Scandinavia Design

about
scandinavian design

Scandinavian design is an aesthetic trend born in the northern countries, mainly Denmark, Sweden and Finland. Its scope covers furniture, lighting, decoration (tableware, fabrics, decorative objects, household linen, etc.) and personal equipment  – clothing, bags and accessories.

Even if it is very diverse in its expression and has varied a lot over time, Scandinavian design relies on a constant base of values, first and foremost minimalism, functionality and durability. It ranges from mid-range to high-end, sometimes to very high-end, with the constant concern to offer a good quality/price ratio

Scandinavian design dominated the world from the '30s to the '70s, before gradually fading into obscurity with its great tutelary figures, such as Poul Henningsen (1894-1967), Arne Jacobsen (1902-1971), Børge Mogensen (1914-1972), Alvar Aalto (1898-1976), Poul Kjærholm (1929-1980), Finn Juhl (1912-1989), Maija Isola (1927-2001) or Hans J. Wegner (1914-2007).

Today, Scandinavian design is back in the spotlight, thanks to a new generation of designers and the emergence of highly creative and successful publishers who have succeeded in keeping with the tradition of classic Scandinavian design while renewing it from top to bottom.

Scandinavia Design aims to be the world's leading retailer of Scandinavian design.



Historical Landmarks of Scandinavian Design

Several key factors unite the Scandinavian Design approach. A number of these have their origin in the characteristics of the Nordic environment. The northern countries are famously dark, cold and snow-covered for long months of the year, with brief, intense light-filled summers. Important areas are mountainous and heavily forested. It is therefore not surprising that many Scandinavian designs have been inspired in some sense by organic forms, materials or natural patterning. 

1931

2022

Paimio 41 design Alvar Aalto Artek
Paimio 41 design Alvar Aalto Artek
PAO Floor lamp Naoto Fukasawa, 2022 Hay
PAO Floor lamp Naoto Fukasawa, 2022 Hay

1932

2021

Folding chair design Mogens Kock Carl Hansen & Søn
Folding chair design Mogens Kock Carl Hansen & Søn
Violin Chair GamFratesi, 2021 Gubi
Violin Chair GamFratesi, 2021 Gubi

Folding chair
design Mogens Kock
Carl Hansen & Søn

1933

2020

Stool 60 design Alvar Aalto Artek
Stool 60 design Alvar Aalto Artek
Petit Standard Dining Chair Daniel Rybakken, 2020 Hay
Petit Standard Dining Chair Daniel Rybakken, 2020 Hay

1935

2019

chair 66 design Alvar Aalto Artek
chair 66 design Alvar Aalto Artek
Vikuri dress design Erja Hirvi Marimekko
Vikuri dress design Erja Hirvi Marimekko

Vikuri dress
design Erja Hirvi
Marimekko

1936

2018

Savoy vase design Alvar Aalto Iittala
Savoy vase design Alvar Aalto Iittala
Bastone design Antrei Hartikainen Poiat
Bastone design Antrei Hartikainen Poiat

1936

2017

tea trolley 900 design Alvar Aalto Artek
tea trolley 900 design Alvar Aalto Artek
mirror 124° design Daniel Rybakken Artek
mirror 124° design Daniel Rybakken Artek

To survive in such inhospitable conditions, Scandinavian have developed a strong practical bent that makes the most out of limited resources and delivers workable solution with optimum economy. Before the modernist’ credo “form follows function” was ever coined, the useful everyday Scandinavian objects displayed such a conviction. 

1936

2016

400 Tank chair design Alvar Aalto Artek
400 Tank chair design Alvar Aalto Artek
VIA 57 lounge chair design KiBiSi Fritz Hansen
VIA 57 lounge chair design KiBiSi Fritz Hansen

1940

2016

Pelican design Finn Juhl House of Finn Juhl
Pelican design Finn Juhl House of Finn Juhl
Ruutu vase design Ronan et Erwan Bouroullec Iittala
Ruutu vase design Ronan et Erwan Bouroullec Iittala

1940

2015

VL38 design Vilhelm Lauritzen Louis Poulsen
VL38 design Vilhelm Lauritzen Louis Poulsen
Pon table design Jasper Morrison Fredericia
Pon table design Jasper Morrison Fredericia

1944

2015

The Lantern design Kaare Klint Le Klint
The Lantern design Kaare Klint Le Klint
Ildhane candleholder design Anderssen & Voll Nedre Foss
Ildhane candleholder design Anderssen & Voll Nedre Foss

Ildhane candleholder
design Anderssen & Voll
Nedre Foss

1946

2015

Domus chair design Ilmari Tapiovaara Artek
Domus chair design Ilmari Tapiovaara Artek
Beetle chair design GamFratesi Gubi
Beetle chair design GamFratesi Gubi

1949

2013

Colonial OW149 design Ole Wanscher Carl Hansen & Søn
Colonial OW149 design Ole Wanscher Carl Hansen & Søn
Coat Tree design M. Young & K.O. Petursdottir Swedese
Coat Tree design M. Young & K.O. Petursdottir Swedese

Because industrialisation arrived late in the region, the traditional craft skills remained alive. As a result, Scandinavian modern refused to allow the machine production to supplant the instinctive handling of materials that is innate to craft. While resourcefulness and practicality give Scandinavian design its clarity, its living craft tradition root the design process in the material world and the individual artistic imagination.

1949

2012

String design Nils Strinning String furniture
String design Nils Strinning String furniture
Reflect design Soren Rose Muuto
Reflect design Soren Rose Muuto

1950

2011

CH25 design Hans Wegner Carl Hansen & Søn
CH25 design Hans Wegner Carl Hansen & Søn
Tip Ton design Barber & Osgerby Vitra
Tip Ton design Barber & Osgerby Vitra

Tip Ton
design Barber & Osgerby
Vitra

1950

2010

Wishbone chair CH24 design Hans Wegner Carl Hansen & Søn
Wishbone chair CH24 design Hans Wegner Carl Hansen & Søn
Collect design Sarah Larsson A2 designers
Collect design Sarah Larsson A2 designers

1951

2009

Monkey design Kay Bojesen Rosendahl
Monkey design Kay Bojesen Rosendahl
Siirtolapuutarha design Maija Louekari Marimekko
Siirtolapuutarha design Maija Louekari Marimekko

1952

2009

Ant chair design Arne Jacobsen Fritz Hansen
Ant chair design Arne Jacobsen Fritz Hansen
Essay table design Cecilie Manz Fritz Hansen
Essay table design Cecilie Manz Fritz Hansen

1952

2008

Tiiliskivi design Armi Ratia Marimekko
Tiiliskivi design Armi Ratia Marimekko
Collage pendant design Louise Campbell Louis Poulsen
Collage pendant design Louise Campbell Louis Poulsen

During the long months of darkness, Scandinavian homes had to offer psychological warmth as well as physical shelter and the notion of domestic cheer is embedded in the Scandinavian approach to design. Emotional warmth is never designed out of the picture, as it can be in the more austere reaches of the industrial inspired Bauhaus aesthetic. That warmth may be expressed in colour, pattern and texture or in organic form, but there is always a human quality to Scandinavian design, even at its most futuristic.

1953

2007

A331 Beehive design Alvar Aalto Artek
A331 Beehive design Alvar Aalto Artek
The Bouquet design Sinja Svarrer Damkjær Le Klint
The Bouquet design Sinja Svarrer Damkjær Le Klint

1953

2007

Trolley design Matthieu Matégot Gubi
Trolley design Matthieu Matégot Gubi
About A Chair design Hee Welling Hay
About A Chair design Hee Welling Hay

1955

2006

Pirkka table design Ilmari Tapiovaara Artek
Pirkka table design Ilmari Tapiovaara Artek
rocking chair Stingray design Thomas Pedersen Fredericia
rocking chair Stingray design Thomas Pedersen Fredericia

Pirkka table
design Ilmari Tapiovaara
Artek

rocking chair Stingray
design Thomas Pedersen
Fredericia

1955

2005

Modern Art design Yki Nummi Innolux
Modern Art design Yki Nummi Innolux
Radon design Hans Sandgren Jakobsen Fritz Hansen
Radon design Hans Sandgren Jakobsen Fritz Hansen

Radon
design Hans Sandgren Jakobsen
Fritz Hansen

1955

2004

PK1 chair design Poul Kjærholm Carl Hansen & Søn
PK1 chair design Poul Kjærholm Carl Hansen & Søn
Caravaggio design Cecilie Manz Light Years
Caravaggio design Cecilie Manz Light Years

1955

2003

CH88 design Hans Wegner Carl Hansen & Søn
CH88 design Hans Wegner Carl Hansen & Søn
Enigma design Shoichi Uchiyama Louis Poulsen
Enigma design Shoichi Uchiyama Louis Poulsen

There is also an important moral dimension, which has to do with the political and civic climate rather that the physical one. The prevailing ethos in Scandinavia has long been socially inclusive, liberal and tolerant, which has led to the shared conviction that it is the role of design to improve life for everyone, not to pander to a privileged minority. As a consequence, simple, understated, well-made products have long been preferred over conspicuous consumption of status symbols or showy grandiose effect. 

1955

2002

Series 7 design Arne Jacobsen Fritz Hansen
Series 7 design Arne Jacobsen Fritz Hansen
Bottna design Anna Danielsson Marimekko
Bottna design Anna Danielsson Marimekko

Bottna
design Anna Danielsson
Marimekko

1956

2000

PK22 design Poul Kjærholm Fritz Hansen
PK22 design Poul Kjærholm Fritz Hansen
Double Bubble design Eero Aarnio Eero Aarnio Studio
Double Bubble design Eero Aarnio Eero Aarnio Studio

1956

1998

Mademoiselle design Ilmari Tapiovaara Artek
Mademoiselle design Ilmari Tapiovaara Artek
SH900 table design Strand+Hvass Carl Hansen & Søn
SH900 table design Strand+Hvass Carl Hansen & Søn

1956

1997

CH20 design Hans Wegner Carl Hansen & Søn
CH20 design Hans Wegner Carl Hansen & Søn
Cuba chair design Morten Gøttler Carl Hansen & Søn
Cuba chair design Morten Gøttler Carl Hansen & Søn

1957

1993

AJ lamp design Arne Jacobsen Louis Poulsen
AJ lamp design Arne Jacobsen Louis Poulsen
Trinidad design Nanna Ditzel Fredericia
Trinidad design Nanna Ditzel Fredericia

1958

1986

Egg chair design Arne Jacobsen Fritz Hansen
Egg chair design Arne Jacobsen Fritz Hansen
Circle Chair design Hans Wegner PP Møbler
Circle Chair design Hans Wegner PP Møbler

The first golden age of Scandinavian design extends from the 1930s to the beginning of the 1970s. Its founders are called Alvar Aalto, Arne Jacobsen, Borge Mogensen, Hans J. Wegner, Verner Panton, Poul Henningsen, Maija Isola, etc. 

1958

1974

PH5 design Poul Henningsen Louis Poulsen
PH5 design Poul Henningsen Louis Poulsen
Liidokki dress design Pentti Rinta Marimekko
Liidokki dress design Pentti Rinta Marimekko

Liidokki dress
design Pentti Rinta
Marimekko

1958

1971

Kartio design Kaj Franck Iittala
Kartio design Kaj Franck Iittala
Tuuli design Maija Isola Marimekko
Tuuli design Maija Isola Marimekko

Tuuli
design Maija Isola
Marimekko

1958

1971

Drop design Arne Jacobsen Fritz Hansen
Drop design Arne Jacobsen Fritz Hansen
Panthella lamp design Verner Panton Louis Poulsen
Panthella lamp design Verner Panton Louis Poulsen

1958

1970

PH Artichoke design Poul Henningsen Louis Poulsen
PH Artichoke design Poul Henningsen Louis Poulsen
CH111 design Hans Wegner Carl Hansen & Søn
CH111 design Hans Wegner Carl Hansen & Søn

1959

1969

Jackie Kennedy makes Marimekko famous worldwide (Sports Illustrated cover) Marimekko
Jackie Kennedy makes Marimekko famous worldwide (Sports Illustrated cover) Marimekko
JL341 design  Juha Leiviskä Artek
JL341 design  Juha Leiviskä Artek

1960

1968

Panton chair design Verner Panton Vitra
Panton chair design Verner Panton Vitra
Tasaraita design Annika Rimala Marimekko
Tasaraita design Annika Rimala Marimekko

Panton chair
design Verner Panton
Vitra

These precursors have provided the model and set of values which still inspire the new scandinavian design: durability, functionality, reliability - but also less tangible values such as simplicity, equality, joy, courage, daily pleasure visible through the creations of new scandinavian brands

1960

1968

Satula design Maija Isola Marimekko
Satula design Maija Isola Marimekko
Super-Elliptical table design P. Hein, B. Mathsson, A. Jacobsen Fritz Hansen
Super-Elliptical table design P. Hein, B. Mathsson, A. Jacobsen Fritz Hansen

Satula
design Maija Isola
Marimekko

1961

1968

Discus design Hans Bølling  Architectmade
Discus design Hans Bølling  Architectmade
Semi design Bonderup & Thorup Gubi
Semi design Bonderup & Thorup Gubi

1962

1964

CH327 design Hans Wegner Carl Hansen & Søn
CH327 design Hans Wegner Carl Hansen & Søn
Unikko design Maija Isola Marimekko
Unikko design Maija Isola Marimekko

Unikko
design Maija Isola
Marimekko

1962

1964

Oxford design Arne Jacobsen Fritz Hansen
Oxford design Arne Jacobsen Fritz Hansen
Kastehelmi design Oiva Toikka Iittala
Kastehelmi design Oiva Toikka Iittala

Oxford
design Arne Jacobsen
Fritz Hansen

1963

1964

Shell chair CH07 design Hans Wegner Carl Hansen & Søn
Shell chair CH07 design Hans Wegner Carl Hansen & Søn
FlowerPot design Verner Panton  &Tradition
FlowerPot design Verner Panton  &Tradition

portraits

Alvar Aalto

Arne Jacobsen

Danish architect designer 🇩🇰

Iconic Brands of Scandinavian Design

… and many others

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