Eero Aarnio
Eero Aarnio (born 21 July 1932, in Helsinki) is a Finnish interior designer, noted for his innovative furniture designs in the 1960s, such as his plastic and fibreglass chairs.[1]
Aarnio studied at the Institute of Industrial Arts in Helsinki, and started his own office in 1962. The following year, he introduced his Ball Chair, a hollow sphere on a stand, open on one side to allow a person to sit within. The similar Bubble Chair was clear and suspended from above. Other innovative designs included his Pastil Chair (a beanbag-like molded armchair),[2] and Tomato Chair (a seat molded between three supporting spheres). His Screw Table, as the name suggests, had the appearance of a flat head screw driven into the ground. He was awarded the American Industrial Design award in 1968.
Aarnio’s designs were an important aspect of 1960s popular culture, and could often be seen as part of sets in period science-fiction films.[3] Because his designs used very simple geometric forms, they were ideal for such productions. Eero Aarnio continues to create new designs, including toys and furniture for children. Eero Aarnio opened his official webshop and first Design Eero Aarnio Showroom, in Helsinki. There you can find Aarnio’s latest design, prototypes and latest news.
The finnish designer Eero Aarnio, born in 1932, studied from 1954 to 1957 at the Institute of Industrial Arts in Helsinki and started in 1962 with his own office as an interior and industrial designer.
Engaged in new ideas of furniture he designed the Ball Chair already in 1963; it was produced some years later. Material (fibre glass) and shape were complete novelties for that time’s furniture industry.
In the following years fibre glass as used in boat construction became one of Aarnio’s favorite materials. The resistant and well workable fibre glass enabled Aarnio to design ergonomic forms without restrictions – and intriguing new ones too.
With Pastil Chair (American Industrial Design-Award 1968) and Tomato Chair he earned international reputation. Chairs like these can be used both inside and outside, and they swim! – Besides, Pastil Chair gives a new, extraordinary idea of what a rocking chair is.