Review of the tour to Design Museum

On 19th Sep, I went to the design museum where some Finnish designs were on exhibition. The exhibition presents the Finnish design and art history from 19th to nowadays.

Design Museum, Helsinki

The design presented in the exhibition started from 1900s, since in this period of time, Finland had been independent from other country. With the growth of economy, despite the Would War I breaking out in 1914, the training of professionals in applied art and design had been developing. On the european exhibition which was held during 1920s and 1930s, Finland showed its new image with design and art works.

glasses and metals in 1910s -1930s

The postwar period is called Golden Age of Finnish Design. “The restrained and unpretentious works created in this small northern country was admired in exhibitions abroad and on the pages of international design magazines and journals.” It is from this period, Finnish design set its characteristics with respect and creative application with austere materials. I went around in these design works, touching with my eyes the wooden furniture, the crystal glasses, the peaceful form and the streamlines.

the precious sketches

I myself was attracted by some modern Finnish design so that decided to come to this country to study design. The ice block lamp, tonfisk tea cup and reflective jewelry Kukka are all excellent modern Finnish design works.

Furniture design is one of the most significant part of Finnish design. Some of those classical Finnish chairs were initially designed for schools, families and restaurant, which proved to be very functional and aesthetic in nowadays. The chair below was designed for Helsinki Design university, which could be assembled with legs, arms and other components. This idea seems earlier than IKEA, isn’t it ? :P

Nana chair, which can be stored horizontally and veritically

The way of bending wood with heating is either brilliant and elegant way to make curvy form or furniture. The table below which is called Trienna, consists of three pieces forming the legs and the top.

This exhibition tour impressed me with the extreme design and the spirit of the old design professionals. Sitting in a LULU chair, enjoying the video of the chair designing process, I saw the high level skills, profound understanding of design and people’s living and strong responsibility to design and also society- which might be important requirements in these great Finnish designs.