Eero Arnio
1932 -
EERO AARNIO's name has become synonymous with the designs of some of the last century’s most iconic chairs. ‘Design a plastic chair’ was the first commission he received at the beginning of the 1960’s from Asko, Finland’s biggest furniture company. His response was the Ball chair in 1963 – an imposing and futuristic fibreglass sphere resting on an iron base creating a capsule of peace and tranquility for the user. His next designs were typical of the period with an uninhibited use of plastic and shocking colour and a total disregard for previous design conventions. However, the 1970s oil crisis made it clear that the future didn’t entirely lie in polyester and polyethylene and in 1979 the production of the ball chair was discontinued, although it was resumed for a brief period in the 1980s.
During the end of the last century when 1960s design enjoyed a revival AARNIO’s work became popular again. He is once again working with new designs and manufacturing processes. The success of his Puppy for Magis is a testament to his recent success.
