Formica Corporation Podcast Series to Explore Design, Materials and Legacy

What does it take for a material to define an era of design?

In this episode of the new Formica Corporation Design Podcast, listeners are invited to explore the remarkable story behind high-pressure laminate and the role the Formica Corporation has played in shaping modern interiors for more than a century.

Hosted by Kenn Busch of Material Intelligence, the podcast features a conversation with Renee Hytry Derrington, Brand Historian for Formica Corporation and former global design leader who spent nearly four decades helping guide the company’s design direction. Together, they explore how a material originally developed as an electrical insulator evolved into one of the most recognizable and influential surfacing materials in the world.

Rather than simply revisiting familiar countertop history, the conversation dives into the deeper design legacy behind the material. Listeners will hear how early innovations in printing, color development and surface technology helped transform laminate from a technical product into a defining element of modern architecture and interiors.

Renee shares insights from the company’s archives and reflects on the designers, technologists and cultural shifts that helped shape the category. For architects, designers and anyone curious about the intersection of materials and culture, this conversation offers a fascinating look at how one innovation can influence everything from product design to the way people live.

Listen to the full podcast to explore the history, design breakthroughs and cultural moments that helped define high-pressure laminate and the enduring legacy of Formica® Brand products.

This episode is one of several that Formica Corporation will participate in through Material Intelligence. Additional conversations are coming soon.