Woodstrokes is the latest collection by Brodie Neill, whose work has established him as a leading innovator in the transformation of waste materials into contemporary design. Spanning materials including ocean plastic, metal, marble, and timber, his practice consistently reframes waste as a valuable resource, grounded in principles of circular design, sustainable practice, and environmental stewardship.
Within this context, Woodstrokes focuses on timber, extending Neill’s long term investigation into material transformation and reuse. Building on earlier projects such as Hydrowood, ReCoil, and Remix, the collection reflects a sustained commitment to rethinking how discarded materials can be reprocessed into high value, enduring forms.
At the center of Woodstrokes is a research driven approach to veneer reuse. Offcuts from timber production, typically considered waste, are carefully selected for their grain, density, and tonal variation. These fragments are then composed into layered surfaces that move beyond conventional flat applications, forming complex, sculptural geometries. In this way, timber is not simply used, but re-engineered into a new structural and visual system.
Rather than standardizing the material, the process works with its inherent variability. Each component retains its identity, allowing the finished pieces to reflect both the natural properties of timber and the processes through which it is reconstituted. The result is a material language that is both expressive and technically rigorous.
“The process behind Woodstrokes is both precise and poetic,” said Brodie Neill. “Timber veneer offcuts, once destined for discard, are chosen not for uniformity, but for character. Each carries a history. Together, they are composed into a new kind of mark making, formed not on canvas, but in three dimensions.”
The fabrication process combines advanced material research with skilled handcraft. Veneer fragments are assembled using custom tooling and bonded with a revolutionary plant based bio resin developed by Change Climate. This replaces conventional petroleum based adhesives with a high performance alternative derived from waste glycerol, free from BPA and solvents, and designed to meet both environmental and durability requirements.
Realized across shelving, consoles, mirrors, and tables, Woodstrokes is not bound to a single typology but operates as a flexible system of making, one that transforms material reuse into an evolving design language. This process foregrounds the role of craft, where hand, material, and technique work in close dialogue.
This approach positions timber within a broader material and environmental context. While timber is widely recognized for its carbon storage potential, Woodstrokes extends this value by addressing how material is sourced, processed, and reused. By integrating reclaimed timber with low impact binding technologies, the collection demonstrates a more complete lifecycle approach, aligning design with principles of resource efficiency and long term sustainability.
Ultimately, Woodstrokes reflects a shift in how materials are understood within design. It moves beyond extraction and consumption towards a system of continual reuse, where innovation in process and material can generate lasting environmental and cultural value.
