Scandinavian Design WH-KON-ScaDesign
Scandinavian design is a term used to briefly describe most of the artistic activities which arose in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Sweden and Norway. The term itself is highly misleading as the adjective Scandinavian is historically and properly used to describe three kingdoms only: Denmark, Norway and Sweden. Nevertheless, semantically, it can at times include Iceland, the Faroe Islands and Finland, as countries situated in the same region. The terms the North or Nordic Countries are much more significant and proper, but, at the same time, far less common, especially among non-nordic scholars and writers. Because of its originally unique character, Scandinavian design is often emphasised as essentially distinct from the rest of Europe, mostly because of the geographical position of Scandinavia, as well as because of sharing a common history and linguistic roots (except for Finland). There are many unifying factors determining Scandinavian design, concisely present in it: simplicity of the form, strong devotion to local traditions, high quality of used materials, democratic approach to design, social role of everyday life objects and a significant role of designers. Hence there might be a reason for reducing those cultural phenomena to a common denominator, known worldwide as Scandinavian Design.
The course aims to present both the similarities and differences which made Scandinavian design the synonim of quality and style. It will also accentuate the beginnings of design, the main figures, design companies as well as the contemporary ways of development.
Subject level
Learning outcome code/codes
Learning outcomes
H1A_W01 the student has basic knowledge on the importance of the humanities and their place on the map of other studies, understands the specific character of the subject and its methodology
H1A_W10 the student has basic knowledge on the cultural institutions and contemporary cultural life.
H1A_U01 the student can seaarch for information, analyse, cathalogue and select date using various scientific methods.
5.00 ECTS
30 h - class participation
30 h - class preparation
30 h - reading
60 h - exam preparation
Assessment criteria
Active participation.
Discussions.
Oral exam.
Bibliography
Kjetil Fallan, Design History: Understanding Theory and Method, Berg Publishers: Oxford 2010.
Charlotte Fiell, Peter Fiell, Scandinavian Design, Taschen: Berlin 2013.
Pekka Korvenmaa, Finnish Design, Aalto University Press: Helsinki 2014.
Mark Mussari, Danish Modern, Bloomsbury Academic: London 2016.
Elizabeth Wilhide, Scandinavian Home: A Comprehensive Guide to Mid-Century Modern Scandinavian Designers, Quadrille Publishing: London 2016.
Rita Taskinen [ed.], Design From Finland, Teollisuustaiteen Liitto ORNAMO, 1992.
Harri Kahla, The Other Modernism: Finnish Design and National Identity, [in] Finnish Modern Design: Utopias, Ideas and Everyday Realities, 1930-1997 [exhibition catalogue], ed. Marianne Aav, Nina Stritzler-Levine, Bard Graduate Center for Studies in the Decorative Arts and Yale University Press, 1998, pp. 29-51.
Anna Wiśnicka, Finnishness revised – tradition, innovation and creative simplicity in the design philosophy of Simo Heikkilä, [in:] Simo Heikkila – Works, Helsinki–Jyväskylä, 2016.
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: