Formica Corporation, the inventor of high-pressure laminate founded in 1913, has released its book Beyond Boomerang: A Celebration of 110 Years of Formica Patterns. The book commemorates the brand’s 110th anniversary and over a century of influencing residential and commercial interiors.
Beginning with the company’s origins as the Formica Insulation Company, a start-up focused on using new plastic laminate techniques for industrial and electrical applications, the book provides a decade-by-decade look at each era’s prominent Formica patterns and the stories behind their design, driven by contemporaneous current events, cultural moments, technology advancements and evolving design aesthetics.
“The research for this book made it clear just how much Formica’s evolution has been a reflection of culture, particularly in the United States,” says Meghan Howell, North American design and creative director at Formica Corporation. “We’ve designed the book to highlight our patterns over the years and the untold stories behind them – from the designers to the economic, political and popular culture influences.”
The book was penned by Shawn Patrick Tubb, a licensed architect and historian who has a passion for mid-century modern historic preservation, with research support from Formica’s design team and other current and former associates. The nearly-150-page book reflects a decade of work compiling the brand’s history, including combing through Formica internal archives, searching decades-old magazines for Formica advertisements and even visits to the Smithsonian to study the Formica patterns that are a part of the institution’s collection.
With a storied past, Formica continues to evolve its offerings for residential and commercial spaces to meet current design preferences while still maintaining the same high performance the brand is known for. More recent additions to Formica Corporation’s portfolio include Everform Solid Surface, Formica Writable Surfaces, DecoMetal® Metal Laminates and the company’s sister product line, FENIX Innovative Materials.
For more information on Formica’s 110th anniversary, visit Formica.com/110. To learn more about the book and inquire about receiving a copy, visit Formica.com.
