Printed textiles are "not simply an adjunct however one thing that may create an area" says Marimekko artistic director

Daring colors and prints can improve interiors in the identical approach as architectural particulars, argues Rebekka Bay of life-style model Marimekko on this interview.

Bay was appointed artistic director of the Finnish design agency in 2020 having beforehand held high roles at trend manufacturers together with Everlane, Cos and Uniqlo.

Based in 1951, Marimekko is understood for its vibrant and daring prints which are utilized to clothes, ceramics and homeware.

Bay talked to Dezeen about how printed textiles can add spatial design to interiors. Picture courtesy of Marimekko

Extra than simply ornamental items, Bay believes Marimekko’s patterned surfaces can be utilized as options to outline and create inside areas.

“Usually printed textiles are confused with this concept of simply being like a drape or a tablecloth, however actually after we develop printed textiles at Marimekko we see them as architectural components, one thing that may additionally add spatial design or architectural components to your property,” she advised Dezeen.

“They don’t seem to be simply an adjunct, however really one thing that may create an area.”

Bastua printed tablecloth on a table with dishes — Marimekko collaborated with IKEA on a homeware assortment knowledgeable by wellbeing

Within the wake of coronavirus lockdowns, the power of vibrant prints to enhance wellbeing and happiness within the house has grow to be more and more useful, Bay added.

“The function of the house is more and more essential as a result of we have now all been compelled to narrate to what our house setting is and the way it helps our wellbeing,” she mentioned.

“There’s a renewed understanding of the significance of making a house setting that may assist you to each relaxation and re-energise.”

“Being surrounded by daring magnificence is one thing that evokes happiness or optimism,” Bay continued.

Circular wooden table with a red tabletop with a leaf print — References to Marimekko’s and IKEA’s Nordic heritage are seen all through their collaboration

Selecting up on this development, Marimekko lately collaborated with Swedish furnishings retailer IKEA to create a homeware assortment named Bastua, which incorporates furnishings, glassware and textiles knowledgeable by nature and the self-care rituals of the Nordic sauna.

Drawing on the manufacturers’ Nordic heritage, the Bastua assortment options sensible house objects constituted of wooden and glass.

Bay mentioned the collaboration aimed to deal with circularity and longevity.

“What we share each at Marimekko and IKEA is that within the design course of, we’re involved with tips on how to design for circularity, tips on how to design for longevity, tips on how to design objects of timeless worth and in addition multi-use objects,” she mentioned.

“Our intent on this collaboration was to design objects that may have this timeless worth, each when it comes to the design but additionally when it comes to materials.”

“We’ve labored in very sincere pure supplies with glass and wooden and different supplies that enhance over time and in addition centered on how the supplies might be both recycled or upcycled.”

Kitchen counter with a rhubarb tray displayed on top — The rhubarb leaf is a repeated motif within the Bastua assortment

Marimekko developed model new prints for the Bastua assortment, together with a big rhubarb-leaf design that references the vegetation usually discovered rising beside sauna buildings in Finland.

This print was utilized to bathtub robes, seat cushions, bathe curtains, trays and the long-lasting IKEA service bag.

“Functionalism and pragmatism joins this concept of celebrating on a regular basis objects, which could be very a lot a product of Marimekko’s mission – to deliver pleasure to individuals’s on a regular basis lives,” mentioned Bay.

“I feel for Nordic designers, we have now robust design traditions in creating very lovely however very useful, democratic design.”

Wooden sauna seat with blue and green patterned towels — Bay believes daring, vibrant prints can add happiness to the house

As well as, she emphasised a need to inject a component of humour into the designs.

“At instances it’s totally delicate and really severe, however I feel what is exclusive to each Marimekko and IKEA is that this intent additionally to deliver a smile or a wink,” she continued.

“There’s one thing exterior of the seriousness, eager to develop actually high-quality, timeless design but additionally eager to deliver this little wink.”

Two people wearing blue and green printed bathrobes holding up large leaves — Bay enjoys creating collections that “deliver a smile or a wink”

Marimekko has accrued a big portfolio of prints over its seven many years of manufacturing and nonetheless reproduces archive designs.

The model’s historic prints are used to tell new print designs that it hopes will resonate with fashionable customers.

“I feel there’s at all times this hazard should you solely look again that you find yourself being self-referential, or you find yourself being an archive or a museum piece,” mentioned Bay.

“I might hate to create one thing of solely museum worth and never create a proposal for the long run,” she added.

“There may be this at all times wanting again with a purpose to look ahead, at all times understanding what has resonated, what has broad relevance after which see if we are able to reposition or refocus that.”

Different initiatives recognisable for his or her daring textile designs which have been featured on Dezeen embrace a group of upholstery materials knowledgeable by Iranian tradition and an exhibition that celebrates a Forties print by utilizing it to cowl partitions and seating.

The images is courtesy of Inter IKEA Techniques BV until in any other case said.