Plastics have
become major design materials of the 21st century
and they are increasingly shaping the objects we
use and rely on every day. Compared to the long
established technologies of wood, metal, glass
and ceramics, the plastics industry is a late
arrival, but it now enjoys a well-documented
history and design in plastics has evolved its
own distinctive industrial aesthetic.
Traditionally associated with shiny, rounded
shapes and gaudy colours, objects made of plastic
now have more refined forms, sharper edges and
softer, friendlier finishes.
The first major plastic materials
arrived as welcome alternatives to fashionable
natural materials such as ivory, horn and
tortoiseshell which were suffering from over-demand
in the late 19th and early 20th century. But they
also opened up a world of design possibilities,
offering colours and patterns never previously
available, together with the ability to be shaped
into a multitude of useful products. Over the
past 150 years plastics have enabled designers to
create innovatory products – from nylon
tights and contact lenses to airtight lids and
bubble wrap - and have initiated entirely new
industries such as recorded sound, film and
photography. Where once synthetic materials were
considered inferior, plastic is now the preferred
material for many of the products which have
become essential to modern living.
In the 1930s and 1940s a
relatively basic selection of plastics was
available. Today, the range of plastics is vast
and offers different grades and formulations
possessing a wide variety of properties.
Designers can choose from soft and rubbery gels
to bullet-proof, fire-proof fabrics. The
versatility of these materials now allows the
designer a freedom never before experienced, but
he must also balance this with an increased
awareness of the environmental impact of his work.
He must consider sustainability through the
careful use of resources and the final, or ‘end-of-life’
use of the product, which should include
materials recycling.
Good design is a combination of a
well-conceived idea, suitable materials and
appropriate manufacturing processes. A brilliant
idea can fail if it is too costly to manufacture,
transport and distribute. And of course it must
work. Examples of designs in plastics which are
successful for a variety of different reasons
include: the shatter-proof fizzy drinks bottle,
the rechargeable insulin syringe, the Velcro
fastening system, the smart card, the CD-ROM, the
automotive fuel tank and, for enjoyment value,
the vinyl record.
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