Postmodern
Bright, experimental, and exuberant, Postmodernism represents a rejection of spare, restrained design in favor of overscale organic forms, saturated colors, bold patterns, and material mixes. In the early 1980s, Ettore Sottsass founded the Memphis Group in Milan, whose work defined and embodied the spirit of postmodernism, but it’s also evolved to encompass sophisticated interpretations by designers such as Pierre Paulin and Sarah Ellison.
Elements of the style
Overscale or exaggerated organic forms
Saturated colors and vibrant graphic patterns
Surface decoration and ornamentation
Historic references, reimagined with exaggeration and whimsy
Neon, laminate, plastics, and experimental materials
“When I was young, all we ever heard about was functionalism, functionalism, functionalism. It’s not enough. Design should also be sensual and exciting. ” — Ettore Sottsass
Defining designs
Huggy Swivel Chair
With its curvy, embracing arms, rounded forms, and sink-in seat, Sarah Ellison’s Huggy Chair is the next generation of Postmodern.
Earth Table
Boldly scaled round legs are juxtaposed with a thin, tapered-edge top in Sarah Ellison’s Earth Table, designed to anchor a room.
Pacha Outdoor Lounge Chair
French designer Pierre Paulin was a pioneer in low lounge furniture, embodied in his Pacha Chair from 1975, which embraces the sitter with curvy, cartoon-like forms.
Yoko Bed
With bold, oversize ball feet juxtaposed with a clean-lined wood frame, Yoko makes a strong statement using simple shapes.
Quilton Sectional Chaise
Quilton’s overscale sculpted forms; generous tufted cushioning, and lounge-like comfort make it irresistibly inviting.
Ekstrem Chair
Terje Ekstrem’s unique open-frame, sculptural chair from 1984 is surprisingly comfortable, allowing you to sit in any position: forward, backward, or sideways.
Wilkes Sofa
Nicknamed the “Chiclet” when it debuted in 1976 for its tablet-like shapes, the Wilkes Sofa’s playful form appears to float.
Hjelle Pillows
Colorful, playful patterns enliven wool pillows in a collaboration between Hjelle and Danish designers Hvass and Hannibal.
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