Eero Aarnio is a Finnish designer and a pioneer in the use of plastic in the design industry, leaving his mark on the 1960s with his avant-garde furniture. In 1957, he completed his studies at the Institute of Industrial Arts in Helsinki, and in 1962, he opened his industrial and interior design studio. Working with both traditional and modern materials, it was during this period that Aarnio began using plastics, bright colors, and organic shapes, challenging traditional and conventional design. Some of his works are true icons today, enduring through time due to their innovation and beauty. In 1967, he received the American Industrial Design Award for the design of the Pastil chair; made of fiberglass, it floats and can even be used in water. Much of his work is exhibited in the most prestigious museums, including the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, MoMA in New York, and the Vitra Design Museum in Weil am Rhein. It is remarkable how some hallmarks of the Pop aesthetic come from a Scandinavian country, using materials so removed from the manual traditions practiced there. It is notable how Eero Aarnio stood out and became an international design star during the 60s and 70s, surpassing many figures from the Italian scene that then dictated the rules of this mainstream. His fiberglass creations, with formal and chromatic codes that became synonymous with his legacy, brought him international fame that remained until these creations became fashionable. He created at least three icons of an era and, after that reign, dedicated himself to interior design and furniture for workspaces with a distinctly different approach. The end of the century saw a revival of Aarnio’s creations, with his works being reissued by various publishers and new commissions extending the universe he had created. Aarnio has become an eternal example for Scandinavia, still appearing in numerous contexts today as a timeless landmark, even with the obvious marks of ephemeral movements so closely linked to fashion.

See all Hide