Material Space
Role: Lead Developer
- Product Design & Branding
- Full-Stack Development
Tech Used
A platform that streamlines material specification for interior designers and architects. By incorporating vendor data within the specification process, designers can quickly get the info they need and vendors can better understand how their products are performing.
Problem
Interior designers waste days on every project manually copying product specifications into Excel. Product names, dimensions, colors, prices, images—all entered by hand, one cell at a time. When changes happen, they create new versions: v1, v2, v3. Each revision risks new errors or confusion about which version is current. These mistakes show up in front of clients.
I lived this problem as an Interior Design Associate at a large Chicago firm, where I faced criticism for typos in specifications I'd entered manually.
Solution
Material Space automates the specification process. Product data populates schedules automatically when designers add items. Clients access a dashboard to review and approve materials. Real-time sync keeps everyone working from the same version.
Solution
- Schedules auto-populate with product data from a searchable database.
- Clients collaborate through a dashboard where they approve, deny, or request alternatives.
- Granular permissions control what each user can see and do.
- Any schedule row becomes a reusable product with one click.
- Changes sync in real-time.
Design
I designed the interface around clarity and efficiency. Glass aesthetic, high contrast, generous whitespace. The schedule interface displays multiple columns of product data while supporting drag-and-drop reordering, inline editing, and real-time collaboration.
Branding
The logomark combines a brutalist M with geometric forms referencing Josef Albers' color studies. The circular element suggests orbital space. The identity remains neutral enough to work within any firm's existing brand system.
Project Details
Role: Lead Developer
- Product Design & Branding
- Full-Stack Development
Tech Stack
© 2026 Ethan James Fox