Scandinavian Design - Taschen
industrial design from Scandinavia, 2002
The book "Design in Scandinavia" (2002), published by Taschen and edited by Charlotte J. Fiell and Peter M. Fiell, is a comprehensive guide to the style and history of Scandinavian design from 1900 to the early 2000s. The volume illustrates the evolution of design in the Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden), highlighting the differences and similarities between the various national traditions.
The book features over 179 illustrated entries on iconic Scandinavian designers, companies, and objects, covering a wide range of fields such as furniture, glass, ceramics, textiles, jewelry, metalwork, and industrial design. Designers covered include such renowned names as Alvar Aalto, Arne Jacobsen, Hans Wegner, and many other prominent figures. Major companies such as Ericsson, IKEA, Bang & Olufsen, Marimekko, and Volvo are also mentioned.
The book's approach emphasizes the democratic and functional nature of Scandinavian design, with a particular focus on the functional aesthetics and beauty of everyday objects, in keeping with the Swedish slogan "Vackrare Vardagsvara" (beautiful objects for everyday life).
The authors, both experts in design history with training and careers in the field, also offer a biographical and analytical text that accompanies the entries, providing a broad historical and cultural overview of the phenomenon.
This illuminating guide, which presents a detailed panorama of furniture, glass, ceramics, textiles, jewelery, metal objects and industrial design from Scandinavia from the 1 900 to the present day, is articulated in 179 illustrated cards concerning designers and companies in the sector, accompanied by a biographical and analytical text.
The introduction offers an overview of the evolution of the Scandinavian design of the last century, underlining its similarities and differences in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden. The volume also includes a list, intended for those readers who plan to visit Scandinavia, the most important design-related locations.
It includes among others designers: Aino Aalto, Alvar Aalto, Eero Aarnio, Sigvard Bernadotte, Hrafnkell Birgisson, Tias Eckhoff, Kaj Franck, Maija Island, Arne Jacobsen, Georg Jensen, Finn Juhl, Poul Kjaerholm, Harri Koskinen, Stig Lindberg, Ingeborg Lundin, Bruno Mathsson, Norway Says, Verner Panton, Timo Sarpaneva, Pia Wallén, Hans Wegner, Tapio Wirkkala ...
and companies: Arabia, Artek, Asplund, Bang & Olufsen, David-Andersen, Ericsson, Fiskars, Fritz Hansen, Gustavsberg, Hadeland, Hasselblad, Holmegaard, Littala, IKEA, Le Klint, LEGO, Marimekko, Nokia, Orrefors, Royal Copenhagen , Saab, Stelton, Stokke, Volvo ...
The authors:
Charlotte J. Fiell studied at the British Institute in Florence and at the Camberwell School of Arts and Crafts in London, where she graduated with honors in drawing history, graphic art and materials research. He later attended a course at Sotheby's, also in London.
Peter M. Fiell took a course at Sotheby's and later graduated in design at the Centrai Saint Martin's College for Art & Design in London.
The Fiell have a consulting firm in London, specializing in sales, purchases, study and promotion of design objects.
They have curated several exhibitions and written numerous articles and books on the subject, including: Charles Rennie Mackintosh, William Morris, 1000 Chairs, Design of the Twentieth Century and Design A to Z published by TASCHEN.
They also edited the six-volume series Decorative Art, published by the same publishing house.
