Östen Kristiansson

Östen Kristiansson (1925–2003) was a Swedish designer and entrepreneur known for his innovative contributions to Scandinavian lighting and furniture design. He was the founder and creative director of the design company Luxus, which became one of Sweden’s leading manufacturers of modern lighting and home furnishings during the mid-twentieth century.

Kristiansson was born in southern Sweden and came from a family of craftsmen. His early career began with an apprenticeship in cabinetmaking, and he later trained in design, eventually establishing Luxus AB in the town of Vittsjö in 1951. The company initially focused on furniture, but under Kristiansson’s direction, it quickly expanded into lighting, which would become its hallmark.

Throughout the 1950s and 60s, Luxus became synonymous with high-quality lighting designs that combined Swedish minimalism with experimental materials. Kristiansson pioneered the use of acrylics and textiles, blending modern production techniques with soft, organic forms. His lamps often featured natural woods like teak and pine in combination with colored acrylic diffusers or fabric shades, creating pieces that were both practical and atmospheric.

Kristiansson’s most iconic works include ceiling lamps, pendant lamps, and wall lights with simple, modular forms and a deep understanding of how materials filter light. His work was rooted in the Scandinavian modern tradition but often had a distinctly personal, sometimes playful character.

Luxus lamps were distributed widely in Sweden and exported internationally, particularly to Germany and the UK. While Kristiansson did not receive the same level of international celebrity as some of his Danish or Finnish contemporaries, his designs were well-regarded in design circles and exhibited at major Scandinavian design fairs throughout the 1950s to 70s. His work was often shown at Hemutställningen (Home Exhibitions) in Sweden, and at regional and national design showcases such as those organized by Svensk Form.

Although Kristiansson did not receive major individual awards like the Lunning Prize or a Compasso d’Oro, his designs were widely published in Swedish interior magazines and trade publications during his active years. Today, his lighting designs are highly collectible and appreciated for their craftsmanship, warmth, and timelessness.

Luxus continued operations into the late 1980s, with later works still maintaining the quality and material sensibility that defined the company from its early days. Kristiansson passed away in 2003, but his work is still recognized among collectors and design historians as a key contribution to Swedish mid-century lighting.