Eero Aarnio Originals – the sole authorised manufacturer of classic designs by Eero Aarnio

CHAPTER 2

A Life Less Ordinary

1932

Eero Aarnio was born on 21 July 1932 in Helsinki, Finland.

1954-57

Studied at the Institute of Industrial Arts in Helsinki.

1956

Married Pirkko Attila.

1958

Wins first prize at the Valmet Trade Mark Competition, Helsinki, Finland

1959–61

Had his two daughters, Marja-Leena in 1959 and Rea in 1961.

1960–62

Designer, Asko Oy, Lahti in Finland. The Grand Chair launches in 1962, Eero’s last project as an employee at Asko.

1964

Wins first prize at the International Furniture Design Competition, Cantu, Italy.

1966

The Ball Chair makes its debut at the Cologne Furniture Fair.

1967

The Cognac Chair originally launches as ‘Sirius’ and aroused international attention as a new piece by the designer of the ‘world- famous Ball Chair’.

1967

The fibreglass Pastil chair launches, made by Artekno.

1968

Presented with the International Design Award of the American Institute of Interior Designers for Pastil Chair.

1968

The form-pressed acrylic Bubble Chair launches.

1973

The world is introduced to ‘Pony’.

1978

Eero Aarnio Design Studio GMBH opens in Cologne, Germany.

1982

Design studio moves to Tapiola, Finland.

1988-89

The Aarnio family moves home and studio to Veikkola, to a house designed by Eero.

1991

Screw table launches.

1999

Made an Honourary Member of SIO (Finnish Association of Interior Designers).

2003-07

Eero begins experimenting more with lighting and lamp design. Double Bubble launches, followed by Origo and Swan.

2005

Children (and adults) all over the world go mad for ‘Puppy’.

2006

Awarded the Interior Innovation Award, Cologne, Germany.

2014

Eero Aarnio Life In Design opens at AXIS Gallery at Tokyo and Tokyo Design Museum, Osaka, Japan.

2015

Designs showcased as part of Golden Generation: Modernism in Finnish Architecture and Design, State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg.

2016

Eero Aarnio exhibition opens at Design Museum Helsinki.

2016

From 1.12.2016 Eero Aarnio Originals is the sole licensed producer and distributor of the Eero Aarnio classics. The collection classics include e.g. the Ball chair, Bubble, Pastil, Pony, Tomato, Parabel-tables, Formula, Screw-tables, Mushroom & Copacabana

2017

The retrospective exhibition of Eero Aarnio can be visited at National Museum Design in Stockholm and at Vandalorum Museum in Värnamo, Sweden

2017

Eero Aarnio is awarded the Prince Eugen medal in honour of remarkable artistic work. The King of Sweden, Carl XVI Gustaf awards the medal annually in the royal castle of Stockholm. The Prince Eugen medal was establishe in 1945 by Gustaf V for Prince Eugen's 80th birthday.

2019

The iconic Parabel shape is introduced in a new, natural material when Wooden Parabel sidetable is launched.

2019

The Giant Ball Chair makes its debut at Stockholm Furniture Fair.

2019

Stoneage launches.

2020

Eero's first take on the character of the cat is introduced when KISU launches in October 2020.

2022

Mini KISU was launched to celebrate the 90th birthday year of Mr. Eero Aarnio.

2022

Eero Aarnio Originals showroom opens in central Helsinki, becoming a part of Design District.

CHAPTER 3

Design by Intuition

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