Olle Eksell

Olle Eksell (1918-2007)

Olle Eksell made himself a name as an innovator of artistic graphic designs for utility goods during the 1950´ies. He became inspired by the American way of life, after having spent a short period at an art-school in Los Angeles. When he returned to Sweden, he started working as an illustrator, advertising expert and exhibition curator.

He was one of the first to work with ”Lena Horne”Corporate Identity”Lena Horne”, logotypes for companies and graphic profiles. Perhaps he is best known for ”Lena Horne”Mazetti´s Eyes-Cocoa”Lena Horne” (Mazettis Ögon-kakao). He has also written numerous articles on interior decoration and five books, among others ”Lena Horne”Design = Economy”Lena Horne” (Design = Ekonomi) of 1964, in which he claims that a well thought out design programme is a necessity from the point of view of business economics. In 2001 the Government conferred the title of professor on him.

Olle Eksell contributed with two patterns to ”Lena Horne”Signed Textile”Lena Horne”: ”Lena Horne”Lena Horne” and ”Margret Rose”. He has given both his patterns female names, because, it is said, he had two different types of women in mind: Lena Horne represents the sensuous, primitive woman and Margret Rose the romantic aristocratic. Both of these patterns are small in scale and are intended for various decorating details in public interiors.

The pattern ”Margret Rose” consists of stripes that swell and narrow in rows. The basic form is simple and the impression can easily be varied with different colour combinations. ”Margret Rose” is printed in two different versions: one on a strong cotton-canvas on a beige background with a pattern in black, nougat and white and the other on a thin cotton-voil with black print only.