Original Resopal

Since their invention in the early twentieth century, plastic laminates have left their mark in international design. Like Formica in the U.S., the brand name Resopal is practically synonymous with the entire field of laminates in Germany. This study of the material investigates the history of Resopal from its invention (it was trademarked in 1930) up through the latest innovations in plastic surface finishing. Even 75 years after its conception, Resopal continues to offer almost unlimited possibilities for savvy designers--an endless diversity of tactile-aesthetic surfaces usable in almost any context.