Advances in Acrylic Design Technology

Article by Alexander Munroe

Technological advance is inevitable, and with each advance come inventors and innovators; creative minds that push the boundaries of what technology can do. There have been recent advances in the field of materials technology, such as acrylic and plastic, and there have come innovators and designers who have pushed this technology to its very limit. Acrylic is flexible, in a purely figurative sense, as it can be adapted to a wide variety of uses due to the unique attributes of the material. As a result of these unique traits acrylic designers have adapted acrylic to be used in a range of different industries.

Acrylics have a very high strength as a material; combined with their transparency this makes them an absolutely perfect material for a variety of uses. For instance, acrylic is a perfect material to make an aquarium out of, as it is strong yet see-through. Acrylic is perfect to make ornamental stands for shop window displays, as their transparency allows light to show through the display.

A simple acrylic dome – uninspired design as it is – can be used for various different things. An acrylic dome can be used to protect security cameras, or as covers for flower arrangements and artistic sculptures. Designers are pushing the boundaries of acrylic design and are showing what it can do both in practical applications, but also in aesthetic and artistic ones.

In terms of artistic acrylic design there have been many acrylic projects in recent times. French leather company Longchamps’ new boutique in New York displayed an interesting and innovatively designed acrylic staircase – a design on a scale which is rarely seen. Another recent project by one acrylic design company saw the creation of a working acrylic replica of a Dunhill watch that was 40 times life size. Creations like these show that innovative, acrylic design is not only possible, but alive and well, and that acrylic design companies can and will enter into artistic, acrylic projects like this.

The acrylic design companies are becoming increasingly innovative with their designs. Talbot Designs is one of Europe’s largest acrylic design corporations and have been exploiting the unique properties of acrylic for all they’re worth, and have been making marvellous acrylic designs as a result. Talbot Designs has made multi-coloured wall displays with integrated lighting, and a water centrifuge that reacts with the number of people in the room around it. Companies like Talbot Designs go out to use acrylic to their advantage, and are really pushing back the boundaries of acrylic design.

As acrylic design companies continue to push acrylic’s limits, and materials technology continues to advance as time moves on, it will be very interesting to see what acrylic designers use the next advance in technology to do and what innovative designs they will create next.