ACID is proud to feature Stratum Marquetry, an ACID member redefining contemporary design through sustainability, craftsmanship and strong intellectual property awareness. Founded with the aim of reducing waste in the design industry, Stratum Marquetry reinterprets traditional marquetry using reclaimed and recycled materials sourced from local waste streams, transforming them into distinctive, high-quality surfaces.

Stratum Marquetry also demonstrates a positive and proactive approach to intellectual property, recognising the importance of protecting original designs developed through extensive research and experimentation. By clearly defining ownership and usage, they safeguard their creativity while continuing to innovate. Their ACID membership reflects a shared commitment to protecting originality and championing responsible design.

1. Tell us a little about how your marquetry design business started, what inspires you, and how you stay ahead of the design industry?
Stratum Marquetry began with a simple but challenging question: why is so much beautiful material being thrown away? The business was founded to reinterpret traditional marquetry through a contemporary lens, using reclaimed and recycled materials sourced from local waste streams. What started as an experimental process quickly evolved into a design language rooted in material honesty, craft, and sustainability.
Inspiration comes primarily from the materials themselves – their qualities, tone, colouration, histories, and journey often dictate the final design. We also draw influence from architecture, modern art, and natural patterns, particularly landscapes and geology. Staying ahead of the industry is less about following trends and more about developing a distinctive process, continually refining our techniques, and investing time in research, experimentation, and collaboration with designers and architects who share similar values.

2. Your designs are very unique and you clearly have sustainability at the heart of your ethos. How do you use intellectual property to protect that creativity and ensure your unique designs remain exclusive to Stratum Marquetry?
Intellectual property is fundamental to our business. Our designs are the result of extensive material research, prototyping, and process development, so protecting that work is essential. We retain copyright on all original designs and are clear about ownership, licensing, and usage from the outset of any project or collaboration.
Beyond formal protections, we also document our design process thoroughly, maintain clear records of design development, and work with trusted partners who respect IP. Membership of ACID provides both guidance and reassurance that we are taking the right steps to safeguard our creativity while continuing to innovate responsibly.

4. What do you see as the biggest IP challenges for creative businesses like yours, and how do you stay ahead in protecting your ideas?
One of the biggest challenges is the imbalance between small creative businesses and larger organisations that may have more resources to replicate, commercialise, or defend designs. The speed at which images circulate online also makes copying easier and more immediate.
We stay ahead by being proactive rather than reactive: understanding our rights, embedding IP considerations into our contracts, and being selective about how and when work is shared publicly. Education is key – both for ourselves and for clients – so that the value of original design and craft is properly understood and respected.

5. As ACID members, what benefits or resources have you found most valuable in supporting your creative journey, particularly in defending your rights and safeguarding innovation?
ACID’s guidance, legal insights, and advocacy work have been extremely valuable. Having access to clear, practical advice on IP protection helps us make informed decisions without needing to be legal experts. Just as important is the sense of community – knowing that other designers face similar challenges, and that there is an organisation actively campaigning on behalf of the creative industries, provides reassurance and support.

6. Can you give us a glimpse of what’s next? Do you have any exciting new designs, innovations, or collaborations coming to market that you can share with us?
We are currently developing new Modern Marquetry products like our flooring and decorative panels as well as working on our signature patterns – patterns that are fully customisable, infinitely scalable, and crafted exclusively from locally sourced off-cuts and recycled materials. Concepts that push our reclaimed-material approach further, both technically and aesthetically. Alongside this, we are working on a number of collaborations with interior designers and makers to translate our designs into new contexts, including furniture and architectural applications.
We are also laying the groundwork for an educational and community-focused arm of the business, which will share skills, rescue more materials from waste streams, and support creativity and wellbeing through making. This feels like a natural next step in aligning our design practice with wider social impact.

7. Finally, have you signed the ACID IP Charter?

Yes

Stratum Marquetry