In the 21st century, plastic plays a significant role in material culture, closely tied to ideas of modernity. Initially viewed as a material of imitation in the 1950s, plastic’s fluidity and versatility soon earned it a place in fashionable design. Praised for its ‘infinite transformations,’ plastic could take any form, flexible, glossy, or transparent. Post-war advertising portrayed plastic with a utopian quality, presenting it as the material of the future. Its bright-colored surfaces and patterned designs led to an association with childish qualities. Women were specifically targeted in advertisements, highlighting plastic’s easy-to-clean and hygienic surfaces, ideal for the kitchen. Manufacturers also emphasized plastic’s durability, suggesting its shiny, bright surface would last forever. Whether in furniture, kitchens, floors, or walls, plastic was adapted into modern life as it could enhance spaces by brightening them up.

Figure 1, plastic furniture advertisement
House Beautiful, January 1970, pg. 74-75

Within the magazine, an advertisement for plastic furniture was placed. Designed by an Italian designer, the fantasy forms described in the text were achieved only through the material use of plastic. This exists as an example showing the unique capabilities, plastic has brought to the furniture world.

Figure 2, Recyclable plastic Chairs
www.ecobirdy.com/collections/charlie-chair

This furniture brand gives life to recycled plastic by converting it into furniture. Not only do they possess all the positive properties of plastic, like being easy to clean and being smooth, but they are also eco-friendly. Recyclable furniture is something that was only discovered recently, yet has brought more versatility to plastic.

comparison:

Both examples of plastic furniture take on a very organic form, with gently curved edges. I cannot imagine the same form being replicated by any other material. The diversity of color is also something very unique, where any range of hue is possible, whether it be a bright red or a pastel yellow. Instead of being composed of several parts that are joined together, the plastic material allows for continuity in the furniture, where it’s noticeable how the chairs are one molded piece. This seamless design is part of its aesthetic appeal that has popularized the material in the modern world.

A key difference is that the furniture in Figure 2 is made from recyclable plastic, noticeable in its speckled appearance. While plastic has been criticized for being non-biodegradable, innovations now allow for recycled plastic to be given new life through furniture. Unlike the sleek appearance of the furniture advertised in the magazine, the furniture in Figure 2 has a more childlike appearance, showcasing the versatility of plastic. This shift in the use of plastic reflects a growing emphasis on sustainability in modern design.