The Nordic Design Illustrated exhibition showcases some of the most innovative and acclaimed Danish and Scandinavian designers’ work, and is on display at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. through March 17.
Part of Nordic Cool 2013, the month-long Nordic culture festival, the exhibition includes the following notable designers: Cecilie Manz for Fritz Hansen, Komplot for HAY, Ole Jensen for Normann Copenhagen and fashion designer Henrik Vibskov.
Nordic Design Illustrated presents a range of design, craft and industrial products from throughout the Nordic region. The exhibition focuses on craftsmanship and the relationship of Nordic design to nature, technology and heritage by showing works from close to 30 designers.
The history of Nordic design is that of strength and rebellion, according to exhibition organizers. Technological innovations, truth to materials and functionalism in Nordic design has its roots in the early 20th century modernism and Bauhaus. Nordic contemporary design is still affected, and rooted in, the modernistic ideal of design working to improve people's everyday life by making it more functional, more beautiful and simpler.
Represented designers and companies in the exhibition include: Aamu Song and Johan Olin/COMPANY (Finland), Amy Hunting (Norway), Björn Refsum and Hilde Angelfoss for Stokke (Norway), Cecilie Manz for Fritz Hansen (Denmark), Cecilie Manz for Mooment (Denmark), Claesson Koivisto Rune for Swedese Möbler (Sweden), Erla Sólveig Óskarsdóttir (Iceland) for Ames (Germany), Fredrik Mattson for ZERO (Sweden), FRONT (Sweden) for Moooi (The Netherlands), Guðrun Ludvig / Guðrun and Guðrun (Faroe Islands), Hans Bleken Rud for Northern Lighting (Norway), Hans Sandgren Jakobsen for Fredericia Furniture (Denmark), Harri Koskinen for Genelec and Iittala (Finland), Henrik Vibskov (Denmark), Komplot for Gubi (Denmark), Komplot for HAY (Denmark), Kristina Riska (Finland), Lars Olav Dybdal for Northern Lighting (Norway), Lars Pedersen for trioBike (Denmark), Louise Campbell (Denmark) for Zanotta (Italy) and Erik Jörgensen (Denmark), Magnus de Brito for Point 65 (Sweden), Michael Young and Katrin Olina (UK and Iceland) for Swedese Möbler (Sweden), Monica Förster (Sweden) for Richard Lampert (Germany), Norway Says (Norway) for Muuto (Denmark), Ólafur Þórðarson (Iceland), Ole Jensen for Normann Copenhagen (Denmark), Paola Suhonen / Ivana Helsinki (Finland), Samuli Naamanka for ARKTIS (Finland), Sigurdur Gustafsson (Iceland) for Källemo (Sweden), Stefan Borselus and Fredrik Mattsson (Denmark) for Blå Station (Sweden), Steinunn Sigurd / STEiNUNN (Iceland), Thomas Pederson for Fredericia Furniture (Denmark) and Tinna Gunnarsdóttir (Iceland).
Throughout the exhibition, the Kennedy Center Gift Shop has transformed into a Nordic Boutique, selling Danish design items for a limited period of time. Guests of the exhibit are also invited to play with the iconic Danish LEGO toy bricks at the LEGO Exhibit and Play Space.
To purchase tickets, click here.
