A new exhibition Century of the Child opens at V&A The Museum of Childhood today just in time for the Easter holiday break.
Featuring 100 years of Nordic design the exhibition shows how the influence of the Nordics has penetrated into the British lifestyle with its simplistic ethos and cool minimal design.
Showing products from toys, interiors, fashion and film, the exhibition has some firm childhood favourites and even shows how Lego may have been inspired by an earlier British product of interlocking bricks by Kiddiecraft.
So many of the well known names in Nordic design from the 20th century made versions of their products when they had children which are still in use today its hard to realise how innovative they were at the time, names such as Alvar Aalto, Arne Jacobsen, Hans J Wegner and Eero Aarnio.
As well as the tradition for strong simple design, the Nordic cold dark long winters led designers to innovate new indoor toys and a greater focus on home entertainment as well as furniture design that could be packed away or doubled up as toys to maximise indoor space.
Century of the Child, Nordic design for Children 1900 to today opens March 30th – Sept 2nd 2018 at the V&A Museum of Childhood, Bethnal Green, London and there is an accompanying exhibition book.
Century of the Child at the V&A Museum of Childhood from 30th March
The exhibition has some great play areas with instantly recognisable Nordic design furniture
There is also a cosy cinema room showing Moomin and Pippa Longstocking classic films
A beautiful piece of Nordic design for a reading corner at Century of the Child, the Museum of Childhood
The innovative Peter’s chair made by Hans J Wegner in 1944, designed to be sent as a present through the post and assembled without any tools. Backdrop car print duvet cover by Marimekko
The Brio we know today first began life in the 1930’s designed by Ivar Bengtsson in Sweden
Hilary Page first introduced interlocking bricks for Kiddiecraft in Britain in the 1930’s. Lego began production in the 1950’s and in 1981 bought all the rights to Kiddiecraft’s designs
Play is a big factor in Nordic kids design with furniture items doubling up as toys
A geography lesson for visitors to Century of the Child to learn about our Nordic neighbours
All photos and post copyright Smudgetikka – no reproduction without permission 2009-2018