As a designer, I dream of creating products so distinctive and appealing that they visually “pop” against the competition. Such product designs solve real-world problems and achieve widespread success. And it’s not just about the look — it’s about the feel and the physical properties, too.
PopFoam is a great material to work with in that regard. If you take a look at our Design Guide, you can see that our material can be molded in a wide range of surface textures. The soft EVA-based foam is great for comfort or user protection. A product such as a shoe or knee pad, for instance, can really benefit from the soft foam material.
Don’t mistake softness for fragility, though. PopFoam is also virtually indestructible, waterproof, buoyant, and resistant to UV, mold, mildew, and many chemicals.
But PopFoam’s real value for designers comes in terms of its adaptability.
Getting Playful With Design
Humans are highly visual, so a product that delights the eye is critical to success. Whether it’s the logo and product name or a graphic pattern or image, these elements can give a product personality and visual appeal.
With PopFoam, you’re not limited to the distinctive blue tones selected for the One World Fútbol. Indeed, PopFoam excels at transferring cost-effective and durable custom graphics onto the surface of any product one can imagine. Cubic dipping even allows you to apply complex visual designs over 3D products, resulting in a beautiful, rich, and vibrant look.
PopFoam can also be molded in a wide range of surface textures, either custom ones or those selected from a large gallery of pre-made textures, varying from a matte finish to a deep leather to a wood grain pattern. The result is a crisp, detailed surface texture that’s molded right into the EVA foam product.
As a designer, I’ve come to love experimenting with juxtaposing contrasting textures, often on the same part. I’ve found that a larger asymmetrical texture next to a finer, more uniform one can create a captivating visual direction.
It’s also reassuring to know that my designs will come to life in a truly durable and highly adaptable material. Beyond just tensile strength, PopFoam is ideal for combining varying durometer levels — either bonded together, co-molded, or designed with mechanical attachments.
This allows you to place the softest or spongiest foam where you want it (such as a high-touch area) while reinforcing the structure with a harder foam. The benefits are improved performance and achieving the desired look and feel of the product’s design.
