When I think of plastic in design, I tend to think of 1960s space-age pieces, but its importance actually spans the past 150 years rather than just one decade. Plastic Dreams: Synthetic Visions in Design looks at the influence the material has had over that period.

The book charts the use of plastic from the mid-nineteenth century to the present, but of course it covers a lot of our favourite design periods in between. It features over 120 landmark designs, including Wells Coates AD 65 radio from the 1930s and Konstanin Grcic's MYTO chair, a modern design that we’ve featured here before on account of its retro looks.

Plastic Dreams is available to buy from Amazon, priced £23.70.