow factor to our designs. I was recently looking for such a product for a lounge bar design project I was working on. During my research I discovered an interesting product under the name liquid tiles, liquid motion floors or liquid lava tiles.
These are plastic tiles formed by two pieces of acrylic plastic, housing a coloured gel or gels between them. They are durable, not fragile and non-toxic. They can be found in a variety of colours and can even be matched to Pantone colour palettes.
They are sealed around the edges and when pressured the gel inside moves creating unusual patterns. They come in different sizes and can be used indoors or outdoors. As they are made of clear plastic and there is also an option to have them backlit which helps to create interesting and playful patterns.
Liquid motion tiles can be applied to tables, bar tops and even flooring. They are comfortable to walk on as they are made of plastic and can be used in kids bedrooms and playground areas. Some companies offer the option of incorporating a logo inside the tile, which makes the options for this product unlimited.
As with any product, it should be fully researched before being applied to any surface or environment.
References
Design Resource Liquid Motion Tiles and Tops. 2014. Design Resource Liquid Motion Tiles and Tops. [ONLINE] Available at:http://www.hirshfields.com/designresource/flooring/liquidmotion.html. [Accessed 13 May 2014].
Jockimo Introduces Transparent Backlit Liquid Lava Tiles – ArchiThings.Com . 2014. Jockimo Introduces Transparent Backlit Liquid Lava Tiles – ArchiThings.Com . [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.archithings.com/jockimo-introduces-transparent-backlit-liquid-lava-tiles/2009/12/21. [Accessed 13 May 2014].
Liquid Motion Tiles for Floors and Tables. 2014. Liquid Motion Tiles for Floors and Tables. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.liquidmotionfloors.com/#!floor-sizes. [Accessed 13 May 2014].
Liquid Tiles | Liquid Surfaces | Buy Liquid Tiles. 2014. Liquid Tiles | Liquid Surfaces | Buy Liquid Tiles. [ONLINE] Available at:http://www.rijodesign.co.uk/330-liquid-tiles. [Accessed 13 May 2014].
