Erik Nielsen
Erik Nielsen | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 1926 (age 98) |
| Education | Lockeys Reklamebureau |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1948– |
Erik Hellum Nielsen (born March 1926) is a Danish graphic designer and painter.
Biography
Erik Nielsen was born in late March 1926. From a young age he wanted to work in the graphics industry; his father, who was a landscape gardener and a friend of Prime Minister Stauning, wanted him to work in the public sector instead. During World War II he was involved in the Danish resistance movement.[1] After the war he was educated at William Graham Lockey's advertising agency[note 1] in Aalborg from 1946–1948.[2][3] During the following years he worked at the Aalborg Stiftstidende newspaper's printing press (1948–1949), Arthur Hammerschmidt's stereotype factory (1949–1951), and Harlang & Toksvigs Reklamebureau (1951–1952). In 1952 he founded his own design studio in Århus.[2][1][note 2]
As an independent designer Nielsen worked closely with Danfoss and the LEGO Group, doing work for the latter once every week. In 1959 he was offered a permanent position at the LEGO Group, as the growing company needed a full-time artist. Though Nielsen enjoyed working as a freelance artist, he accepted the offer and moved with his family from Århus to Billund. Though he was successful at LEGO, living in Billund did not work well for his family, and in 1962 he resigned and moved back to Århus. Nielsen later recalled that Godtfred Kirk Christiansen told him "either you're a Lego man, or you're not a Lego man" in response to his resignation.[1][2] Despite Christiansen's response, Nielsen continued doing work for the LEGO Group as an independent.[1]
After leaving LEGO, Nielsen returned to his studio, which continued operating through 2001. He primarily did work in industrial graphic design, corporate identity, and print layout.[2] At times his studio had as many as fourteen employees, though he preferred working as a creative than as a manager.[1] He later moved his studio from Århus to the Mols town of Fuglsø in Syddjurs, then to Knebel.[1][4] In 1983 Nielsen was awarded the IG Prize.[4]
By 2013 Nielsen had retired and moved to Ebeltoft, where he focused on painting.[5] In 2016 Århus Stiftstidende published an article celebrating his 90th birthday. The article claims that Nielsen had helped create the LEGO logo; Nielsen said that he worked "in squares".[1] The article showed an image of him pointing to the 1973 LEGO logo design; however, that version of the logo is usually credited to Rolf Lagersson (and sometimes Niels Hartmann as well). (It may be referring to the square version of the logo used with the five-coloured flag during the 60s, which Lagersson's version was based on.)[speculation]
Notes
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Lilmoes, Søren Ploug (17 April 2016). "90 år: Erik foretrak friheden frem for Lego" [90 years old: Erik preferred freedom rather than Lego]. Århus Stiftstidende (in dansk). Århus: JFM. Archived from the original on 2024-08-13. Retrieved 2024-08-13.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Gyllan, Peter (2018). "Erik Nielsen Design Studio". Danish Logo Preservation Society. Archived from the original on 2018-02-21.
- ↑ "Aalborg Boldspilklub (AaB). William Graham Lockey. Billedet er fra midten af 1940'erne." [Aalborg Football Club (AaFC). William Graham Lockey. The picture is from the mid-1940s.]. arkiv.dk (in dansk). 311383. Archived from the original on 13 August 2024.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Bernsen, Jens; Capetillo, Birgitta, eds. (1988). Profession: Designer. Copenhagen: Dansk Design Center. pp. 126–127. ISBN 87-87385-40-6.
- ↑ "Styr på det abstrakte" [Control the abstract]. Ugeavisen (in dansk). JFM. 25 March 2013. Archived from the original on 13 August 2024. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
