Designers

Paavo Tynell (1890-1973) started his career as a plater and blacksmith, until in 1912, he joined Koru Oy which was founded by Architect Eino Schroderus. There, he started studying metal virtu and as a student project, he produced his first ever documented brass lamp.

In 1913, Tynell travelled to Germany and worked for a short period in a metal factory before going back to his work and studies at Koru.

In 1916 he left Koru to continue his studies at the Central Applied Arts School (Now Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture) with Eric Ehrström as his teacher. During his first year, Tynell proved to be so skilful, that he was asked by the headmaster Werner Von Essen to join the school as a teacher, which he did in 1917. In 1918, and along with his teacher E. Ehrström, artist Emil Wickström, industrialist Gösta Serlachius, and fellow metal artist Frans Nykänen, they founded Oy Taito Ab and the world became a brighter place.

Paavo Tynell designed lamps for his company Taito, which was the leading company in Finland and most of the public buildings commissioned their work through it. During that time Idman, Stockmann (owners of Orno), and many other smaller retail companies sold Taito lamps, until in 1953 Idman acquired Taito and the transition started from Taito to Idman. Simultaneously during that period and starting from 1948, Tynell designed lamps for the US market that were sold through Finland House in New York.

The American market received them well and Paavo Tynell had extensive road exhibitions in the United States that helped connecting him with numerous Architects that commissioned many works through Finland House or directly through Idman and or Lightolier. A lot of these projects had unique lamps and sometime difficult to identify designs. There are even furniture pieces designed by Tynell that are extremely difficult to recognize. In his later years and up until the late 60s and early 70s, Tynell kept designing lighting fixtures and designed a line of candleholders that he handmade himself at his home in Tuusula Finland.

Alvar Aalto (1898-1976) is a world famous architect and designer. He was well known for designing his own line of furniture and lighting for the numerous buildings that he designed worldwide.

His unique modernist style seamlessly blended functionality with organic forms. He was a pioneer in using natural materials and light to create harmonious and human-centered spaces.

Aalto’s work includes iconic buildings such as the Paimio Sanatorium and the Finlandia Hall, as well as furniture designs like the Paimio Chair and the Savoy Vase.

His innovative approach to architecture and design continues to influence creatives around the world.

Tapio Wirkkala (1915-1985) was a genius designer and sculptor who was recognized as a leading figure in Finnish arts and crafts in the “golden era” of 1950s-1960s after the wars. Sometimes even compared to Da Vinci, his incredible understanding of geometry resulted in some truly amazing pieces which you can’t compare to any other designer’s work.

He used a number of different materials in his designs including glass, wood, plywood, silver and ceramics, and always had a very unique and distinct approach to his designs.

Lisa Johansson-Papé (1907-1989) was a Finnish designer best known for her works in lighting. She paid more attention to the function of the lamp firstly, then the design feature secondly.

Lisa designed furniture for Stockmann for a number of years, after which she turned her attention to lamps, also at the Stockmann owned company Orno Oy.

Eero Aarnio, born in 1932, is a Finnish designer and professor who is considered by many as one of the pioneers and innovators in modern furniture design.

Aarnio experimented and used a wide variety of materials such as plastic and fiberglass.

He has created quite a few classics in Finnish modern designs such as the Ball chair, Bubble chair and Pastilli, most of these designed in the 1960s.