Why do so many designs from the 1960s and 70s still look so fresh today? From colourful lights to modular shelving systems, many of these classics have effortlessly stood the test of time and still shape our homes. Together with the long-established brand Kartell, we set out to answer this question. The result: these designs are more relevant than ever, because the designers of the time shared one fundamental belief – furniture is a tool for living.
The 1960s and 70s: a decade of design revolution
What made the 1960s and 70s so special?
The 1960s and 1970s brought major change – socially, culturally and in design. This fundamentally changed design style: design became practical, functional and close to everyday life.
Design doesn't have to be heavy. Good ideas are light, surprising and fit naturally into our lives.
– Ferruccio Laviani, chief designer at Kartell
A key material of the period was plastic: light, mouldable and colourful. It made furniture more mobile and versatile. Kartell shaped this development with clear, usable designs.
3 qualities of good design
So we owe designs that were ahead of their time to the possibilities and innovative spirit of the 1960s and 70s. But what are the criteria that make good design and carry it into the future?
1. Functionality ensures longevity
A classic endures because it helps in everyday life. The Componibili are a good example: compact, modular and stackable.
Designed by Anna Castelli Ferrieri in the late 1960s, they struck a chord in the 70s, when living space had to be used more flexibly. The individual elements can be combined as needed – in the bathroom for toiletries, next to the bed as a bedside table or in the living room for small items.
The dimensions were chosen deliberately, so they fit into small niches while still offering enough storage space. They've been in use for decades, and to this day without any fundamental changes – because the principle works.
So: if a piece of furniture makes your everyday life easier and can be used flexibly, it's here to stay.
2. Clear shapes with character
The 1960s and 70s are characterised by soft, organic shapes. Rounded edges, simple geometries and clean lines create a calm overall look. This design language works with a range of interior styles, because it complements rather than imposes.
A single striking object is often enough to give a room structure. Products such as the magazine rack or the round Componibili version look playful without becoming kitsch.
In short: a strong piece of furniture gives direction and defines the room.
3. Materials make the difference
Plastic was used deliberately during this period: with sturdy wall thicknesses, even surfaces and clean edges. The result is furniture that's easy to clean and keeps its shape for years.
Today, new variants such as polycarbonate have been added, used in transparent or coloured form to offer even more design possibilities.
Quality shows in the details: no sharp edges, but even surfaces and sturdy joints. Features like these determine whether a piece of furniture still works and looks good after years.
In short: high-quality materials and careful craftsmanship pay off in the long run.
Why 1960s and 70s design is more relevant than ever
Good design connects generations because it was designed for real use from the start – not just for the shop window. The progressive ideas of the 1960s and 70s were ahead of their time and translate directly to the way we live today. Why? Because our core needs for a home have basically not changed.
Then as now: life is dynamic, and our furniture has to be too. Here's what we need today:
- Flexibility in everyday life: the 1960s and 70s gave us modular systems and furniture on castors. In times of working from home and multifunctional rooms, this kind of flexibility is essential again. Today, a piece of furniture can't have just one function – it has to be adaptable.
- Smart use of space: with limited living space in cities and the trend towards more compact living, designs that take up little space but offer maximum use are in demand. Stacking chairs, nesting side tables and clever storage units – such as Kartell's iconic Componibili – are masterpieces of space-saving.
- Easy to combine: a good piece of furniture doesn't dictate the whole room – it fits in. The clean lines of the mid-century era and the straightforward materials of the 70s soften the severity of modern new builds perfectly. They're easy to mix with contemporary art, minimalist architecture or heirlooms.
So the secret of this era isn't mere nostalgia. It lies in a pioneering insight shared by the designers of the time: furniture is a tool for living. And because it was designed that way, it solves today's problems just as elegantly as it did fifty or sixty years ago.
Taking design further: how Kartell keeps its icons alive
If good designs are timeless, what role do companies like Kartell play?
Kartell continually develops the designs of the 1960s and 70s in the spirit of their designers and adapts them to modern standards. The shape of the classics stays the same, but the materials and, in some cases, the production methods change: today Kartell uses bio-based plastics, recycled materials and transparent polycarbonate. This makes the furniture more durable and meets today's environmental standards.
Around 30 years ago, for example, chief designer Ferruccio Laviani discovered old lighting designs in the Kartell archive, which had almost been forgotten at the time. Excited by their potential, he used modern injection-moulding technology to completely reinterpret the lights.
You can see the result in the Bourgie and Take models. They bring the distinctive, playful shapes of the 1970s into the present. Thanks to the transparent material and the new way they refract light, they suit modern living rooms and bridge the decades.
Read the full interview with Ferruccio Laviani here: "My first lamp design was a happy accident"
Pieces with character that last
Furnishing your home with these pieces is a conscious decision: fewer items, but well thought-out pieces that last. The result is rooms that feel tidy, can be used flexibly and still look cohesive years later.
