Jacob Jensen
1926 - 2015
Jacob Jensen was a Danish industrial designer best known for his work with Bang & Olufsen. Jensen designed numerous popular high-end consumer products, developing a functional minimalism style that formed a prominent part of the Danish modern movement. In 1958 he founded the Jacob Jensen Design Studio. Jensen designed for other brands including Alcatel, Kirk, Boform, General Electric, International Gift Corporation, JO-JO, Labofa, Rodenstock, Rosti (Rosti Mepal), and Stentofon. His works have been featured at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City, and have received numerous design awards.
Jacob Jensen was born in 1926 in Copenhagen. Son of Olga and Alfred Jensen, he left school after the seventh grade and completed training as an upholsterer. In 1947 he began working in his father's shop where he designed chairs. In 1948 he attended the School of Arts and Crafts (Danmarks Designskole) where he enrolled in the furniture design department. In 1952 he became the first student to graduate from the institution's Industrial Design program (founded by Jørn Utzon), which focused on mass-produced objects for everyday use.
From 1952 to 1958, Jensen worked at Copenhagen studio Bernadotte & Bjørn (the first industrial design drawing office in Denmark) as an industrial designer. During his time there he designed various works including the Margrethe Bowl for company Rosti (Rosti Mepal), which became Jensen's first financial success. This was followed by a period in New York City working with Raymond Loewy. He also spent some time in Chicago with industrial design firm Latham, Tyler & Jensen.
In 1964 he started working as a designer for Bang & Olufsen. During this time Jensen became known for designing audio components of characteristic styles that involved 2-dimensional flattened surfaces with streamlined silver and black designs. He also worked in collaboration with various other companies where he designed wristwatches, kitchen appliances, telephones, chairs, and other products. Jensen is credited with developing the B&O design style, which is still used today. Many of Jensen's designs have been included in permanent design collections at museums around the world. Jacob Jensen died on May 15, 2015, in Virksund, Denmark.
Text courtesy of Wikipedia, 2023