Book Rview: Scandinavian Design

Scandinavian Design by Charlotte & Peter Fiell, published by Taschen, 2003. (Amazon)



As the publisher so rightly admits, "Scandinavians are exceptionally gifted in design." While this guide to Scandinavian furniture, glass, ceramics, textile, jewelry, metalware and industrial design may not be "all you need" it definitely hits all the high points, as well as covering lesser-known personalities and designs. The authors' introduction is a good overview that's followed by descriptions of each country's design history. Coverage on 200+ designers and design-led companies follows, and although the text is a bit dry - reading like resumes in paragraph format - the imagery and range of designs makes up for any verbal shortcomings. This imagery definitely illustrates the way that Scandinavian countries have been able to strike a balance between traditional crafts and industrial production, creating organic designs with widespread appeal, critics and consumers alike. From Aalto to Wirkkala, this book offers a great introduction for those unfamiliar with Scandinavian design, as well as a handy resource for those with a deeper background on the subject.