Running until mid-August, the Design Exchange is putting iconic plastic products from their permanent collection on display in a small exhibition.

There's also a display of Canadian furniture out in the front, though I don't know how long it'll stick around.

The way the form blends into the back of the chair is amazing. I couldn't get the name of this chair (the curators didn't have information on all of them), so there's some unknown chair designer genius out there.

This is the K700 stool, designed in 1969. Simple and elegant use of steel tube. It reminds me of playing with unfolded paper clips. Originally manufactured right here in Toronto, you can still find them around the city today.

The actual plastics showcase is a little off to the side.

Industrial design sketches from 1989.

And from 1960.

Yeah that's right, industrial designers are important!

There was a point in time where people thought these were the briefcases of the future. What a strange world we'd be living in if that were true. Out love affair with leather doesn't seem to be ending any time soon though.

Canadian plastic.

Clear acrylic from the Space Age. Weightless and clean.

This phone screamed 70's to me but turns out it's from '68. Truly ahead of its time.

Not directly linked with the exhibit, the Design Exchange is showing off other parts of their permanent collection where they usually set up their gift shop, right by the main entrance.

The Clairtone Project G2. A Canadian acoustic icon.

And its even better-known predecessor, the Project G.

More kettles.

You can finish up your brief tour by watching Magic Molecule, a short 9 minute documentary about (you guessed it) plastic, from 1964. It has a playful, happy-go-lucky charm that you'll find lacking in contemporary documentaries. If you can't find time to visit the Design Exchange, it's actually available to watch online here for free. Be prepared for a wacky adventure.