allu23
In 1935 four young idealists Aino & Alvar Aalto, Nils-Gustav Hahl and Maire Gullichsen started a company called “Artek” in Helsinki, Finland. The peculiar thing about starting this new company was the idea behind it. The four young people wanted to improve that times housing-culture. They improved the culture by organizing exhibitions and selling furniture that they designed. The furniture they designed back then was practical, simple and effective. Arteks’ design represents the same three characteristics even today. Do the practical, simple and effective characteristics mean that Artkes’ design is “good design”?
In my opinion Finnish designers have mostly made practical and simple design, whether it is clothing, tableware or furniture. I see simple and practical meaning good design, because you do not get tired of it and the same piece of design will more easily last for decades. The picture above is of a stool was made by Alvar Aalto in 1933. It is one of the most popular designs Artek sells every year. The stool has been sold to millions of people. I see the fact that is has been sold for over 80 years, that the public sees it as a good design object. Even I have it in my home as a multifunctional piece of furniture. It serves the purpose of a stool and at the same time brings good design to my home.
An important element of the definition of good design, according to Alice Rawsthorn, is that a design must fulfill its intended function, and fulfill it efficiently. In Arteks case, thinking about the stool above, it fulfills its intended function in all ways. The stool has been designed for people to sit on and to stand up on to reach for otherwise unreachable objects. Raswthorn also says that there is nothing wrong with a person seeing beauty in design. Beauty in design has the power, as I see it the visual element, to inspire us and make all of our lives more pleasant. Almost all of Arteks designs are very simple. This enables combining their different designs together, when furnishing a home, office, or public space.
If you want good design that is high quality and both beautiful and simple, you should definitely look at Arteks large selecton of design furniture. In 2013 a design brand from Switzerland, called Vitra, bought Artek. Vitras aim was to make Artek a international brand and at the same time keep Arteks’ office in Helsinki, where it all started. Nowadays Artek can be found in homes all over the world, so their designs must make a great impression on buyers. Artek is an old design brand that is almost 100 years old and keeps growing and making a name for itself around the world. In my opinion the old design brand will still continue to make good and effective designs that lasts for the far future ahead.
*Picture & story of Artek: artek.fi
*Picture & story of Artek: artek.fi *Artek uudistuu vauhdilla – ”Vitra teki Artekista kansainvälisen brändin”- https://www.kauppalehti.fi/uutiset/artek-uudistuu-vauhdilla-vitra-teki-artekista-kansainvalisen-brandin/b206d14b-600e-34a8-b54f-cb7337733a72 *Alice Rawsthorn (2013), Hello world: where design meets life
Making sense of art and design industries 