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Jisun Kim’s Poly Series Shows the Potential of Recycled Plastic Bags

06.15.21 | By
Jisun Kim’s Poly Series Shows the Potential of Recycled Plastic Bags

Disposable plastic bags are slowly being banned throughout the world. But as Korean designer Jisun Kim shares, there’s beauty to be found in the material when we recycle them. Her Poly Vase is the winner of the 2021 Lexus Creative Masters, but the Poly Series of home decor also includes a lamp made from the same material.

The semi-transparent plastic bags offered Kim durability and texture when creating her designs. “I wanted to give a comfortable feeling through relaxed lines without tension, and I wanted to show the value of craftsmanship that only humans can make,” she shares. “I wanted to show people the potential of turning thrown away plastic bags into vases with lifelike textures.”

recycled lamp and vase

Kim makes the fabric material by layering plastic bags using a hot press forming technique. After that, the design is sized and cut into pieces before heat joins each piece. The result is always a three-dimensional poly vase, but each one is unlike any other, even when the same technique is used. She said, “The unique texture created by melting plastic gives the impression of passing blood vessels on the surface of the product,” which is an incredible feature of a sustainable product.

recycled lamp and vase

recycled lamp and vase

recycled lamps and vases

recycled lamp

recycled materials

person ironing

person cutting out patterns

recycled materials

To learn more about the Poly Series, visit studio-round.com.

Kelly Beall is Director of Branded Content at Design Milk. The Pittsburgh-based writer and designer has had a deep love of art and design for as long as she can remember, from Fashion Plates to MoMA and far beyond. When not searching out the visual arts, she's likely sharing her favorite finds with others. Kelly can also be found tracking down new music, teaching herself to play the ukulele, or on the couch with her three pets – Bebe, Rainey, and Remy. Find her @designcrush on social.