Eero Aarnio is a Finnish furniture designer. Born in 1932, he is very well known for his amazing plastic and fiberglass chairs from the 1960s which have become design classics and collectors items now. In fact he is regarded as a pioneer in the use of plastic materials.  He has also firmly established Finland on the international design market map.

Aarnio studied at the Institute of Industrial Arts in Helsinki, and started his own design company in 1962. In 1965 he designed his Ball Chair, a hollow sphere on a stand, open on one side to allow a person to sit inside it. The inner part of the ball is padded and soft and serves as a seat. Sitting inside, the noises from outside seem to be quite absorbed and far away, whilst sound from the inside is actually amplified. In 1968 he designed the similar Bubble Chair which was made of clear perspex and suspended by a chain from above.The cocoon feeling is even stronger in the Bubble Chair.  Aarnio said that after he had designed the Ball Chair and sat in it he wanted to have light - and so the clear Bubble Chair was conceived.

Aarnio's designs featured prominently in 1960s popular culture and were often seen in period science-fiction films.  His use of vivid colors and organic form break away from traditional design conventions.

Other innovative and beautiful designs included his floating Pastil Chair, for which he received the American Industrial Design Award in 1968.  And Tomato Chair which is a seat between three spheres. His Screw Table, as the name suggests, had the appearance of a flat head screw driven into the ground. 

Working with fiberglass can be dangerous to those who are using it so Aarnio started to use safer types of plastics.  He still creates new designs including toys and furniture for children.  In fact the ball chair comes in a child size.  A latest surprising addition to his designs is the Copacabana guitar - which looks beautiful. See the picture below.

Although his furniture may be made from plastic it remains true to the Scandinavian tradition of quality.  One of his main goals has always been to make chairs that are comfortable to sit in  as well as fun.   He certainly achieves this.  I cannot walk past one of these chairs without wanting to sit in it.

Many of Aarnio’s works are included in the world’s most prestigious museums, including the Victoria and Albert Museum in London and the MoMA in New York.  Eero Aarnio’s designs have been used in international films, music videos and fashion shoots.  And how beautiful they are!