Eero Aarnio

Eero Aarnio
Born	(1932-07-21) July 21, 1932 Helsinki, Finland
Occupation	Designer
Years active	1962–present
Known for	Innovative plastic and fibreglass furniture designs, including the Ball Chair and Bubble Chair

Eero Aarnio (born 21 July 1932) is a distinguished Finnish designer, celebrated for his groundbreaking furniture creations of the 1960s, particularly his innovative plastic and fibreglass seating. Originating from Helsinki, he pursued architectural studies at the Institute of Industrial Arts, completing his education in 1960 before establishing his own design studio two years later.

In 1963, Aarnio unveiled the legendary Ball Chair, characterized by its spherical hollow form mounted on a base with an open front for sitting. This piece was first presented to an international audience at the Asko exhibition during the 1966 Cologne furniture fair. Another well-known creation, the Bubble Chair, featured a transparent sphere suspended in midair. Among his other significant works are the Pastil Chair, which resembles a molded armchair with a beanbag feel, and the Tomato Chair, crafted from three interconnected rounded supports. The Screw Table mimics the appearance of a flat-head screw embedded into a surface. Aarnio was honored with the American Industrial Design award in 1968.

His use of geometric shapes became emblematic of 1960s culture and were often incorporated into science-fiction movie sets for their forward-looking aesthetic.

Maintaining his innovative approach, Aarnio has expanded into designing toys and furniture for children. In 2008, he earned the Compasso d'Oro award for Trioli, a hybrid rocking horse and child’s chair produced by Magis. Many of his original pieces continue to be manufactured by Eero Aarnio Originals, founded in 2016.

External links

• Eero Aarnio biography at FinnishDesign.com
• Official website of Eero Aarnio