Plastipan

A student wears a bright blue wristwatch designed by a Design student

Plastipan

Designed by Alexis Carriaga-Balderas, B.F.A. in Design

Plastipan is a modular, 3D-printed mechanical watch made from recycled and biodegradable filaments. It pairs a Miyota 8205 automatic movement with laser-cut acrylic disks and slip-in paper dials for instant personalization. Case and strap are fully printable with no specialized tools.

A Miyota 8205 movement is press-fit into a 3D-printed case. Laser-cut acrylic disks form crystal and backplate, while paper dials slide under the hands. Users can print cases and straps and then assemble the sandwich to swap dials and straps without special tools. Design files are free to download online.

Plastipan prioritizes repairable, low-impact design in an industry with limited sustainability. 3D-printed recycled/biodegradable parts, modular assembly and replaceable paper dials extend life, reduce waste and empower makers to personalize responsibly.

Alexis Carriaga-Balderas' prototype assembly sketch for a watch in the Plastipan project
Prototypes for Alexis Carriaga-Balderas' watch design
Prototypes for Alexis Carriaga-Balderas's Plastipan watch design