Fiskars' classic orange-handled scissors turn 50 years old this year.
Fiskars' classic orange-handled scissors turn 50 years old this year.
Fiskars
The scissors have become a symbol of good Finnish design thanks to their light, ergonomic design.
The scissors have become a symbol of good Finnish design thanks to their light, ergonomic design.
Fiskars
The scissors' plastic handles and a steel blades made them significantly cheaper to produce than the iron tailor scissors that were widely used in the 1960s.
The scissors' plastic handles and a steel blades made them significantly cheaper to produce than the iron tailor scissors that were widely used in the 1960s.
Fiskars
"Not every household had scissors," said Fiskars' vice president of branding and marketing, Marika Orkamo "But eventually they became part of the mass market."
"Not every household had scissors," said Fiskars' vice president of branding and marketing, Marika Orkamo "But eventually they became part of the mass market."
Fiskars
Olof Bäckström's original design has remained largely in tact, though the cutting angle has been altered to improve performance, and a more durable plastic has been in use since the 1980s.
Olof Bäckström's original design has remained largely in tact, though the cutting angle has been altered to improve performance, and a more durable plastic has been in use since the 1980s.
Fiskars
Next month, Design Museum Helsinki will host an exhibition of work by artists and designers who use -- or are inspired by -- the simple orange scissors.
Next month, Design Museum Helsinki will host an exhibition of work by artists and designers who use -- or are inspired by -- the simple orange scissors.
Design Museum Helsinki
Some participants explicitly play on the scissors' color and design for their artworks.
Some participants explicitly play on the scissors' color and design for their artworks.
Design Museum Helsinki
Artist Pertti Mäkinen channeled Finland's long tradition of straw craft for this scissor-shaped mobile.
Artist Pertti Mäkinen channeled Finland's long tradition of straw craft for this scissor-shaped mobile.
Design Museum Helsinki
Finnish visual artist Anu Halmesmaa's created a paper-cutting for the upcoming exhibition at Design Museum Helsinki.
Finnish visual artist Anu Halmesmaa's created a paper-cutting for the upcoming exhibition at Design Museum Helsinki.
Design Museum Helsinki
Using scissors to cut food, Cecilie Rudolph made patterns from various ingredients found in Nordic cooking.
Using scissors to cut food, Cecilie Rudolph made patterns from various ingredients found in Nordic cooking.
Design Museum Helsinki