Where The Museum of Design in Plastics (Modip) is a research facility on the campus of Arts University Bournemouth in Dorset.
What “It aims to increase the understanding and appreciation of the use and significance of plastics in design,” says Susan Lambert, the head of the museum. “For the past 40 years, more objects have been made in plastics than in any other materials group – yet Modip is the only Accredited museum in the UK with a focus on plastics.” As well as its own items, the venue houses the collections of the Plastics Historical Society and the Worshipful Company of Horners, a historic guild of natural plastics workers.
Opened Modip grew out of the Design Collection, a resource set up for the university in 1988, which began collecting a number of plastic products. “The decision was taken to capitalise on this aspect of the collection, a subject area largely neglected by other museums,” Lambert says. As a result, Modip opened in September 2007. It moved into a larger space last year, but remains limited to one room.
Collection There are 14,000 objects in the collection, ranging from the 17th century to the present day, and providing a comprehensive history of natural and synthetic plastics. They include clothing, sports equipment, toys and technology, as well as printed and written products. The museum stages two exhibitions a year and also has a permanent display. Lambert says Modip seeks to acquire items that are well-documented or relevant to their period, or have “an interesting design, whether good or bad”.
Highlights “A square scarf printed with black and white illustrations of the royal palaces, designed to commemorate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II,” says Lambert. She also mentions an 1860s snooker ball made from Parkesine, the first man-made plastic, which was used extensively into the early 20th century to mimic ivory. The iconic Jif lemon juice container, designed by Bill Pugh in 1954, is on display too. “No pancake day would be complete without it,” Lambert says.
Help at hand The museum employs one full-time and four part-time members of staff.
Budget Modip is one of 33 university museums supported by the Higher Education Funding Council England. It had previously been funded by Arts University Bournemouth and has received loans and grants, including from the Digital Research and Development Fund for the Arts and the South West Lifelong Learning Network.
Sticky moment Local schools regularly converge on Modip for visits, which posed a problem before the museum moved into a larger room.
“During a primary school workshop, a young boy got his leg stuck between some table legs and it took an extraordinarily long time to extricate him,” says Lambert. “When we got our new space, not being able to get small legs stuck was one of our
table-selection criteria.”
Visitors 3,364 people visited the museum in 2017.
Survival tip “It is important to be well-supported, as we are, by the top management of your organisation,” says Lambert. “And it helps to be adaptable while remaining focused on your core subject.”
Future plans Lambert has ambitious plans for the museum. “Our aim, now that our display space is a bit larger, is to further develop our engagement with the local community, increase our national and international reputation as a leading resource for research into design in plastics, and build our reputation in scholarship.”
The next exhibitions will explore the themes of transparency through plastics, and the role of plastics in the recording and playing of music.
Rob Picheta is a freelance writer
What “It aims to increase the understanding and appreciation of the use and significance of plastics in design,” says Susan Lambert, the head of the museum. “For the past 40 years, more objects have been made in plastics than in any other materials group – yet Modip is the only Accredited museum in the UK with a focus on plastics.” As well as its own items, the venue houses the collections of the Plastics Historical Society and the Worshipful Company of Horners, a historic guild of natural plastics workers.
Opened Modip grew out of the Design Collection, a resource set up for the university in 1988, which began collecting a number of plastic products. “The decision was taken to capitalise on this aspect of the collection, a subject area largely neglected by other museums,” Lambert says. As a result, Modip opened in September 2007. It moved into a larger space last year, but remains limited to one room.
Collection There are 14,000 objects in the collection, ranging from the 17th century to the present day, and providing a comprehensive history of natural and synthetic plastics. They include clothing, sports equipment, toys and technology, as well as printed and written products. The museum stages two exhibitions a year and also has a permanent display. Lambert says Modip seeks to acquire items that are well-documented or relevant to their period, or have “an interesting design, whether good or bad”.
Highlights “A square scarf printed with black and white illustrations of the royal palaces, designed to commemorate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II,” says Lambert. She also mentions an 1860s snooker ball made from Parkesine, the first man-made plastic, which was used extensively into the early 20th century to mimic ivory. The iconic Jif lemon juice container, designed by Bill Pugh in 1954, is on display too. “No pancake day would be complete without it,” Lambert says.
Help at hand The museum employs one full-time and four part-time members of staff.
Budget Modip is one of 33 university museums supported by the Higher Education Funding Council England. It had previously been funded by Arts University Bournemouth and has received loans and grants, including from the Digital Research and Development Fund for the Arts and the South West Lifelong Learning Network.
Sticky moment Local schools regularly converge on Modip for visits, which posed a problem before the museum moved into a larger room.
“During a primary school workshop, a young boy got his leg stuck between some table legs and it took an extraordinarily long time to extricate him,” says Lambert. “When we got our new space, not being able to get small legs stuck was one of our
table-selection criteria.”
Visitors 3,364 people visited the museum in 2017.
Survival tip “It is important to be well-supported, as we are, by the top management of your organisation,” says Lambert. “And it helps to be adaptable while remaining focused on your core subject.”
Future plans Lambert has ambitious plans for the museum. “Our aim, now that our display space is a bit larger, is to further develop our engagement with the local community, increase our national and international reputation as a leading resource for research into design in plastics, and build our reputation in scholarship.”
The next exhibitions will explore the themes of transparency through plastics, and the role of plastics in the recording and playing of music.
Rob Picheta is a freelance writer