Side view of a Valentine typewriter showing the red body and black keys.

Valentine typewriter

Side view of a Dropp bowl showing the matt outer surface and glossy inner surface.

Dropp! bowl

Top view of a skateboard showing the fish shape.

Minnow Skateboard

Side view of a bangle showing the thickness of the material.

Trees cuff

Top view of an umbrella showing the patternof the fabric.

Mary Quant umbrella

Front view of a telephone showing the dial.

GPO Model 746 telephone

Side view of a ball showing the well used surface.

Parkesine snooker ball

Side view of a pile of pellets showing the mainly black sample.

Recycled polyethylene pellets

Side view of a cable sample showing the stranded and plied outer armour.

Submarine cable

Side view of a pipe showing the ventilation spaces in the top.

Terrain Hydromax siphonic roof drainage system

Top view of a snuff box showing the moulded portrait.

Oval Charles I snuff box

Front view of a clock showing the spherical shape.

Presta alarm clock

Front view of a pair of shoes showing the basket weave appearance.

Children's red jelly sandals

Museum of Design in Plastics

Stay in touch bysubscribing to the AUB Engage mailing list after reading ourPrivacy policy.

 

Current Exhibition:Mid-Century MoDiP

Our exhibition, Mid-century MoDiP, uses objects as a visual exploration of the use of plastics in design from the 1950s through to the 1970s. All the objects on display in this exhibition are between 45 and 75 years old. For some of our visitors they will be new and intriguing to them and for others they are familiar and loaded with nostalgia. How do they make you feel?

 

Before your visit to MoDiP please check for anyplanned closures advertised on thevisiting us page.

Circles containing details of 3 objects in the Mid-Century MoDiP exhibition
AIBDC : 006954 Tooth soap box

MoDiP collection

The MoDiP collection offers a wide spectrum of objects, from the 19th, 20th & 21st centuries, which illustrate the role of plastics against social and historical contexts.

Learn more
PHSL : 281 Manicure set

PHS collection

The Plastics Historical Society, which was formed in 1986, is an independent society affiliated to the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining.

Learn more
WCHL : 526 Gentleman's combined pocket brush, comb and mirror

Horners collection

The Worshipful Company of Horners is both an ancient craft guild and a modern City of London Institution promoting the interests of the polymer industry.

Learn more

Visiting MoDiP

MoDiP has a number of resources which you might find useful:

  • To find out more about the museum including an introductory video seeAbout us
  • To see what we have in the collection seeCollections
  • View our physical and digitalLearning resources
  • To find out more about accessing the collection during our closure pleaseContact us

We welcome individual and group visits.

The museum is on the first floor of the Arts University Bournemouth library and can be accessed via a lift.  For more information about coming to the museum for a visit, to do research, or have a group session, click on the link below.

Learn more
Studying the collection

MoDiP Blog

Best Friends Forever?

Palentines Day at MoDiP.Forget swooning over roses and chocolates - let’s talk about the real MVPs of February 14th: the pals who pick us up when life spills its tea, laugh at our most questionable…

Mid-Century MoDiP: Bri-Nylon

In the current exhibition, Mid-Century MoDiP, we have a pair of stockings on display which are made of Bri-Nylon.  Bri-Nylon is a trademarked fabric made by British Nylon Spinners (BNS).The BNS…

Lego lost at sea

Hello all, I recently came across an article about the lost LEGO pieces and was fascinated. Somehow, I missed how widely this story had been reported in the UK, but it seemed like a perfect…

Current & Past Exhibitions

Mid-Century MoDiP

-

After the devastation of the Second World War (1939-1945), governments across the globe needed to rebuild dwindling economies. Rationing restrictions, due to shortages in foods and other products, in the UK were finally lifted in 1954 and citizens were encouraged to spend, spend, spend. Mass consumption was encouraged to aid economic growth, to maintain jobs, and improve lifestyles.Mass produced…

Take a Seat

-

A exploration of chairs; their design and materiality.

Britain made it

-

Inspired by the 80th anniversary of the Britain Can Make It exhibition, held at the V&A, London, our exhibition will explore plastics products from the 1940s, as well as historic and contemporary British design in plastics.