The fifth class-Post war design heritage today

One of Alvar Aalto's most famous design, Savoy vases.

Today's topic is more about history of Finnish design. As we known, Finland underwent several war during 19 and 20 century and it caused shortage of material, daily stuffs, and house. Because of the situation, designers in the era had to think more about product design and figure the most important of people need. It also made designers have to think more about material applying.And we can find out the style of Finnish design of early and middle of 20 century is so simple but elegant and always emphasizes the characteristic of materials. Nowadays, young designers inherit and elongate the style and element of design.

I think Savoy vase is one good example. It also can be called as Aalto vase, is one of iconic glassware in Finnish design. It was originally designed for the Karhula-Iittala glass factory in 1936. It amazed people in the 1937 World's Fair in Paris with its irregular shape which can show the fluid characteristic of glass. It became famous and iconic symbol of Finnish design. In recent decays, it is the most famous glass ware of Iittala.

In 1998, Finnish designer, Jani Martikainen made a product called Majamoo Pot Stand. It inherits the element of Aalto Vase and merges the style of simple but elegant, besides, it presents the bend technique of woody stuffs. It shows that the elongation of Finnish design.

In my opinion, I think Finnish design has its own style that everyone can easily recognize the products made in Finland, but it also limit the development of Finnish design that some innovated design can not be accepted easily in this area or even in the world. But there is no standard answers to this issue. Anyway, the advantages are more than disadvantages in design style heritage.