Rolf Erik von Bruun (born 7 April 1926) is a Finnish graphic designer.[1]

Erik Bruun in 1954 with a poster.

Biography

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Bruun was born in Viipuri on 7 April 1926.[2] He spent his childhood in village of Säiniö on the Karelian isthmus. In the war years his family was forced to move to Helsinki, where he later enrolled in the Central School of Industrial Design. He graduated as a graphics designer in 1950.[3][4]

After graduation, Bruun worked for three years as an exhibition designer and advertisement artist. In 1953 he founded his own design studio, where he produced the most of his work.[1]

Bruun's works are diverse and numerous. They include posters, postcards, stamps, and most notably all of the reverse sides of the last ever series of the Finnish Markka banknote series from year 1986.[1] In the early days of the new banknote series, Bruun and his wife were visiting Stockholm, Sweden. They needed to exchange Finnish Markka notes to Swedish krona, and had some of the new Markka notes with them. The cashier, never having seen the new notes before, asked if they were genuine. "Of course they are", replied Bruun's wife, "my husband drew them himself!"[3]

In his work, Bruun mostly features the Finnish nature in all its richness and beauty. Particularly prominent motives include the marine eagle, the Saimaa seal and the bear. The Saimaa seal is the symbol of the Finnish nature preservation association, whose 1974 logo Bruun designed.[1][5][6][7]

His posters and designs for the soft drink brand Hartwall Jaffa are also famous.[8][9][10][11]

Bruun also submitted a proposal for the design of the Euro banknotes, featuring various kinds of animals. This proposal was rejected in favour of Robert Kalina's proposal featuring European architecture. [12]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Hänninen, Ville (December 10, 2019). "Julisteiden kuningas Erik Bruun". Kuvittajat. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  2. ^ "Julistemestari ei osaa jäädä eläkkeelle". Helsingin Sanomat. 7 April 2016. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
  3. ^ a b Kemppi, Emilia (9 May 2012). "Erik Bruun – rakastettujen logojen luoja". Yle. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  4. ^ Pisto, Ville (4 June 2016). "Taiteilija teki vaatimattoman diilin piirroksesta – hurjaan suosioon nousseesta luontokuvasta tuli ostajalle valtava menestys". Yle. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  5. ^ Natri, Santtu (10 December 2013). "Norpan ja Jaffan piirtäjä tuntee olonsa turhanpäiväiseksi ilman julistetilausta". Yle. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  6. ^ "Helsingin muotoilupalkinto Erik Bruunille". Yle. 13 November 2012. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  7. ^ Lenkkeri, Anneli (10 April 2018). "Erik Bruun - Norpan ja Jaffan piirtäjä". Antiikki & Design. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  8. ^ Nupponen, Sakari (19 July 2016). "Muistatko tämän Jaffa-mainoksen – 90-vuotias tekijä on täydessä vedossa". Helsingin Uutiset. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  9. ^ Tuominen, Petra (20 May 2019). "Legendaarinen juoma, josta tuli Suomessa välitön hitti – muistatko vielä nämä Jaffa-pullot?". MTV Uutiset. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  10. ^ "Hartwall Jaffa onnittelee graafikko Erik Bruunia katukuvassa". Hartwall. 31 March 2016. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  11. ^ "50-vuotias Hartwall Jaffa maistuu kaikenikäisille". Ruokatieto. 20 May 1999. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  12. ^ Mikkola, Arja (15 January 2005). "Ehdottomasti salainen tehtävä". Kaleva. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
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