he modernist-58: Plastic – The Modernist Society PLASTIC fantastic!
The latest edition of the modernist has arrived, exploring one of the most influential, controversial and ubiquitous materials of the twentieth century. the modernist issue 58 was published in Autumn 2026 and examines the story of PLASTIC, from its optimistic post-war heyday to its complex legacy today. PLASTIC occupies an ambiguous position: ubiquitous and undeniably useful, yet equally responsible for environmental damage. From a 21st-century perspective it has become a material villain, often associated with the cheap, the trashy and the throwaway. Its presence is now so pervasive and insidious, from microplastics and industrial residues to the detritus of global consumer culture, that it is difficult to imagine the modern world without it.
In this issue, however, the modernist considers the value and promise of PLASTIC in the mid to late twentieth century through the work of an ingenious and often ground-breaking group of designers, artists and architectswho embraced the prospect of a bright, colourful plastic future. The articles and images that follow explore plastic as a design statement in telephones, kitchen fittings, tableware, furniture and lighting. They capture a period when the possibilities of plastic felt innovative, optimistic, affordable and accessible. From mass-produced chairs and three-wheeled cars to experimental classrooms and domestic products, the issue reveals how plastic shaped everyday life and transformed modern design.
Together, these stories remind us that PLASTIC once carried a spirit of artistry and invention rather than inevitability. Rather than excusing the material's environmental consequences, issue 58 invites readers to reconsider its cultural significance and the designers who helped define its place in twentieth-century architecture, design and popular culture. It also reflects a continuing desire to document, preserve and collect the artefacts of modernism.
The Modernist is a quarterly printed publication about 20th-century modernist architecture and design. Published in the North of England and now spreading its tentacles across the world.
Publisher: The Modernist Society
Format: Paperback/Magazine
Pages: 72
ISSN: 2046-2900
Barcode: 9772046290004
Publication Date: Autumn 2026