The essence of materials is constantly sought in the work of the German designer Carsten in der Elst (b. 1992 Düsseldorf). Based in Cologne, Germany, he finished his Design studies in 2020 and immediately started his solo practice by continuing the approach of his graduation project Heavy Duty. One of his intentions is to utilize the full potential of industrial by-product material. He aims to communicate its essence by preserving the visibility of production processes in the final piece. In this context, the gesture of material is the language of his creation. Over the past four years, his commitment in making furniture objects has manifested itself through physical labor, an experimental and explorative attitude as well as an obsessive attention on documenting his investigations. His work can be seen as an appreciation for our materials and processes. Through close contact with the object's origin and process, he aims to create pieces with an inherent narrative.