STEEN ØSTERGAARD
Steen Østergaard was born in Denmark in 1935. As a child he showed a precocity for the creative, designing and building model airplanes. His early interest in design led to an apprenticeship as a cabinetmaker and wood carver, followed by studies at the famous School of Arts and Crafts in Copenhagen, which he began in 1957, and graduated with highest honors. Prior to his graduation, Østergaard had already made a name for himself, winning first prize in an international furniture design competition presented by the Museum of Arts and Design in Copenhagen.
From 1962-1966, Østergaard worked closely with Finn Juhl, the Danish architect, industrial and interior designer who is credited with introducing Danish modern design to the United States. In 1965, Østergaard was named the designer of “the furniture of the future” by the Danish Cabinetmakers Guild. The following year he started his own design studio. From 1970-1975, he collaborated with Poul Cadovius and his brand, Cado, which had taken over the renown Danish France & Son Manufacture in 1964. Working with Cado, Østergaard released the Cado 290 Chair. His earliest plastic furniture pieces, the A-series 290 & 265, prioritized the comfort of the end user. The post-modern 290 model, which he created using an injection mold and produced in nylon, reflects an innate awareness of both ergonomics and space, its sculptural silhouette enhanced by its stackable nature.
Throughout this time, Østergaard’s innovations were celebrated in exhibitions around the world, including one at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, in 1974. In 1986, Østergaard moved with his family to Oxford, England, and later, to Flensburg, Germany and the South of France. Today, he resides in Aarhus, Denmark where he leads an active design practice.
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