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How strange the destiny of plastics. On one hand they're the scourge of the planet, on the other, an indespensible resource of modern civilization... a full 60% of the every-day objects around us are made of plastic or a derivative. Plastic is the preferred material of many designers, due the fact that it can be modeled, colored, shaped and refined in any and every way. "But, watch out!" warns Raul Barberi, designer and expert in the use of plastic materials, "The possibilities provided by plastic have also led to a confusion of form and a diffused disorder of objects. Metal sheets can be cut, sliced and to an extent modeled. The same can be said of wood. These are materials which present some restrictions, but these restrictive properties require a more disciplined design. To the contrary, plastic is similar to cement as it is used in construction: the extreme adaptability of both substances has often resulted in the creation of some real monsters!" An advantage to using plastic is that is inexpensive, something like $0.50 per pound. The major disadvantage is that the material is not biodegradable, decomposing with difficulty. Currently, industry and various organizations have been devoting more and more time, energy and funds to solving the problems of plastics and recycling. These efforts are inspiring designers to new developments.
 Swatch, mod. Beach Graffiti In creating the Swatch watch, -which soon became a planetary phenomenon,- the Swiss company, led by Italian creative masterminds such as Alessandro Mendini and Matteo Thun, chose to work with plastic, a durable material which permitted the fabulous range of options unobtainable with any other material.
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