Danish Design Guru Answers: What Makes a Design Classic?
We get the answer from Anne-Louise Sommer, director of the Design Museum Danmark
Close your eyes and think of an iconic piece of furniture. Maybe Australian designer Grant Featherston’s 1951 Contour Chair springs to mind, or perhaps it’s Marc Newson’s 1988 Lockheed Lounge. It could be a Danish classic such as Hans Wegner’s 1949 Wishbone chair, or one of Arne Jacobsen’s iconic 1958 Egg or Swan chairs.
The term ‘classic’ is used with great precision when it comes to architecture, interiors and furniture, and classic design is particularly relevant at the moment thanks to TV shows including Network Ten’s Australia by Design and ABC’s Grand Designs.
But what exactly does ‘classic’ mean? We spoke with Anne-Louise Sommer, director of Design Museum Danmark and a judge on the Danish TV series Denmark’s Next Classic, to learn more about what really defines classic design.
Find an interior designer or decorator near you on Houzz for advice on investing in design classics for your home
Find an interior designer or decorator near you on Houzz for advice on investing in design classics for your home
Image by Magnus Ekstrøm for Design Museum Danmark
“In my view, two things define a classic,” says Sommer. “On the one hand, a classic reflects the time when it was produced and expresses the needs of that time. On the other hand, it’s timeless.” She adds that the zeitgeist of a time can find expression in the choice of material, the design philosophy and the production methods.
“In my view, two things define a classic,” says Sommer. “On the one hand, a classic reflects the time when it was produced and expresses the needs of that time. On the other hand, it’s timeless.” She adds that the zeitgeist of a time can find expression in the choice of material, the design philosophy and the production methods.
PH 3/2 Pendant
Sommer suggests that one of the (literally) shining examples of this golden combination is the PH Lamp.
Poul Henningsen sketched his first lampshades in 1925. These evolved into the PH Lamp, which adorns countless homes today, radiating contemporary elegance despite its century-old design.
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Poul Henningsen sketched his first lampshades in 1925. These evolved into the PH Lamp, which adorns countless homes today, radiating contemporary elegance despite its century-old design.
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“Poul Henningsen was the first to specifically consider the incandescent light bulb – which was a relatively new invention at the time – in a new way,” says Sommer. “In the beginning, it was just hidden under traditional lampshades, but PH addressed this issue: how can we use shades to manage and use incandescent light in the best possible way?”
At the same time, she points out that the PH Lamp shades are so simple and geometric that their aesthetic will never feel dated, but will remain beautiful year in and year out. This makes the lamp a great example of a design classic.
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At the same time, she points out that the PH Lamp shades are so simple and geometric that their aesthetic will never feel dated, but will remain beautiful year in and year out. This makes the lamp a great example of a design classic.
5 Key Ingredients for Mid-Century Style
Arne Jacobsen’s Ant chair is another example of how the combination of period qualities and timelessness creates a unique classic.
“Ant was the first industrially produced stackable chair, and it opened up a whole new way of using wood. With it, industrial production rose to an entirely new level. In addition, it is practical and easy to move around, so it responds to any possible need that may arise over time,” says Sommer. The chair was originally designed for Novo Nordisk’s canteen in 1952. “In addition, it is quite simple, plain and, yes, timeless in the design. It has a reference to the ant built into its expression.”
“Ant was the first industrially produced stackable chair, and it opened up a whole new way of using wood. With it, industrial production rose to an entirely new level. In addition, it is practical and easy to move around, so it responds to any possible need that may arise over time,” says Sommer. The chair was originally designed for Novo Nordisk’s canteen in 1952. “In addition, it is quite simple, plain and, yes, timeless in the design. It has a reference to the ant built into its expression.”
With Danish furniture coveted around the world, one can be forgiven for thinking that classics stay popular forever. However, that isn’t always the case: the furniture of Finn Juhl is a good example.
“Finn Juhl was huge in the ’50s and ’60s, when his furniture came out,” says Sommer. “He was celebrated and lauded and his furniture was incredibly popular. But in the ’70s and ’80s, no-one would have it. Pieces were sold incredibly cheap at auctions and could be found at second-hand dealers, where you could buy them for almost nothing.”
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“Finn Juhl was huge in the ’50s and ’60s, when his furniture came out,” says Sommer. “He was celebrated and lauded and his furniture was incredibly popular. But in the ’70s and ’80s, no-one would have it. Pieces were sold incredibly cheap at auctions and could be found at second-hand dealers, where you could buy them for almost nothing.”
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But in recent decades, Finn Juhl’s designs – which are characterised by clean Scandinavian lines with sweeping shapes, among other elements – have experienced a renaissance and today hold the status of expensive classics.
“Classics often have their own pulse, because it is not just about design tracks and aesthetics but also the influence of society and the trends of the time,” she says.
“Classics often have their own pulse, because it is not just about design tracks and aesthetics but also the influence of society and the trends of the time,” she says.
Looking at today’s classics, it seems almost obvious that they should have reached this level of renown. Yet when it comes to predicting which new designs will be the classics of the future, it is “a very difficult thing to figure out,” says Sommer.
“When a piece of furniture is designed and produced, no-one can know whether it will become a classic. You can work your way towards it, you can follow specific rules and combine timeless elements with elements that reflect the era, but whether it actually hits the mark and becomes a classic, only time will tell,” Sommer says.
The same is also true of other genres, such as literature, fashion and visual arts. “No-one in Picasso’s time could, for example, predict that his works would be classics today,” she says.
Brush Up on Your Knowledge of Art and Art History
The same is also true of other genres, such as literature, fashion and visual arts. “No-one in Picasso’s time could, for example, predict that his works would be classics today,” she says.
Brush Up on Your Knowledge of Art and Art History
If you look up the word ‘classic’ in the Macquarie Dictionary, the definition is “a work of literature, music or art which is regarded as having enduring quality or significance”. These qualities are of course crucial parameters for a design’s popularity over the long-term and, therefore, are also important factors when Sommer assesses designs.
“We are looking for the ultimate quality and durability in many different aspects, both in terms of craftsmanship and in relation to materials and design language. You have to ask yourself, ‘Would you be able to keep on looking at that lamp or chair?’” she says. “A design must be top quality.”
Your turn
Which design classics are your favourites? Tell us in the Comments below, like this story, save the images and join the conversation.
More
Curious about what else the future of design holds? Read up on another important topic: Is Veganism the Future of Decor?
Your turn
Which design classics are your favourites? Tell us in the Comments below, like this story, save the images and join the conversation.
More
Curious about what else the future of design holds? Read up on another important topic: Is Veganism the Future of Decor?