Nordic Design
Nordic design is something that I have always been fascinated with. Almost as a block, the Nordic countries create products that are aesthetically pleasing, yet simple; elegant, yet practical. There is an inherent appreciation for nature and also for traditional crafts, while at the same time many of the products are technically advanced or cutting edge. This can be seen from the clean lines of an Absolut Vodka bottle, to the practicality of an IKEA Billy Bookcase, to the joy and simplicity of a Lego block, to the intuitive nature of a Nokia mobile menu.
This year Helsinki bears the mantle of the World Design Capital. Along with the other Finnish cities of Espoo, Lahti, Vantaa and Kauniainen,
We are open. For us, openness equals transparency, global responsibility and innovation. Usability, sustainability and desirability. That is what we are looking for. We design for a better life.
This explanation, from the website, seems to sum up Nordic design.
The following article is originally from the Nokia Connect website. It's a short and sweet analysis of some of the reasons behind the strength and uniqueness of Nordic design.
If you’ve ever wondered what forms the basis of some of Nokia’s most iconic designs, you don’t need to look much further than the company’s own back yard. Finnish culture, along with that of Denmark, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, helped created the Nordic design movement. This philosophy wooed the world with the concept of “beautiful things that make your life better”. But how did it evolve and what are its key features?
The magic of Modernism
You can’t talk about Nordic design without mentioning the influence of Modernism. More a way of thinking than a style, Modernists believed that the design of an object should be based purely on its purpose – that ‘form follows function’. This philosophy very much complemented the Nordic way of thinking and resulted in Nordic design embracing the abstract motifs and bold primary colours. No company has taken this idea more to heart than
Marimekko, the iconic Finnish fashion designer.
Minimalism: Less is more
Living on top of the world, where the winter is long and very cold, the basis for all design was originally function. If a product’s design didn’t help you survive, it was no good. It’s this that explains Nordic design’s lack of decoration and its enthusiasm for minimalism. Use only what is needed, make its function clear and its form simple. A great example of how this traditional ideal is used in a very modern way is the technology of Danish electronic manufacturer,
Bang & Olufsen.
Democratic design
Another key feature of Nordic design is the way it aims to create accessible, affordable products that appeal to the masses. This tradition stems from established institutions such as the Swedish Society of Industrial Design, which was created to promote design that the general public could access and enjoy. This doesn’t mean stripping design of its beauty, quite the opposite. It means ensuring that beauty is first and foremost functional. To appreciate the success of this philosophy just walk into into one of the thousands of Swedish
Ikea stores located worldwide.
Industrial art
The Nordic countries industrialized a lot later than most of Western Europe. This meant that the mass production that kicked off between the two World Wars was on a much smaller scale there. As a result of this, the Nordic countries were better able to preserve their traditions of craftsmanship and integrate them into commercial production. The result has been called industrial art. You don’t have to look far in Nokia to see examples of this.
The Nokia N9 embodies this concept beautifully.
Nokia devices are part of a design philosophy loved the world over. But what is it you enjoy most? The simplicity or the bold colours? The craftsmanship or the focus on function? As ever, we’d love to hear your thoughts.
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