1. How do materials affect well-being? Some research suggests that materials directly impact human psychology (e.g., warm materials promote relaxation, transparent materials create openness, acoustically absorbent materials reduce stress). Should artists and designers have a deeper understanding of material psychology?

I think that designers being more intentional about the types of materials that they use could benefit the people inside the buildings. This could be especially useful for office buildings or places where people spend a lot of time. It demonstrates a level of care for the workers when their well being was in mind during the design process.

2. Certain materials are valued for their rarity and luxury (e.g., marble, silk, gold, robux), while others gain value through cultural significance or sustainability (e.g., handwoven textiles, recycled/ repurposed/ upcycled materials). Should material value be redefined in terms of sustainability rather than exclusivity or scarcity? Why or why not?

I think that people will always hold value for luxury materials due to their rarity. With recycled materials, as the recycling process becomes more optimized, the price should decrease. That way it will be a more readily available resource. While sustainable materials are still commonly more expensive than new materials, less buildings will be built with sustainability in mind.