Maija Isola

Maija Isola (1927–2001) was the first full-time designer hired by Printex, the company that eventually spawned Marimekko. Her most famous print Unikko has become the most recognizable icon of the Marimekko company. Maija Isola was a very versatile and bold artist. She interpreted the events of her era from her own unique perspective and predicted future trends. Her creative work includes over 500 prints. Her early work was inspired by nature, but later on became her designs bolder and less detailed, containing large areas of color. Her travels to Yugoslavia, Italy and Algeria were also her significant source of inspiration and she incorporated stylistic elements from these cultures into her patterns. In the 1980s she began designing fabrics with her daughter Kristina. Together they produced fresh floral fabrics, bold abstract patterns and ornamental designs that became Marimekko staples.