Featured Designer: Aino Aalto
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Aino Aalto, born in Helsinki in 1894, studied architecture at the Institute of Technology, Helsinki and gained her license to practice in 1920. After marrying fellow Finnish architect Alvar Aalto in 1924, she joined his firm and the two embarked on an extremely successful collaboration spanning several decades. When working with her husband, Aino typically explored her love of design by focusing on the interior and furniture for their projects. In 1935, they opened Artek, a firm selling their lighting and furniture designs. She died in 1949.
Early in their careers, the Aaltos would often enter design competitions separately. In 1932, Aino took second place in a contest held by the Karhula Glassworks. Her entry 'Bölgeblick' (Finnish for 'rings of water'), was inspired by the ripples created from throwing stones into water and is the basis for a line of dinnerware which is still in production from Iittala. Aalto's focus on functionality and simplicity have made her designs modern classics, many of which are still in production today.
Designs by Aino Aalto
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