Classics
From radical to classic: the timeless design of Verner Panton
Verner Panton is one of the great names of Nordic design, known for his bold colors, sculptural forms, and futuristic interiors. A century after the Danish designer’s birth, his furniture and lighting remain strikingly relevant. In this story, we explore why Panton’s radical ideas have stood the test of time – with insight from the brands that continue to produce his iconic pieces today.
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Alessi’s kettle 9093 – brewing joy for 40 years!
Countless cups of tea and forty years later, the joy is still the same. Designed by Michael Graves for Alessi in 1985, the kettle 9093 has become a design icon that perfectly balances playfulness and timeless elegance. Its cheerful whistle continues to delight, decade after decade.
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The master of chairs: Hans J. Wegner
The son of a cobbler, Hans J. Wegner began his apprenticeship as a carpenter at just 14 years old. He went on to become one of the leading figures of Scandinavian furniture design, creating more than 500 chair models over the course of his career. Today, Wegner is best known for his iconic Wishbone Chair, which has been in continuous production since 1950.
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Poul Henningsen – master of soft light and designer of the PH 5 lamp
Designed by Poul Henningsen, the PH 5 is one of the most renowned classics of Danish lighting design. Created for Louis Poulsen in 1958, the pendant lamp is an iconic example of Henningsen’s uncompromising lighting philosophy and a testament to how timeless design can illuminate homes for generations.
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Greta Magnusson Grossman paved the way for female designers
Greta Magnusson Grossman is best known for her Gräshoppa and Cobra lamps, designed in the late 1940s and now part of GUBI’s collection. The Swedish designer, who built her career in California, also created houses and interiors for Hollywood’s elite alongside her iconic lighting designs.
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Howard Smith was a boundless creative experimenter
Artist and designer Howard Smith infused his creativity into ceramics, printed textiles, and a variety of other materials. Smith is best known for his ceramic animal figures for Arabia and printed fabrics for Vallila. In May 2025, his first retrospective exhibition in the United States will open.
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Aino Aalto was a strict functionalist, who aimed at a clear and simple style
Aino Aalto brought the modern interior design ideals that she thought were practical to Finland. Her style can be seen, for example, in the interior of Villa Mairea.
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Vitra’s Uten.Silo is a stylish spot for everyday essentials
The Uten.Silo designed by Dorothee Becker got its final shape after some twists and turns. These days manufactured by Vitra, the iconic wall-mounted organizer is a popular everyday article and interior decoration item that brings a smile to design lovers around the world.
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Playful vegetables and fruits flourish in Oiva Toikka’s glass garden
In addition to his popular glass birds, Oiva Toikka also designed luscious-looking glass fruits and vegetables. Some of these whimsical glass sculptures have made a return to Iittala’s collection. It’s worth searching for vintage Toikka glass art, for example, from Franckly’s selection.
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Kartell’s Componibili combines practicality and playful design
Designed by Anna Castelli Ferrieri, the Componibili storage unit is a design classic that finds its place in every area of the home. Behind its sleek sliding doors, everything from eyeglasses and socks to soaps can easily be tucked away.
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Humane from design to finish – Alvar Aalto's armchairs are hand-made in Finland
Alvar Aalto's creations share not only a timeless design language but also a distinctive sense of humanity. Aalto designed his products with life at the forefront – they were made to be lived in, experienced, and built to withstand the everyday and special moments alike. Discover Aalto's armchairs with us, each one meticulously handcrafted and upholstered in Turku, Finland.
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Tynell in Helsinki: Exploring Paavo Tynell’s lighting in the city’s landmarks
Finnish designer Paavo Tynell had a distinguished career in public lighting design, and many of his masterpieces are still on display for all to admire. In this article, we explore Tynell’s lighting at Helsinki Central Station, the Helsinki School of Economics, Hotel Vaakuna and Meilahti Church.
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Vitra relaunches the fabric-upholstered Eames Lounge Chair – the iconic armchair is as practical as it is luxurious
The classic Eames Lounge Chair was designed by Charles and Ray Eames to improve on something that already existed. The same kind of thinking still prevails at Vitra, which is now relaunching the fabric-upholstered version of the Lounge Chair. Slightly less-well known than the chair, the story behind it began already in the late 1950s.
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Artek's classics are the foundation of Finnish design – introducing 7 timeless gems by Alvar Aalto
Trends come and go, but the timeless allure of classics transcends decades – Artek's iconic furniture and lighting have brought beauty and functionality to homes worldwide for nearly a century. We selected seven Aalto favorites: read on to discover the stories behind these beloved products.
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Wooden dolls by Vitra are like one happy family – which is your favorite?
Designed by Alexander Girard, the expressive wooden dolls seem to be communicating with each other. Even a couple of dolls made by Vitra can create some spark and color into your interior, or are you going to get them all?
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From fishing nets to outdoor furniture – Mater’s Ocean patio furniture combines recycled material with 1950s spirit
Danish company Mater updated the 1950s outdoor furniture collection by Nanna and Jørgen Ditzel to the modern day. The material of the Ocean furniture is now recycled waste plastic from oceans – and green Carlsberg beer barrels.
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Fiskars’ scissors celebrate 55th anniversary – do you know how the iconic orange color was invented?
55 years ago, Fiskars introduced the world's first plastic-handled scissors. Today, orange Classic scissors are one of the most recognizable Finnish design classics of all time. Over a billion pairs of Classic scissors have been sold worldwide.
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What a wonderful lounge chair! The Tired Man designed by Flemming Lassen invites you to relax
Architect Flemming Lassen was one of the pioneers of Danish functionalism. One of his most famous pieces of furniture is The Tired Man easy chair, which was re-introduced in 2015 by the Danish brand By Lassen.
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Arabia’s vintage flower pots are in huge demand – do you have these ceramic pots at home?
Designed by Richard Lindh, the timelessly beautiful ceramic flower pots by Arabia are sought-after vintage treasures, and also extremely good for your flowers.
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Designer who loved technology – Richard Sapper’s designs range from cars to laptops
The career of German-Italian designer Richard Sapper was driven by his boundless interest in technology. Sapper, one of the key industrial designers of the last century, created innovations including the Tizio lamp for Artemide, the kettle 9091 for Alessi, and the ThinkPad laptops for Lenovo.
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Ilmari Tapiovaara’s Maija lamp (1955)
Ilmari Tapiovaara is best known for his interior and furniture design. Most people are familiar with the Domus chair and Pirkka collection, but did you know that Tapiovaara also designed lamps? One of the most beautiful is Maija, which is currently part of Santa & Cole’s selection.
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Alessi introduces the iconic espresso makers 9090 and La conica in vivid original versions
To celebrate its centennial, Alessi treats design lovers to intriguing special editions: Richard Sapper’s espresso coffee maker 9090 and Aldo Rossi’s La Conica are featured in the Alessi 100 Values Collection as previously unpublished original versions.
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Gubi’s Pedrera coffee table reprises the flowing forms created by Antoni Gaudí
The Pedrera coffee table is one of the Danish company Gubi’s hit products. Its modern design seems entirely up to date, but the name reveals something completely different in its background. The coffee table was designed in 1955 in one of Antoni Gaudí’s most famous buildings in Barcelona.
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Charles & Ray Eames – pioneers of 20th-century modern design
Charles and Ray Eames were some of the most influential designers of 20th-century modern design. The story of the couple, making their careers in the US, involves both design competitions and World War Two – and Finnish architects Eliel and Eero Saarinen.
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Design Classics on Design Stories
These stories explore iconic figures and objects of Finnish and Scandinavian design. We share the stories of influential designers, their ideas and creative legacies, as well as products that have become enduring design classics over time.
In the Classic category, you can read more about familiar and beloved design icons and the stories behind them. We highlight designers such as Charles and Ray Eames, Verner Panton, and Paavo Tynell, whose work continues to shape contemporary design and whose products are available through Finnish Design Shop.
Design Stories is the online magazine of Finnish Design Shop, created to inspire and delight design lovers everywhere. We hope you enjoy exploring with us! Have a story tip or thoughts on our content? We’d love to hear from you.
