Day five: Kaj Franck

One designer I really liked in Finland was Kaj Franck. I’m so happy I found the packaging for these glasses (above, background). I LOVE the transparency in the pattern he created with the glass forms. Looks just like Illustrator’s “multiply” filter today – but this packaging was design in the 1950/60s. According to wikipedia,

“Kaj Franck (1911-1989) was one of the leading figures of Finnish design, the teacher of several generations of professional designers in Finland, and an influential figure in design and applied arts between 1940-1980. He was artistic director of the Wärtsilä Group (later Hackman Plc, present-day Iittala Group) and artistic director and teacher at the College of Applied Arts, the predecessor of the University of Art and Design Helsinki.The Design Forum Finland awards the yearly Kaj Franck Design Prize to a designer or team of designers working in the spirit of the late Kaj Franck. The Mint of Finland will release a collector coin with the theme “Kaj Franck and Industrial Art” in January 2011. The year of release will coincide with the one hundredth anniversary of his birth.”

I like the patterns and drawings he applied to the pottery and kitchenware the most. I think the glasses are beautiful, especially the colors, but I really love the contrast between the fine lines and the application of color. At DesignMuseo, they also had a collection of his stamps designed by him/in his honor, which are also great.

 

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