Eero Aarnio - Pop Design : Task 2

Eero Aarnio

Eero Aarnio was one of the pioneer in plastic products were in 1960´s to mid 1970´s his first example was the playful shape of his fibreglass ‘’Pollo’’ (Ball) chair and his ‘’Pastil’’

chair, an indoor and outdoor. The Pop took on the rocking car and in 1968 he won American Industrial Design award.

Eero Aarnio born in Helsinki 1932 and studied at the Institute of Industrial Arts and he graduated in 1957. In the late 1950 he started to work with Ilmari Tapiovaara how was the Finnish designer. In 1956 he married Pirkko Attila and he had two children in 1959 Marja-Leena and in 1961 he had Rea. In 1960 he opened his own office as an industrial and interior designer.

The Ball chair was introduced to the public at the Lologne Furniture fair in 1966 and he won the immediate acclaim of design press. The drawings from the Scandinavian design had been its beauty and elegance in spite of, and perhaps of its mass production. Eero Aarino came with an establish a limited partnership with Asko so he could do experimental designs of furniture using new materials and modes of production. They were expanding their name because of Eero Aarnio giving them a good image. This new popularity and a professional relationship that grew out of it allowed Eero Aarnio to push the boundaries of design in ways that he never would have been able to his earlier years as an Asko employee. 

In this movement most 3 things were popular in America were the Beatles, Psychedelia drug and the man had landed on the moon so space was becoming something new and every one was talking about it. 

Ball Chair 1963 by Eero Aarnio 

Pastil Chair 1968 by Eero Aarnio 

Yadea inspired her self from the Pastil chair that Eero Aarnio designed but in this case se use fibreglass not plastic. 

Altough the ball chair was introduced as a limited item Eero Aarnio started to work with plastic to the same level that Finnish designers, like Tapiovaara, work with wood. He wanted to design and create a very good ergonomic design that were modern and mass produced at low cost, and using state of the art materials. Even the organic shape gave it looks of elegant Scandinavian approach to use that material. He said that his designs should be beautiful and extraordinary durable ‘‘This build to last’’ it went across what Pop in 1960s said, which was more disposable. Aarnio also stopped using fibreglass fo his works because it was dangerous especially for those people who are involved in manufacturing.

Bubble Chair 1968 by Eero Aarnio 

Rousseau - Wagiman Iluminated Bubble Chair inspired for the Bubble Chair that Eero Aarnio Designed.

Many of Eero Aarnio´s works are in many famous museums, The Victoria and Albert Museum in London, Moma in New York and Vitra Design Museum in Weil am Rhein.

Aarnio is quoted as saying that ‘‘design means constant renewal realignment and growth’’. Aarnio followed this sentiment and in 1970s he began to use polyurethane foam to create more animated works like the Pony Chair 1970. He continued to create new designs, including toys and furniture for children.

Pony Chair 1970 by Eero Aarnio 

Referencing :

R20THCentury. 2009. Eero Aarnio. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.r20thcentury.com/biography_detail.cfm?designer_id=42. [Accessed 05 January 14].

WordPress and Oxford. 2013. PLACENTERO CHAIR. [ONLINE] Available at: http://placenterochair.com/eero-aarnio-ball-chair/. [Accessed 05 January 14].

Bonluxat. 2006. Eero Aarnio Pastil Chair. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.bonluxat.com/a/eero_aarnio_pastil_chair.html. [Accessed 05 January 14].

iCollector Technologies Inc.. 1996. Eero Aarnio Pony Chair. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.icollector.com/Eero-Aarnio-Pony-chair_i8644091. [Accessed 05 January 14].

Alibaba. 1999. Fibre glass Chair/ stool. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.alibaba.com/product-gs/492739508/Pastil_fiberglass_chair_stool.html. [Accessed 05 January 14]

Artfinding. 2006. artfinding. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.artfinding.com/Biography/Aarnio-Eero/34.html. [Accessed 05 January 14].

Apres Furniture Ltd. 2012. Rousseau | Wagiman Illuminated Bubble Chair. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.apresfurniture.co.uk/illuminated-bubble-chair-1.html. [Accessed 05 January 14].