Scandinavian design

In 1914, the Danish Selskabet for Dekorativ Kunst (Company for Decorative Arts) launched its Skønvirke [da] (literally "Graceful Work") magazine.

[6] In 1954, the Brooklyn Museum held its "Design in Scandinavia" exhibition, and a fashion for "Scandinavian Modern" furniture began in America.

Others, however, have analyzed the reception of Scandinavian design abroad, seeing in it a form of myth-making and racial politics.

Influenced by the German Bauhaus school, many Danish designers used the new industrial technologies, combined with ideas of simplicity and functionalism to design buildings, furniture and household objects, many of which have become iconic and are still in use and production, such as Arne Jacobsen's 1958 Egg chair[13] and Poul Henningsen's 1926 PH-lamps.

Denmark's late industrialisation combined with a tradition of high-quality craftsmanship formed the basis of gradual progress towards industrial production.

[18] Prominent Finnish designers include Alvar Aalto (vases, furniture),[19] Aino Aalto (glassware),[19] Kaj Franck (glass, tableware),[19] Klaus Haapaniemi [fi] (fabric prints),[19] Simo Heikkilä (furniture),[20] Kristina Isola (textiles),[19] Maija Isola (Marimekko prints),[19] Harri Koskinen (glass, homeware),[19] Mika Piirainen [fi] (clothing, accessories),[19] Timo Sarpaneva (glass, homeware),[19] Oiva Toikka (glass art),[19] Tapio Wirkkala (glass art, glassware),[19] Eero Aarnio (plastic furniture),[19] Sanna Annukka [fi] (screenprints),[19] Anu Penttinen [fi] (glass),[19] Aino-Maija Metsola [fi] (textiles, homeware),[19] and Maija Louekari [fi] (tableware, homeware).

Swedish design was pioneered by Anders Beckman [sv] (graphics),[34] Bruno Mathsson (furniture),[35] Märta Måås-Fjetterström[35] and Astrid Sampe (textiles),[35] and Sixten Sason (industrial).