What Material Lab does

Material Lab is a London-based design resource and materials studio operated by Johnson Tiles Limited, a UK ceramic and porcelain tile manufacturer established in 1901. Founded in 2006 and headquartered at 10 Great Titchfield Street, the studio functions as a physical specification destination where architects, interior designers, design students, and trade press can explore hundreds of surface materials from partner brands including Johnson Tiles, VADO, Mayfair Worktops, Metlex, Egger, Tektura, Karndean, Kronospan, Schlüter-Systems, Sensitile, Wonderwall Studios, The Good Plastic Company, Nature Squared, Magna Glaskeramik, Alusion, Piñatex, Metal Monkey Design, and Dulux. The studio also offers virtual tours for remote visitors and runs an active editorial blog, social media channels across Twitter/Facebook/Instagram/LinkedIn/Pinterest, a monthly email newsletter via Mailchimp, and regular CPD-accredited workshops, launch parties, and exhibitions.

The product and technology footprint centres on surfacing categories — wall and floor tiles (porcelain, ceramic, wood-effect, terrazzo-effect), acoustic panels, laminates, glass cladding, liquid metal coatings, and rigid luxury vinyl tile — with notable sustainability credentials such as recycled-content tiles, Cradle2Cradle-certified glass cladding, upcycled aluminium foam panels, and pineapple-leaf-fibre textiles. A recent partnership with Brain of Materials extends the offering into a digital platform providing 3D surface scans, technical data, and supplier contacts, enabling hybrid physical-digital material exploration.

Material Lab's business model is B2B and sales-led: the studio operates as a specification and discovery hub rather than a transactional reseller, with revenue accruing through Johnson Tiles' parent operations and partner-brand exposure. Customer segments are anchored on architects and interior designers as primary personas, with secondary audiences of design students and trade press. The operation employs 11-50 staff, has no public pricing, and carries no external venture funding, functioning primarily as a marketing and specification-support asset for the Johnson Tiles group and its co-displayed partner brands.

Name

Material Lab

Legal name

Johnson Tiles Limited

Website

https://material-lab.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Material Lab is a London-based design resource and materials studio, operated by Johnson Tiles, serving architects and interior designers with hundreds of partner-brand surfacing samples, expert consultation, CPDs, and specification support.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Studio Operations and Materials Display: Material Lab operates as a design resource and materials studio operated by Johnson Tiles. The studio provides a physical space for architects and designers to explore materials, receive expert advice, and discover latest trends and innovations. Revenue is generated through the Johnson Tiles parent company operations, with the studio serving as a specification and inspiration hub.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Material Lab operates a physical design resource and materials studio in central London that showcases hundreds of surface materials, tiles, wallcoverings, laminates, acoustic panels, and architectural finishes from Johnson Tiles and partner brands. Architects, interior designers, and specifiers visit the studio by appointment to explore materials hands-on, receive expert consultation, attend CPDs and events, and source materials for their commercial and residential projects.

Product overview

Material Lab operates as a Design Resource and Materials Studio—a physical showroom and resource center for architecture and design professionals. The studio showcases hundreds of surfacing materials from partner brands and Johnson Tiles ranges. The product portfolio centers on tiles (wall, floor, porcelain, ceramic) in various collections including Prismatics, Kerastar, Refine, South Bank, Contour, Devonshire, Glide, Hex25, and Duplet; acoustic solutions (Tektura Zintra); laminates (Egger); liquid metal coatings; and flooring including Rigid Luxury Vinyl Tiles (Klix RLVT) and wood-effect ranges. Materials are sourced from trusted partners including Johnson Tiles (operated by Johnson Tiles Limited), VADO, Mayfair Worktops, Metlex, and Tektura. The studio also features sustainability-focused materials and provides CPDs, events, and expert advice to the design community.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Design Resource & Materials Studio
• CPDs and Educational Events
• Material Lab Virtual Tour
• Material Lab Newsletter
• Partner Exhibition Programme

Named customers12 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered primary, key and featured.

• Johnson TilesprimaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent company and primary partner operating Material Lab. Established in 1901, Johnson Tiles is a UK-based specialist in ceramic and porcelain wall and floor tiles. They provide the core product range and operational support for Material Lab.
• VADOkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading British bathroom brassware manufacturer providing high quality taps, showers, accessories and fittings. Has dedicated display area at Material Lab.
• Mayfair WorktopskeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerWith over 25 years experience, Mayfair is one of the premier producers of kitchen worktops in the UK, specialising in granite, quartz and porcelain worktops.
• MetlexkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerWidely trusted supplier of professional bathroom and commercial washroom accessories, best known for innovative retrofit products. Part of Norcros group.
• SensitilefeaturedStrategic or Co-development PartnerFeatures Sensitile's Lumina range - flexible resin cladding with energy efficient LED sources creating floating, dreamlike surfaces.
• EggerfeaturedStrategic or Co-development PartnerFeatures Egger's laminate products including Smoke Blue for their ST9 texture range, ideal for hotels, bars, restaurants and residential schemes.
• TekturafeaturedStrategic or Co-development PartnerFeatures Tektura's Zintra acoustic panels that absorb sound, available in various colours and applications including floor-to-ceiling panels, desk dividers and free-standing screens.
• Schlüter-SystemsfeaturedStrategic or Co-development PartnerMentioned as one of the partners Material Lab works with, providing surfacing brand products for architecture and design projects.
• KronospanfeaturedStrategic or Co-development PartnerPioneers in sustainably produced wood panelling featured at Material Lab as a surfacing brand partner.
• Karndean DesignflooringfeaturedTechnology or IntegrationFeatured at Material Lab with Korlok stone palette featuring limestone-inspired designs with acoustic benefits and K-Core technology for easier installation.
• Wonderwall StudiosfeaturedStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew addition to Material Lab's reference library. Creates joyous panelling from salvaged woods, upcycling discarded timber into unique wall tiles. Founded after travels through South-East Asia.
• The Good Plastic CompanyfeaturedStrategic or Co-development PartnerTakes plastic once considered waste and turns it into beautifully-designed panels for modern, functional and stylish end-products. Featured in sustainability discussions.
• Nature SquaredfeaturedStrategic or Co-development PartnerTakes organic waste and turns it into solid surfaces for interiors. Best known for creating a dashboard made from feathers for Rolls Royce.
• PiñatexfeaturedStrategic or Co-development PartnerNatural textile made from pineapple leaf fiber waste. Sustainable alternative to synthetic materials and mass-produced leather, showcased at Material Lab.
• Magna GlaskeramikfeaturedStrategic or Co-development PartnerA1FR facade cladding and interior solid surface made entirely from waste glass. 100% upcycled and 100% recyclable with Cradle2Cradle gold accreditation.
• AlusionfeaturedStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitecturally stabilised aluminium foam panels made by injecting air into molten aluminium. 20-100% recycled material, 100% recyclable, with sound absorbing properties.
• Brain of MaterialskeyTechnology or IntegrationGlobal digital platform for materials and material data. Provides digital library of inspirational materials, 3D surface scans, technical data, and supplier contacts. Collaboration enables physical and digital material exploration.
• DuluxkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerDulux Colour of the Year 2022 (Peach Fuzz) launched exclusively at Material Lab. Creative Director Marianne Shillingford provides colour expertise and trend forecasting.
• Metal Monkey DesignfeaturedStrategic or Co-development PartnerFeatures Metal Monkey's liquid metal coatings including Rusted Iron finish - corroded iron aesthetic that can be applied to any shape for industrial feel.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• MaterialBank: US-based digital materials marketplace and sample-distribution platform serving architects and interior designers. Directly comparable as a B2B materials resource and specification library, though primarily digital rather than a single physical studio.
• Design Centre Chelsea Harbour: London's premier collection of luxury design showrooms housing interior brands and surface materials. Directly comparable as a London-based physical design resource and material specification destination for architects and designers.
• Architonic: Swiss-based products and materials database for architects and designers, featuring curated material libraries with technical data and supplier information. Comparable as a specification resource serving the same design professional audience.
• Coverings: North America's largest tile and stone trade show connecting manufacturers, distributors, and design professionals. Comparable as a tile and surface material specification event, though geographically focused on the US.
• Materials Application: UK-based architectural materials consultancy and resource offering material samples and technical data to designers. Comparable as a UK-focused materials specification resource serving architects and interior designers.
• Surface Design Show: UK trade show dedicated to surface materials in interior design and architecture. Comparable as a UK-centric touchpoint bringing specifiers and material manufacturers together for material discovery and specification.
• 100% Design: UK design trade show held as part of London Design Festival, featuring materials, products, and installations for the design community. Comparable as a UK design community engagement and material showcase channel.
• MaterialDistrict: Dutch global materials platform connecting architects and designers with innovative, often sustainable materials. Comparable as a curated materials library and specification resource, with both digital and event-based touchpoints.
• Maison & Objet: French international design trade fair bringing together manufacturers and design professionals across decoration, design, and lifestyle categories. Comparable as a high-traffic material discovery and specification venue for the design community.

Others

• Dezeen: Leading international architecture and design media platform and Material Lab's existing collaboration partner for sustainability discussions. Comparable as a design community channel that influences specifier awareness and material trends.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Material_Lab
• Facebookfacebook.com/MaterialLab
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/material-lab
• Instagraminstagram.com/materiallab

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Material Lab