Plastic is synonymous with the industrial revolution of the 20th century. However, it has earned a reputation as being
hazardous to the environment. It is not the material that is truly a hazard but the way we choose to use it.
An alternative ideology to the utilization of plastics is that of the former Communist German Democratic Republic
(GDR). Plastics and design were interlinked with the political discourse and helped shape a breed of frugally
innovative designers. Plastic came to be viewed as a valuable commodity for producing products built for durability.
Socialist ideology on design overlaps with the current ideology on sustainable design.
The main question addressed is; with the imminent spread of the internet, knowledge is more accessible and
less commodified. Infrastructure complementary to socialist design ideologies is now available to a much larger part
of the population. Hence, are socialist design ideologies of the past viable choices for sustainable design solutions for
a post-capitalist future?

Authors: Aniruddha Gupte