Collection: Museum of Design in Plastics

Collection-level records:

• Collection history (Collection development policy)

  From 1988 objects were gathered together by Kirsten Hardie, from the Cultural and Historical Studies department of the then Bournemouth and Poole College of Art and Design as a teaching and learning resource. Initially these objects had a graphic design focus and were known as the Design Archive.

  By 2001 the collection had grown sufficiently, with additions contributed by other members of staff, for it to become a Registered museum entitled the Design Collection Museum.

  2003 saw a successful AHRB bid for funding to develop a project under the title ‘Plastics network’.

  A review of the collection was carried out in 2006. This review demonstrated that there was considerable strength in objects made of plastics. As such, the decision was taken to focus on the plastics materials group.

  On 1 September 2007 the name of the museum became the Museum of Design in Plastics (MoDiP). At the same time the term ‘Studio Collection’ was coined to describe the objects excluded from the Plastics Collection, mainly objects not made of plastics.

  To strengthen the focus of the museum towards the Plastics Collection, a rationalisation programme was started in 2015. This programme will see the Studio Collection disposed in line with section 5 of this policy.

  This strengthening of the Plastics Collection has seen the fulfilment of the museum’s ambition be awarded Designated Outstanding Collection status by Arts Council England.

  Source: Collection development policy

  Date: 2023

  Licence: CC BY-NC

• Collection overview (Collection development policy)

  At the time of writing the collection consist of 11,608 objects, alongside the 3245 studio collection objects which are subject to the aforementioned rationalisation programme.

  The museum defines plastics as materials that can be moulded into required shapes by the application of heat and /or pressure, whether thermosetting or thermoplastic. All plastics are polymers: materials made up of many smaller base units, different configurations making plastics with different properties. The collection includes natural, semi-synthetic and synthetic plastics.

  The Plastics Collection includes two long term loans:

  • A collection of 673 artefacts made of horn, a natural plastic, dating from the 17^th century to the present, on loan from the Worshipful Company of Horners.
  • A collection of 450 plastic artefacts dating mainly from the first half of the 20^th century on loan from the Plastics Historical Society.

  The collections include objects that fit into one or more of the following classifications:

  • Animals and pets; including grooming equipment and saddles.
  • Archival material; including photographs, brochures, and other printed material relating to industry.
  • Audio visual; including radios, televisions, record players, tape recorders, personal stereos, records and picture discs.
  • Artist or designer work; including work made by AUB students in response to the collection, and one-off or limited designer-maker pieces.
  • Construction and building services; including fixtures and fittings, plumbing services and street furniture.
  • Fashion and costume; including clothes, hats, footwear, hosiery, handbags and accessories.
  • Health, care and grooming; including toothbrushes, glasses, razors and syringes.
  • House and garden; including kitchen and tableware, furniture and furnishings, and lighting.
  • MoDiP reference library; including books and journals relating to plastics design, manufacture, industry, and place in society.
  • Office and workplace; including IT and office equipment, desk furniture and safety equipment.
  • Packaging and materials handling; including carrier bags, food and drink packaging, and product packaging.
  • Photographic; including movie and video cameras and associated photographic materials.
  • Plastics and the environment; including products made from recycled plastics, and those designed to care for the environment.
  • Plastics samples and industry; including sample swatches, and photographs relating to the Plastics Industry.
  • Printed, written and drawn material; including magazines which include plastics related content.
  • Promotional material; including objects designed to promote people, companies, and other products.
  • Smoking; including cigarette lighters, ashtrays and match box containers.
  • Sports, leisure and hobbies; including specialised equipment and clothing.
  • Telecommunications; including telephones and phone cards.
  • Textiles; including fabric, dressmaking and needlework, haberdashery, and knitting and crochet.
  • Toys and games; including dolls, construction toys, creative play and puzzles.
  • Travel and holiday; including transport, travel accessories, food and drink, and travel keepsake and ephemera.

  Objects in the collection date predominantly from the 20^th and 21^st century and are especially strong post 1950.

  The collections are international in remit.

  Source: Collection development policy

  Date: 2023

  Licence: CC BY-NC