Colloidal, macromolecular, and polyelectrolyte solutions are of abiding interest not only because of the fascinating range of phenomena they display, but because of their tremendous utility. In many applications, such "soft materials" encounter hard(er) matter, with the hard-soft interface being where exploitable properties occur. The sensory properties of food, the durability of coatings, and the adhesion of biofilms are three examples among many. The science and technology of how hard and soft materials meet and work together will be the overall theme of the 2018 meeting of this GRC.