Two approaches are central to the talk, these are:
1. The characteristics of materials > intrinsic
2. The significance of materials > extrinsic

It is important to realise that all materials find themselves at a different point in their process of evolution. This means that they each have a separate dynamic in their own situation. The questions below are in varying degrees important in this process:
• Reduce your negative characteristics
• Improve your positive characteristics
• Ensure that you can be applied using the latest techniques
• Adjust to your environment
• Make sure you can work together with other materials
• Be stronger, thinner, lighter and more economical
• Bear in mind that you will go through an implementation period

All materials also have to deal with an external situation, what is expected of them, how are they regarded? The world outside requires a certain relevance from the materials. This can be:
• Historical and future significance
• Technical significance
• Multi-sensory significance
• Emotional significance
• Cultural significance