Why plastics?

Our latest exhibition, Why plastics?, is now open and will be running until 2^nd September 2022. The original idea for it was based around a question posed by our Documentation Officer: why would a designer or manufacturer choose to make something out of plastics? 

One area of debate we encounter regularly is the perceived value placed upon this material group. Plastics are one of the most versatile and widely used materials, yet they can often provoke a negative response, particularly when used in short-lived applications or in high-end products.

This exhibition reviews their contribution to areas such as increasing accessibility, sustainability and transforming the vocabulary of design.

Here are a few of my favourite objects:

Flux junior chair, AIBDC : 007283
Image credit: MoDiP

The Flux Junior is a child's version of the one-piece folding Flux Chair, designed by Douwe Jacobs and Tom Schouten. Winner or the 2011 Grand Designs Product of the Year Award, it is made from a single sheet of polypropylene and exploits this material’s ability to form a living hinge: a flexible link between two or more rigid parts that can be flexed repeatedly without failing. Inspired by origami, the lightweight seat is surprisingly strong and will fold flat when not in use.

Awanama sake bottle, AIBDC : 008379.1-2
Image credit: MoDiP

This transparent, PET bottle is designed to resemble traditional Japanese 'kiriko' cut-glass. It is covered in a shrink wrap film that helps to protect the contents from light as well as provide colour to enable the product to stand out from its competitors. Japanese plastics recycling guidelines state that PET bottles must be transparent and their labels easily peeled off. On display we have an example of the intact bottle and another where the film has been removed. The bottle was awarded the Dow Packaging Innovation Diamond Award in 2019.

Verpan inflatable stool, AIBDC : 009058
Image credit: Katherine Pell

Another transparent object and another piece of furniture! This inflatable stool was originally designed by Verner Panton in 1960 using calendered sheets of polyvinyl chloride (PVC). He was one of the first designers to begin experimenting with the idea of creating inflatable seating but technical difficulties with the welding of the seams meant that the stool could not be mass produced at that time. This example was re-issued by Verpan as a limited edition for Prada in 2018 and was selected as seating for their Spring/Summer 2019 fashion shows held in Milan.

Ultra 3 bloom shoes, AIBDC : 008116
Image credit: Katherine Pell

And finally, a pair of green and white running shoes made from BLOOM foam, the first sustainable alternative to synthetic and petrochemical EVA foam. Despite plastics using only 4% of the world’s oil production (the rest is used for energy, transport and heat), manufacturers have for some time been experimenting with alternative, plant-based, feedstocks. Examples include sugarcane, pine needles and bamboo but here, algae is harvested. Algae can be problematic in areas where it is not native, blocking sunlight from penetrating the water’s surface and depleting oxygen in marine ecosystems. These shoes help to clean waterways and offset carbon emissions in the atmosphere.

To see these and lots of other exciting objects, plan your visit.

Katherine Pell
Collections Officer