The Infrastructural Turn in Material Design

Contemporary design operates within a critical transition marked by environmental pressures, technological acceleration, and the need for systemic sustainability. In this context, materials are no longer neutral inputs but complex, relational entities that carry cultural, territorial, and environmental significance. Particularly within the Made in Italy production system (characterized by distributed SMEs, artisanal know-how, and symbolic value) rethinking material management is crucial to address the limitations of linear, extractive models. This paper introduces Material as a Service (MAAS) as an infrastructural paradigm that extends the previous Material-Service approach, framing matter as an active node within circular and distributed ecosystems. MAAS enables materials to become traceable, configurable, and regenerable, bridging data, design practices, and local supply chains. Through this lens, design moves from shaping objects to orchestrating relational infrastructures where matter, data, and systems interact. The paper also highlights the role of the Transitional Industrial Designer as a mediator between technological, cultural, and territorial dimensions, supporting SMEs in the transition toward more responsible, human-centered, and circular production models. By activating material as an infrastructure, MAAS provides a framework for generating value that is not only economic, but also cultural, relational, and regenerative, paving the way for distributed material ecosystems in contemporary industry.