Yngve Ekström, one of Sweden's most prominent furniture designers, has left a lasting mark on the Scandinavian design scene. With a career spanning several decades, Ekström helped shape the modern, minimalist aesthetic that has come to define Nordic design.
Yngve Ekström, one of Sweden's most prominent furniture designers, has left a lasting mark on the Scandinavian design scene. With a career spanning several decades, Ekström helped shape the modern, minimalist aesthetic that has come to define Nordic design.
Yngve Ekström 1913 – 1988
Yngve Ekström, born in 1913 in Hagafors, Småland, was one of Sweden's most influential furniture designers. Growing up in the heart of Sweden's furniture industry, he developed an early deep understanding of wood as a material. With a background in drawing, sculpture, and art history, Ekström cultivated a uniquely balanced design philosophy that combined aesthetics with functionality. His works have come to define the Scandinavian design language, with furniture that is still produced and beloved today.
Ekström's design style was characterized by simplicity and harmony, typical traits of Scandinavian minimalism. He believed that furniture should be practical yet beautiful to look at. This philosophy is evident in many of his works, such as coffee tables and chairs, where clean lines and natural materials take center stage.
Design classics by Yngve Ekström
Furniture pieces like the Pinnockio chair and the Arka armchair are recognizable to many. Both of these pieces are defined by their streamlined forms and elegant designs, which remain as relevant today as they were when they were first designed in the mid-1950s. The chairs are still produced today in Småland by the classic furniture company Stolab. However, the ultimate classic must be the Lamino armchair, as beautiful as it is comfortable, produced by Swedese. This is further emphasized by the magazine Sköna hem, whose readers named it the Swedish furniture of the century in 1999. This classic, designed in 1956, symbolizes Ekström's philosophy that good design should be timeless and durable. Lamino is made of natural materials like wood and wool, making it both aesthetically appealing and comfortable. Additionally, the chair reflects a respect for craftsmanship, something that characterizes many of Ekström's works.
