Designer of the Month: Lisa Johansson-Pape - Master of Finnish lighting design

Carin Elisabeth "Lisa" Johansson-Pape (1907-1989) is a name that echoes through the history of Finnish design. She is known in particular as the most important figure in lighting design in the second half of the 20th century. Johansson-Pape's approach to design was above all functional: for her, aesthetics were always secondary to the functionality of the luminaire.

Lisa Johansson-Pape graduated as a furniture designer in 1927 from the Central School of Art and Industry and started her career at the Kylmäkoski furniture factory. In 1933, Johansson-Pape became a model designer for the Friends of Finnish Crafts, while working as a freelance furniture designer. In 1937 he became a designer for Stockmann, and five years later, in 1942, he began designing lamps for Orno, a Stockmann-owned lighting factory.

Johansson-Pape's importance in Finnish design has been widely recognised. She is known as the lighting designer of more than 150 churches, several institutions such as Lastenlinna and Reumaparantola, and several ships such as Ilmattar, Aallottar, Finnpartner, Finnhansa and the icebreaker Karhu.

As a teacher at the School of Art and Design, Johansson-Pape shared her skills and knowledge with the next generation of designers. She also lectured and wrote about lighting, worked as an exhibition architect and organised ryijy and lighting exhibitions. Her own work has been exhibited in several international exhibitions, including the 1939 New York World's Fair and the 1951 and 1954 Milan Triennials, where she was awarded.

Lisa Johansson-Pape's contribution to Finnish design was also recognised at the highest level when she was awarded the Pro Finlandia medal in 1957.

Today, Johansson-Pape's legacy lives on, with the domestic Innolux lighting manufacturer Innojok producing some of her designs under licence. Johansson-Pape's work and importance to Finnish design remind us that beauty and functionality can go hand in hand, creating objects that serve both the user and the aesthetic eye.

Check out Lisa's stunning lamps in Fargos collection. Her lamps are very popular and we are looking to add more to our ranges all the time. You can also let us know if you are looking for a specific luminaire.

*) Main photo: Lisa Johansson-Pape (right) and Dora Jung at a joint exhibition at the Stockholm City Museum in 1966 (Wikipedia).