Reflections at Designblok 2025: light, plastic and the poetry of layering

At Designblok 2025 we presented ourselves for the first time as Plastenco studio and straight away with an installation that marked a major step for us. REFLECTIONS is a collection of modular objects and lights created using robotic 3D printing from virgin material and waste plastic from Prusa Polymers.

One recurring surprise during the exhibition was that half of the visitors thought the lights were made of glass. And it was this reaction that pleased us the most. It showed that plastic can also be seen as a material of beauty, not just an environmental problem.

How our installation came about

We wanted to capture the light from the material that usually obstructs it. The process of printing is a bit like a spun ice cream. We layered the material upwards and had to guess exactly when to stop the print so that the structure would hold its shape. Each light was created layer by layer at temperatures of around 200°C, followed by a two-hour post-production and light source fitting after completion.

We worked with both virgin and waste materials, which behave differently, have different structures and temperature stability. Each new type of plastic therefore meant experimenting and fine-tuning the printing strategy from speed and temperature to the final texture.

How we produce

Our lights and objects were created using large format 3D printing that combines precision with creative freedom. Printing one light takes about three hours, post-production another two. At the moment we are still standing by the print, but our future goal is full automation so that the printer can handle each piece independently.

We are also testing new materials on a long-term basis. For example, polypropylene from used filament spools for 3D printing or other waste plastics. But each of them behaves differently, and now all 3D printing enthusiasts will agree that this is where the magic and challenge of 3D printing lies.

From lab idea to Designblok

The installation was created over several months in the workshop at UMPRUM, where we fine-tuned the final form of the shapes and the way the light refracts and reflects on the surface. Each piece is an original. When we then put all the elements together, they formed a modular composition that can be disassembled, rearranged or reused after the exhibition.

We wanted the whole project to be not only aesthetic, but also circular, and all the components could be easily recycled and returned to the printing process as part of the PlastIT research project we are working on with the Faculty of Architecture at the CTU and UMPRUM.

What happened during Designblok

Designblok was a great experience for us. Visitors stopped, touched surfaces and asked if it was really plastic. Many of them couldn’t tell the difference. Architects and designers appreciated that the lights looked like glass, but no one knew that they had a smaller carbon footprint and were lighter and more durable than glass.

Over the course of the week, we had dozens of conversations about the collaboration and how the lights could be used in the interiors of cafes, hotels and public spaces.

What we take away from Designblok

For us, the week at Designblok was not only about exhibiting, but also about communication, meeting, feedback and, most importantly, inspiration from other exhibitors. We saw that people are interested in the combination of technology, aesthetics and sustainability, and that plastic can evoke so many positive emotions and respect if you work with it in a different way than we are used to.

For us,the reflections are a manifestation of a new approach to design. A design that is open, circular and collaborative. And once the installation was over, there was definitely no rest. The next stage has begun and we are wondering where the light will lead next.