Josef Frank

1885 - 1967

Josef Frank (1885–1967) was an Austrian-born architect and designer who became one of the most influential figures in Swedish and Nordic design. After studying architecture at the Vienna University of Technology, he co-founded the Vienna School of Architecture together with Oskar Strnad. Frank was also active in the Vienna Werkbund and played a central role in the Werkbundsiedlung project of 1932, which promoted innovative housing solutions based on functionality and livability rather than monumental housing blocks.

In 1933, Frank moved to Stockholm with his Swedish wife Anna, escaping the rise of antisemitism in Austria. The following year he began working with Estrid Ericson, the founder of Svenskt Tenn, marking the start of one of the most significant partnerships in Nordic design history. At Svenskt Tenn, Frank developed imaginative furniture, lighting, and home accessories, but he became especially famous for his bold and colorful textile patterns. His floral prints and organic motifs brought warmth and joy to interiors, offering a more human alternative to the rigid functionalism of the time.

Frank also spent several years in New York in the early 1940s before returning permanently to Sweden. His work with Svenskt Tenn helped establish the company as a global leader in modern design, and his philosophy—that homes should be personal, comfortable, and filled with beauty—remains influential today.

Josef Frank’s legacy lives on through his timeless furniture, textiles, and decorative objects, many of which are still produced by Svenskt Tenn. His creations are represented in leading museums and collections worldwide, and his approach continues to inspire architects, designers, and design enthusiasts. Celebrated as a pioneer of Nordic Modernism, Josef Frank gave modern design a vibrant, human-centered dimension that endures to this day.