Monday, September 9, 2013

Modern Print Monday: Maija Isola

Unikko (Poppy) by Maija Isola 
Finland 
1964

The poppy is an excellent example of how modernists manipulate scale and proportion.


Maija Isola (1927-2001) was a designer at the Finnish firm Marimekko where the boss's ban on floral prints inspired her to try one. The supergraphic poppy Unikko remains one of their most successful prints. Merrimekko translates as Mary's Dress or a Dress for Mary. It is not a proper name, although we all like to picture Marimekko as one talented designer who looks like Isola continuing to create innovative graphics.

See more about Maija Isola here:

3 comments:

  1. Reminds me of my bedroom wallpaper circa 1968. Groovy then, groovy now!

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  2. In 1969 my family hosted an exchange student from Finland. She had these amazing dresses her mom had made with Marimekko fabrics, which we had never seen before. She had a great shift with these poppies! And a lovely prom dress. Sadly she wanted to dress like an American and preferred her Kmart skirts and tops.

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