Christmas Design Without the Kitsch
Are you sick of shiny baubles, jolly plastic Santas, American carols and snowflake patterns? Discover the work of Polish designers, who, inspired by Christmas motifs, are creating stylish new forms.
At a time when Christmas decorations – identical from year to year! – populate street corners from mid-November, it’s easy to feel weary from the overload. Thankfully, there are designers who are creating new, muted decorations while still retaining the holiday spirit.
Minimalist Christmas trees
Picture display
standardowy [760 px]
Lappi Christmas trees, designed by Iwona Kosicka, photo: courtesy of the artist
Iwona Kosicka created a folding, minimalist shape which serves as an excellent replacement for the classic symbol of Christmas – the evergreen. What’s more, the Lappi tree is an excellent base for decorations (another nod to tradition), whether handmade or store-bought. Though it might not have a lovely forest scent, the tree lasts for years (it’s easy to store when broken down) and can be painted and decorated a different way each year. It’s a modern idea, but the roots of traditions are still there.
Picture display
standardowy [760 px]
‘BIRCH 3’ cardboard lamp, photo: SOOA Design / promotional materials
Out of respect for the environment, eco-conscious choices should be considered the norm, not just a passing fad. Instead of a decked-out Christmas tree, perhaps you can find an excellent substitute in these decorative lights? SOOA Design has created three hanging lights from recycled cardboard; they are energy-efficient, eco-friendly and easy to set up. Don’t the Birch 3 lamps resemble shining Christmas trees? They not only serve as an excellent replacement, but as an atmospheric new addition to the household.
Picture display
standardowy [760 px]
Christmas tree ornaments designed by Projekt Dzioopla, photo: www.projekdzioopla.pl
Poland has a long tradition of making Christmas ornaments of which we can surely be proud. Yet if someone feels the desire to take a break from the shiny, glass baubles hanging on the Christmas tree, they may be interested in Projekt Dzioopla – a studio focusing on decorations made from wood. In their store, the designers stock Christmas baubles straight from the forest. Incredibly fragrant, the collection of birds is easily recognisable – including woodpeckers, waxwings, bullfinches, barn swallows, and sparrows.
The set of wooden birds came about with children in mind, whose development is often helped by contact with natural toys. It is, to fall back on the common turn of phrase, like killing two birds with one stone: a beautifully decorated tree and something for the youngest Christmas participants.
Picture display
standardowy [760 px]
'Słoma’ tablecloth, photo: Foonka
There are numerous Polish traditions that dictate the necessity of stowing a handful of hay underneath the tablecloth. For those who aren’t a fan of mess, there’s anther option: a tablecloth that will guarantee hay is included during the Christmas eve feast. Studio Foonka has created different textile designs (tablecloths, bed linens, dinner napkins) for years, drawing inspiration from nature. A tablecloth covered in ‘hay’ is one of their ideas, and is ideal for a Christmas dinner. For the rest of the year, there are plenty of different options – moss, or perhaps a sandy beachfront.
Embeded gallery style
display gallery as slider
Picture display
standardowy [760 px]
Socks from Kabak, photo: http://kabak.com.pl
From the first days of December, clothing stores stuff their shelves with designs of Santas, reindeer, Christmas trees and snowflakes, though not everyone might be a fan of this style. For those who prefer a less kitschy atmosphere at the table, clothing from Kabak is the perfect way to go – their socks Zimowa Opowieść (Winter Tale) and Narciarze (Skiers) reference the holiday atmosphere without overloading on Christmas symbols. If you feel a weakness for traditional themes, we recommend Świąteczne Marzenie (Christmas Dream) – a subtle interpretation of popular motifs.
Picture display
standardowy [760 px]
‘Thuja’ earrings designed by Anna Orska, photo: www.orska.pl/collections/thuja
For many, Christmas dinner is an opportunity to dress up, and a special outfit can be further emphasised by the right choice in jewellery – in that case, it’s worth reaching for Anna Orska’s series Thuja. The golden and silver necklaces, brooches, bracelets and earrings resemble shapes you might see during a walk in the forest. Drawing straight from the natural word, this stylish jewellery may easily become the brightest ornament of the evening.
Picture display
standardowy [760 px]
Holiday card designed by: suska & kabsh, photo: noteka.pl
In our modern times of digital communication, sending out holiday cards is an unfortunately dying art – but perhaps it’s time to try for a revival? Especially now that we can choose from designs made by artists who no longer follow staid patterns. Design studio Suska & Kabsch, made up of Joanna Suska and Marta Kabsch, create beautiful holiday cards full of colour and bold lines, without overwhelming the eyes. Among the piles of kitschy Christmas offerings, isn’t it worth it to appreciate festive, minimalist art?
Originally written in Polish Dec 2018, translated by AZ, Dec 2019
[{"nid":"5688","uuid":"6aa9e079-0240-4dcb-9929-0d1cf55e03a5","type":"article","langcode":"en","field_event_date":"","title":"Challenges for Polish Prose in the Nineties","field_introduction":"Content: Depict the world, oneself and the form | The Mimetic Challenge: seeking the truth, destroying and creating myths | Seeking the Truth about the World | Destruction of the Heroic Emigrant Myth | Destruction of the Polish Patriot Myth | Destruction of the Flawless Democracy Myth | Creation of Myths | Biographical challenge | Challenges of genre | Summary\r\n","field_summary":"Content: Depict the world, oneself and the form | The Mimetic Challenge: seeking the truth, destroying and creating myths | Seeking the Truth about the World | Destruction of the Heroic Emigrant Myth | Destruction of the Polish Patriot Myth | Destruction of the Flawless Democracy Myth | Creation of Myths | Biographical challenge | Challenges of genre | Summary","topics_data":"a:2:{i:0;a:3:{s:3:\u0022tid\u0022;s:5:\u002259609\u0022;s:4:\u0022name\u0022;s:26:\u0022#language \u0026amp; literature\u0022;s:4:\u0022path\u0022;a:2:{s:5:\u0022alias\u0022;s:27:\u0022\/topics\/language-literature\u0022;s:8:\u0022langcode\u0022;s:2:\u0022en\u0022;}}i:1;a:3:{s:3:\u0022tid\u0022;s:5:\u002259644\u0022;s:4:\u0022name\u0022;s:8:\u0022#culture\u0022;s:4:\u0022path\u0022;a:2:{s:5:\u0022alias\u0022;s:14:\u0022\/topic\/culture\u0022;s:8:\u0022langcode\u0022;s:2:\u0022en\u0022;}}}","field_cover_display":"default","image_title":"","image_alt":"","image_360_auto":"\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/360_auto\/public\/2018-04\/jozef_mroszczak_forum.jpg?itok=ZsoNNVXJ","image_260_auto":"\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/260_auto_cover\/public\/2018-04\/jozef_mroszczak_forum.jpg?itok=pLlgriOu","image_560_auto":"\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/560_auto\/public\/2018-04\/jozef_mroszczak_forum.jpg?itok=0n3ZgoL3","image_860_auto":"\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/860_auto\/public\/2018-04\/jozef_mroszczak_forum.jpg?itok=ELffe8-z","image_1160_auto":"\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/1160_auto\/public\/2018-04\/jozef_mroszczak_forum.jpg?itok=XazO3DM5","field_video_media":"","field_media_video_file":"","field_media_video_embed":"","field_gallery_pictures":"","field_duration":"","cover_height":"991","cover_width":"1000","cover_ratio_percent":"99.1","path":"en\/node\/5688","path_node":"\/en\/node\/5688"}]