Morris and his followers in the Arts and Crafts movement believed that each material incorporated its own value (eg: the natural colour and pattern of the grain in wood). And the first principle of good design was to respect the properties of the materials used. This respect also was transferred to the workers producing the goods; craftsmanship and pride in work leading to the survival of humanism and high standards. For as he said:
"it is eyeless vulgarity which has destroyed art, the one certain solace of labour."