Eaton, the soul teacher of the Bauhaus school, once said: "As students gradually discover that they can use various materials, they can create works with more unique textures."
We need to understand the material, respect the material, and make the best use of the material. This is a basic quality that an industrial designer must have.
Let's take a look at how designers play with plastic materials to new heights~
IDEA Design Awards 2015:
CLUG bike rack
CLUG is currently the smallest bicycle rack in the world, it is made by 3D printer. All you need to do is attach the clip to the wall, then snap the bike's wheels onto it, and when your bike needs to be docked at home or in the office, the whole space will become tidy.
IDEA Design Awards 2015:
FlipReel fishing gear design
The main materials of FlipReel fishing gear are PP and TPE. It can carry 165 feet of 17-pound fluorocarbon deep-sea fishing line.
The operation is very simple, flip open, connect the fishing rod, and the fish will be hooked in a few seconds. After the fishing is completed, the twisted line and the hook are safely stored and then reversed and closed.
Naturally degradable bioplastic chair
Bioplastics are polymers with similar characteristics and properties to ordinary plastics, but ordinary plastics are synthesized from substances extracted from non-renewable fossil fuels; while bioplastics can also be injected into molds, extruded, and finally thermoplastic. The role is fixed, but the materials used are 100% derived from plant-based renewable resources (such as beetroot, cornstarch, sugarcane, etc.).
Therefore, bioplastics are fully recyclable and biodegradable.
Tiller Design: Fishing Reels
The hand-rolled reel for fishing designed by an Australian research group is mainly made of PP and TPE. Each reel features blue, green, yellow, or orange highlights and can carry 165 feet of 17-pound fluorocarbon deep-sea fishing line.
The operation is very simple, flip it open, connect the fishing rod, and the fish will be hooked in a few seconds. After the fishing is completed, the twisted line and the hook are safely stored and then reversed and closed.
Japan's World's No. 1
Plastic Fire Extinguisher
The world's first thermoplastic blow molded fire extinguisher. It replaces the metal material with a transparent polyethylene naphthalene resin container. The fully transparent visual perception allows firefighters and other trained professionals to visually inspect the powder inside the extinguisher to see if there is enough powder at any time.
The fire extinguisher is also recyclable and all materials are separable. Other common grade materials such as polypropylene and ABS are used for the base and handle.
IDEA Design Awards 2015:
EthiconACE®+7 and FOCUS®+ Ultrasonic Knife
ACE®+7(HARMONICACE®+7Shears) and FOCUS®+(HARMONICFOCUS®+Shears) ultrasonic scalpel, used with Johnson & Johnson GEN11 intelligent energy system, can effectively sense changes in tissue conditions during surgery and adjust energy output, better Helping surgeons improve surgical efficiency and safety. The design is more ergonomic, making the operation smoother.
The ACE®+7 is overmolded with VersaFlex's polyurea material on the handle cover and trigger finger. Axials are machined in two pad gripper arms using Teflon and specialty fluoropolymer blade coatings, as well as stainless steel and titanium components.
Humangear Cutlery Set
The whole tableware is made of special high-temperature and high-strength nylon material without bisphenol A, which will not release toxic substances. Designers were able to achieve the desired matching plastic color by using this special food-safe certified glass-filled nylon and reduced cosmetic flow mark defects.
Motorola: Wireless Earbuds
Motorola has worked with Chinese partners to discuss the grade of the bottom shell of the earphone and the hardness of the thermoplastic elastomer. TPE is overmolded outside the PC material.
The earplug gel is made of liquid silicone, the top is a PC shell, the main body is PC and dark and light-colored fabrics, as well as various styles such as bamboo wood and leather. The portable cloth bag provides protection and charging on the go, and comes with a lanyard for user convenience.
GE: Micro Kitchens
This miniature kitchen plan will incorporate all modern high-tech kitchen technology in a 6-foot space, and the entire cabinets are seamlessly custom made.
Micro kitchens are manufactured using dozens of different plastics and additives, using processing solutions such as blow molding, injection molding, and thermoforming. Polymer materials include PP, ABS, PC, and nylon, etc. as exterior trim, and stainless steel, galvanized steel, wood, etc. as interior materials.
Summarize
When the product enters the manufacturing process, the material shows its importance. Regardless of thermosetting plastics, thermoplastics, or new degradable biomaterials, the selection of materials is based on the designer's comprehensive consideration of production demoulding, processing technology, economic benefits, etc., and fully serves the product function.
Lei Jun, the founder of Xiaomi, once said: Following the wind, pigs can fly. Simple understanding, in response to the development trend of plastics, designers should also follow the trend. Summarize the case and make the following summary for the development trend of plastic materials:
1. Modify plastics, improve performance, or use biodegradable methods to make materials recyclable. For example: lightweight plastic packaging can alleviate people's concerns about environmental protection and sustainable development.
2. Develop functions, that is, to develop polymer materials with physical functions such as light, electricity, and magnetism, so that plastics can have photoelectric effect, pyroelectric effect, piezoelectric effect, etc.
When you understand the trend of the world, are you still afraid that you won't be able to amaze the world?
