Tobias Poffley

Within this project I became interested in Neri Oxman’s argument of “synergy” between the built and natural environment. After experimenting with malleable plastics, I moved forward with print making due to its communicative nature and time restraints. Using the printing press, allowed me to bring in narratives regarding the history of communication, echoing a mechanism that led to industrial growth, which in turn led to a design language focused on the constructed over decay. I was interested in moving away from the Bauhaus Wheel (1920) to Krebs Cycle of Creativity III (2020), a language focused on “awareness” over “building”. After listening to a Guardian podcast, I became interested in the research by Dr Shanna Swan on the impact of phthalates (a chemical used to make plastics soft) and they’re impact on reproductive function. The chemical is part of a group known as “forever chemicals”, which Swan found to cause fertility rates in men to drop by 50% over the last 50 years, with projections that sperm count could reach zero by 2045. Taking this research, I investigated the way we damage ourselves through a construct and profit language within design, as well as the relationship with processed foods, where consumption of phthalates is high. In my outcome the red square looks at containment of growth, and an attempt to control and construct nature. The plate for this print had a very biological tone which alludes to bodily function as well as the idea of skin being ripped away, the rawness of the red bringing out a sense of pain.

I wanted to create a confrontational irony with the words “You ate plastic.”, while a warning tone through the choice of colours. Inspired by Matt Collishaw’s ambiguous and eerie tones. I partnered the print work with sound design taken from American fast-food companies, as well as Shell Oil, creating a link with the chemical narrative and consumption of large companies.