Design Notes: Verner Panton & Nanna Ditzel

I first learned about Verner Panton back in my art history classes at Pratt. His furniture designs stood out immediately; especially the Living Tower. It felt more like a sculpture you could climb into than a traditional piece of furniture. At the time, that was my whole picture of Panton.

Later, when I was in Copenhagen, I saw his work in person at the Designmuseum. The exhibit was completely immersive - rooms drenched in bold, saturated colors that pulled you right into his world. It wasn’t just about showing furniture; it was about creating a full experience. That show also featured Nanna Ditzel, another Danish designer whose work I’ve admired since.

What I love about both Panton and Ditzel is how they stepped outside of “good taste” and weren’t afraid to be bold. Their designs are organic, dynamic, and full of energy.. bright colors, rounded forms, playful ideas. They took everyday spaces and transformed them into something memorable.

Panton’s spaces feel almost retro-futuristic, with quirky shapes and a sense of fun. Ditzel’s approach was a little different but just as inventive. Her “Stairscapes” reimagined stairs as something more than just steps. Suddenly they became part of how you live in a space. I always come back to one of her quotes: “Three steps forward and two back still means I’ve taken a step in the right direction.” It says a lot about design as an experimental process.

For me, their work is a reminder that design doesn’t have to follow the rules. It can be colorful, emotional, and maybe even a little unexpected. And sometimes that’s what makes it stick with us.

Sourced from worldofinteriors.com // Stairscape and polyether furniture by Nanna Ditzel on display at the Mobilia exhibition in Malines, Belgium, from 1965–66. Photograph: Louis Schnakenburg