Design has the ability to shape our everyday experiences, not just through function but through joy and creativity. The Magis Puppy is a perfect example of this, bringing playful design into homes, offices, and public spaces.
Pictured: Puppy in Dalmatian White
Eero Aarnio has always maintained that design should be playful, imaginative, and free from convention. The Magis Puppy is a testament to this belief, proving that furniture can be more than just functional. Designed by Eero Aarnio in 2005, the Magis Puppy has become an iconic piece that blends fun and functionality. As we celebrate 20 years of this beloved design, we reflect on Aarnio’s broader approach to design and how his influence continues to shape how we view playful design today.
Pictured: Eero Aarnio
Eero Aarnio (born 21 July 1932) is a Finnish designer known for his groundbreaking furniture designs of the 1960s, particularly his pioneering use of plastic and fibreglass. Aarnio studied architecture at the Institute of Industrial Arts in Helsinki, graduating in 1960. He established his own design office in 1962 and, the following year, introduced one of his most iconic creations—the Ball Chair. This distinctive design, a hollow sphere mounted on a stand with an open side for seating, made its international debut at the Asko stand during the 1966 Cologne furniture fair.
Pictured: Eero Aarnio with the Bubble Chair and Ball Chair
Building on this success, Aarnio designed the Bubble Chair, a transparent, suspended variation of the Ball Chair. His other notable works include the Pastil Chair, a smooth, moulded seat reminiscent of a beanbag; the Tomato Chair, shaped with three spherical supports; and the Screw Table, designed to resemble a giant screw embedded in the ground. In recognition of his contributions to industrial design, Aarnio received the American Industrial Design Award in 1968.
From the legendary Ball Chair to the Bubble Chair, his designs have always embodied an element of surprise and joy. One of his most playful creations, the Magis Puppy, perfectly encapsulates his philosophy of design that blends functionality with imagination. Designed in 2005 for Magis’ Me Too collection—an innovative line of furniture and objects designed specifically for children—the Magis Puppy is a sculptural yet functional object that blurs the line between furniture and toy. Inspired by the simplified, rounded form of a child’s drawing of a dog.
Pictured: Magis Puppy in orange and white
"Puppy isn’t just any dog. He’s as a child imagines a dog when drawing one for the first time: head, body, paws."
- Eero Aarnio
Puppy is a little dog as imagined by the great designer, whose aim was to see through children’s eyes when they draw puppies. A head, a body and legs: essential, rounded shapes that come to life in a friendly, playful, durable and colourful object. Made of polyethylene, and produced using rotational moulding, the piece is guaranteed to be both sturdy and lightweight, ready for endless moments of play and fun, both in the house and out of doors.
Pictured: Magis Puppy Velvet in Violet/Fuschia and in Green
In 2023, the iconic Magis Puppy got a fresh update with the introduction of two new velvet-effect finishes. Available in a range of colours, including a shaded variant and an iridescent version, these new options add a touch of luxury and sophistication to the playful design. Even after 20 years, the Magis Puppy still resonates with people. Its design is simple yet timeless, appealing to both children and adults. The Puppy’s ability to add a touch of whimsy and charm to any room shows how playful design can have lasting appeal.
During Saturday Indesign 2024, Living Edge held our inaugural Magis Puppy design challenge, 'Unleashed Potential'. The exhibition was a testament to the power of creativity and community. The design challenge, where twenty architecture and interiors firms reimagined the Magis Puppy, brought out the best in everyone.
