The founders chose a non-Finnish name: the neologism Artek was meant to manifest the desire to combine art and technology.

This echoed a main idea of the International Style movement, especially the Bauhaus, to emphasize the technical expertise in production and quality of materials, instead of historical-based, eclectic or frivolous ornamentation.

Originally, the studio was set up ostensibly to assist Aalto's architects' office with interior designs for his buildings.

The best known of the furniture pieces is his cantilevered birch wood Paimio Chair, which was specifically designed for tuberculosis patients to sit in for long hours each day.

Notably the pine seat has a concave bend for ergonomics, but it is bent via a method distinct from Alvar Aalto's designs.

In 2007, Japanese architect Shigeru Ban designed an exhibition pavilion for Artek, built from reconstituted waste material provided by the Finnish paper manufacturer UPM.

Often made available are rare and discontinued items; repairs and refurbishing work are done as necessary but minor wear or cosmetic blemishes are part of the appeal of the 2nd Cycle products.