Artek Adds Moomin Doodles to Signature Pieces for 90th Anniversary

To celebrate 90 years since its founding, Finnish furniture manufacturer Artek has tapped beloved comic Moomin for a special pair of Alvar Aalto’s most ubiquitous furniture designs. Showcasing original illustrations from the comic strip, the two global icons celebrate their shared Finnish heritage and far-reaching cultural footprint.

Delicately applied to the Stool 60 and the Cabinet 250, illustrations from Tove Jansson’s very first Moomin comic strip, Mumintrollet och jordens undergång (“Moomintroll and the End of the World”) were first-published in a Finnish newspaper in 1947. Alvar Aalto’s stackable seating design, originally designed in 1933, remains a timeless classic in the contemporary era — especially as Scandinavian Mid-Century design has piqued the interest of younger generations.

Elsewhere, Moomin imagery is also featured on the Cabinet 250, a monolithic birch “cocktail cabinet” that features similar bent plywood legs as the Artek’s popular stool, and continues the nostalgic illustrations hidden within the honey-stained doors.

The simple execution of the collaboration, the modern minimalism of Artek’s visual language. Many of Aalto’s pieces such as the Paimio Lounge Chair (1931), focused on gently undulating shapes informed the method of bent plywood — a major manufacturing innovation of the time. Typically utilizing wood as the sole material, Artek’s designs omit busy ornamentation and hardware to highlight functionality.

With Moomin’s child-like illustrations scattered throughout the pieces, the collection evokes a playful and authentic style akin to haphazard doodles made by children. The unconventional collaboration reflects the changing face of design, as millennials and Gen Z increasingly mix collectibles and contemporary media ephemera with more refined pieces in their home interiors.

In addition to the special tie-up, Artek also released an abstract art poster celebrating its 90 years in business. The simple design featuring work by Finnish artist Inka Bell, along with the Moomin furniture collection will be available beginning on March 20, from select Artek retailers, Artek-owned stores, and the brand’s web store.