The Magazine
My research into how storytelling can change people’s feelings toward something, how repeated exposure can influence taste, and how materials like plywood have changed in perception over time made me think about how I could change the way people see Marble Plastics’ secondary waste material. Instead of only presenting it as recycled plastic waste, I wanted to create a visual identity around the material and show people why it could be desirable. This led me to the idea of creating a magazine or digital platform for the material. It could tell the story of where the material comes from while also showing it applied to furniture, objects, interiors, and other desirable contexts. Marble Plastics could build an aesthetic around the material that makes its unpredictability feel intentional rather than like a flaw.
I like this concept because it focuses on perception rather than changing the material itself. However, I am questioning whether a traditional magazine would actually reach the audience I am trying to influence. People may not be looking for a magazine about an unfamiliar recycled material. This makes me think the more important part of the conjecture is not the magazine itself, but the idea of creating repeated visual exposure and a strong identity that could gradually make the material feel more desirable. I want to continue exploring what platform or system could accomplish this most effectively.
References
Suzanne Labarre. (2012, Feb 1). How Plywood Revolutionized Design (No, Really). Fast Company. https://www.fastcompany.com/1668947/how-plywood-revolutionized-design-and-changed-the-world-no-really
Ruth Jamieson. (2016, May 11). The New Wave of Anti-design Magazines Will Question Your Sense of Taste—and That’s a Good Thing. AIGA. https://eyeondesign.aiga.org/the-new-wave-of-anti-design-magazines-will-question-your-sense-of-taste-and-thats-a-good-thing/
Narineh Hartoonian. (2026, January 20). The Psychology of the Collectible Craze: Why Blind Boxes, Labubu, and Pokémon Cards Hook Our Brains. Rowan Center. https://rowancenterla.com/psychology-collectibles-blind-boxes-labubu-pokemon-cards/
