Scandinavian Design
Encyclopedia
Scandinavian design emerged in the 1950s in the three Scandinavia
n countries (Denmark
, Norway
and Sweden
), as well as Finland
. It is a design
movement characterized by simple designs, minimalism
, functionality, and low-cost mass production
.
The Lunning Prize
, awarded to outstanding Scandinavian designers between 1951 and 1970, was instrumental in both making Scandinavian design a recognized commodity, and in defining the profile of Scandinavian design. Since 2006, the tradition of a pan-Nordic design award has been resumed with the Forum AID Award
.
The idea that beautiful and functional everyday objects should not only be affordable to the wealthy, but to all, is a core theme in the development of modernism
and functionalism
, but is probably most completely realised in post-WWII
Scandinavian design. The ideological background was the emergence of a particular Scandinavian form of social democracy in the 1950s, as well as the increased availability of new low-cost materials and methods for mass production. Scandinavian design often makes use of form-pressed wood, plastics, anodized or enameled aluminum or pressed steel.
The concept of Scandinavian design has been the subject of many scholarly debates, exhibitions and marketing agendas during the last fifty years, but many of the democratic design ideals that were the central theme of the movement have survived and can be found resonant in contemporary design work by Scandinavian and international designers.
Prominent Scandinavian design and retail companies include:
Scandinavian fashion: H&M
, Marimekko
, Filippa K
, Acne Jeans
, Cheap Monday
, Nudie Jeans
, Gudrun Sjödén, J.Lindeberg
.
The sixties and seventies were a period of growth of fashion in the country. From 1960–1965 the clothing industry experiences a growth of approximately 100% when their exports increased from 250 million to 500 million.
During this time, designers and manufacturers realized the need for a focus on product development and knowledge of target area. Fashion shows became a growing phenomenon, and clothing was put into mass production by new designers from the country. While exports continued to increase, and fashion design in Denmark became more popular, designers began to promote their fashion worldwide in hopes to rival top fashion countries such as France and Italy. Because Danish fashion was so unique compared to the trends at the time, the media was behind the new and fresh designs.
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
n countries (Denmark
Danish design
Danish Design is a term often used to describe a style of functionalistic design and architecture that was developed in mid-20th century. Influenced by the German Bauhaus school, many Danish designers used the new industrial technologies, combined with ideas of simplicity and functionalism to...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
and Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
), as well as Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
. It is a design
Design
Design as a noun informally refers to a plan or convention for the construction of an object or a system while “to design” refers to making this plan...
movement characterized by simple designs, minimalism
Minimalism
Minimalism describes movements in various forms of art and design, especially visual art and music, where the work is set out to expose the essence, essentials or identity of a subject through eliminating all non-essential forms, features or concepts...
, functionality, and low-cost mass production
Mass production
Mass production is the production of large amounts of standardized products, including and especially on assembly lines...
.
The Lunning Prize
Lunning Prize
The Lunning Prize was instituted by Frederik Lunning, owner of the New York agency for Georg Jensen. The prize was awarded to eminent Scandinavian designers, two each year, from 1951 to 1970...
, awarded to outstanding Scandinavian designers between 1951 and 1970, was instrumental in both making Scandinavian design a recognized commodity, and in defining the profile of Scandinavian design. Since 2006, the tradition of a pan-Nordic design award has been resumed with the Forum AID Award
Forum AID Award
The Forum AID Award is Nordic architecture and design award handed out annually by the Swedish magazine Forum AID. AID is an acronym for the three subject-matters of the magazine - Architecture, Interior design and Design - and it is also the three categories of the award...
.
The idea that beautiful and functional everyday objects should not only be affordable to the wealthy, but to all, is a core theme in the development of modernism
Modernism
Modernism, in its broadest definition, is modern thought, character, or practice. More specifically, the term describes the modernist movement, its set of cultural tendencies and array of associated cultural movements, originally arising from wide-scale and far-reaching changes to Western society...
and functionalism
Functionalism (architecture)
Functionalism, in architecture, is the principle that architects should design a building based on the purpose of that building. This statement is less self-evident than it first appears, and is a matter of confusion and controversy within the profession, particularly in regard to modern...
, but is probably most completely realised in post-WWII
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
Scandinavian design. The ideological background was the emergence of a particular Scandinavian form of social democracy in the 1950s, as well as the increased availability of new low-cost materials and methods for mass production. Scandinavian design often makes use of form-pressed wood, plastics, anodized or enameled aluminum or pressed steel.
The concept of Scandinavian design has been the subject of many scholarly debates, exhibitions and marketing agendas during the last fifty years, but many of the democratic design ideals that were the central theme of the movement have survived and can be found resonant in contemporary design work by Scandinavian and international designers.
Prominent Scandinavian design and retail companies include:
- Arabia - Finland
- Bang & OlufsenBang & OlufsenBang & Olufsen is a Danish company that designs and manufactures audio products, television sets and telephones. It was founded in 1925 by Peter Bang and Svend Olufsen, whose first significant product was a radio that worked with alternating current, when most radios were run from batteries...
- Denmark - BoConcept - Denmark
- Bolia.com - Denmark/Norway/Sweden
- Design House StockholmDesign House Stockholm-History:Design House Stockholm was founded in 1992 by Anders Färdig, who had previous owned the brands Höganäs and Boda Nova. Originally, Design House Stockholm worked only with product development for other brands. In 1997 the company founded its own product collection, based on the ideas of...
- Sweden - Ekovaruhuset Organic Fashion
- ElectroluxElectroluxThe Electrolux Group is a Swedish appliance maker.As of 2010 the 2nd largest home appliance manufacturer in the world after Whirlpool, its products sell under a variety of brand names including its own and are primarily major appliances and vacuum cleaners...
- Sweden - Georg JensenGeorg JensenGeorg Arthur Jensen was a Danish silversmith.Born in 1866, Jensen was the son of a knife grinder in the town of Raadvad just to the north of Copenhagen. Jensen began his training in goldsmithing at the age of 14 in Copenhagen...
- Denmark - IittalaIittalaIittala is a Finnish design company specialising in houseware objects made on the principle of "modern Scandinavian design". [N.B. The official logo of the Company is all in lower case - iittala. Using upper case for the initial i can cause some confusion as it may be mistaken for an L.] The Iittala...
- Finland - IKEAIKEAIKEA is a privately held, international home products company that designs and sells ready-to-assemble furniture such as beds and desks, appliances and home accessories. The company is the world's largest furniture retailer...
- Sweden - KvadratKvadrat (company)Kvadrat is a Danish Textile design company. Founded in 1968, it now holds a leading position in the European market of design textiles, supplying renowned architects, designers and furniture manufacturers throughout the world, for use in upholstery and curtains.-Showrooms:Kvadrat's major...
- Kvänum - Sweden
- MarimekkoMarimekkoMarimekko is a Finnish company based in Helsinki that has made important contributions to fashion, especially in the 1960s and 1970s. They are particularly noted for brightly-colored printed fabrics and simple styles, used both in women's garments and in home furnishings.- Foundation :Marimekko was...
- Finland - Ordning & Reda - Sweden
- OrreforsOrreforsOrrefors is a locality situated in Nybro Municipality, Kalmar County, Sweden with 696 inhabitants in 2005. The internationally acclaimed Orrefors glassworks are situated here....
- Royal CopenhagenRoyal CopenhagenRoyal Copenhagen, officially the Royal Porcelain Factory is a manufacturer of porcelain products and was founded in Copenhagen 1 May 1775 under the protection of Queen Juliane Marie...
- Denmark
Scandinavian fashion: H&M
H&M
H & M Hennes & Mauritz AB is a Swedish retail-clothing company, known for its fast-fashion clothing offerings for women, men, teenagers and children....
, Marimekko
Marimekko
Marimekko is a Finnish company based in Helsinki that has made important contributions to fashion, especially in the 1960s and 1970s. They are particularly noted for brightly-colored printed fabrics and simple styles, used both in women's garments and in home furnishings.- Foundation :Marimekko was...
, Filippa K
Filippa K
Filippa K, is a Swedish clothing company. Founded in 1993 by Filippa Knutsson, Filippa K has grown to be one of Sweden's leading fashion brands....
, Acne Jeans
Acne Jeans
Acne Studios is part of the creative collective Acne which was founded in Stockholm, Sweden in 1996. In 1997, co-founder Jonny Johansson created one hundred pairs of jeans in raw denim with red stitching and gave them away to friends and family in Stockholm. This became the foundation of the...
, Cheap Monday
Cheap Monday
Cheap Monday is a Swedish clothing label. It was founded in 2000 by Örjan Andersson and Adam Friberg, originally as a second-hand clothing store, in a suburb of Stockholm. The clothes started selling at March 10, 2004, and from the beginning in only one store called Weekday. The name of the brand...
, Nudie Jeans
Nudie Jeans
Nudie Jeans is a Swedish premium clothing brand originating in Gothenburg and a subsidiary of Svenska Jeans AB, founded in 1999 by Maria Erixsson, a former employee and AD of Lee Europe and Swedish designer JC. As of 2003, the company had 12 employees, revenue of 93 million Swedish kronor and a...
, Gudrun Sjödén, J.Lindeberg
J.Lindeberg
J.Lindeberg , is a Swedish clothing company marketed as a 21st Century lifestyle brand. Currently, J.Lindeberg is distributed in over 20 countries and available at flagship stores in New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Stockholm, Tokyo, Kyoto and Hong Kong.J.Lindeberg's clothes are popular among golfers,...
.
Design in Denmark
Danish fashion stands as the 4th largest export out of all manufacturing industries in the country. Bringing in 30 billion dollars a year, fashion has become a catalyst in export, employment, and growth in Denmark. According to the Danish Fashion Institute, "Danish fashion companies have a higher shareholder value creation than any other fashion industry globally."The sixties and seventies were a period of growth of fashion in the country. From 1960–1965 the clothing industry experiences a growth of approximately 100% when their exports increased from 250 million to 500 million.
During this time, designers and manufacturers realized the need for a focus on product development and knowledge of target area. Fashion shows became a growing phenomenon, and clothing was put into mass production by new designers from the country. While exports continued to increase, and fashion design in Denmark became more popular, designers began to promote their fashion worldwide in hopes to rival top fashion countries such as France and Italy. Because Danish fashion was so unique compared to the trends at the time, the media was behind the new and fresh designs.
External links
- Scandinavian Design Beyond The Myth
- Modern Finnish Design History, museums companies, designers at FinnishDesign.com