Grethe Meyer: a love of detail
The Danish designer Grethe Meyer is one of the most important figures in Danish industrial design. She was a designer and architect and received numerous awards for her work.
Grethe Meyer (1918–2008) graduated from the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, School of Architecture, in 1947 and went on to shape Danish design history. In many ways, she was a pioneer in a male-dominated field, and she always spoke her mind. When she analysed details, such as people's eating habits or the spatial limitations of their homes, her work was systematic and thorough.
From 1955 to 1960, Grethe Meyer worked at the Danish Building Research Institute. There, among other things, she contributed to the "Building Book", which for many years formed the basis of teaching at the School of Architecture, before opening her own studio in 1960. From then on, she focused entirely on everyday objects for the table and kitchen.
Meyer's working process was open and creative, not least because she did not always have a clear idea of what the end product should look like. She examined every detail closely – shapes, materials and colours – again and again, until she was convinced she had found the right way. Her designs always had quality, personality and respect for the user.
Besides the Copenhagen cutlery for Georg Jensen, Grethe Meyer also designed several dinner services for the Royal Porcelain Factory (now Royal Copenhagen), such as the famous Blue Line service. Thanks to her strong sense for a simple, elegant design language, many of her designs became classics. Her work is characterised by a simple, rigorous expression that gives it a timeless quality.
Grethe Meyer died in 2008 after a long and successful life. Her designs shaped the way people live. She received numerous awards and honours for her work, and today many of her products are exhibited in design museums around the world.
