No, "Japandi" Isn't a New Trend: The Complex History Behind the Japanese and Scandinavian Design Relationship

If you follow enough design accounts on social media, chances are you've come across the term "Japandi" of late. The word, achieved by blending the words "Japan" and "Scandi" (short for Scandinavian) is a catchall for a kind of Japanese/Scandinavian fusion design, a blend of the famous Nordic “hygge” and Japan’s Wabi Sabi. And though design neophytes might call this a "trending" style, the truth is that this intertwined design history dates back over 150 years.

At first glance, this may seem an unlikely design union. After all, Japan and the Nordic countries are on opposite sides of the globe. And yet, their design sensibilities are remarkably similar: Denmark, especially, has a close, active relationship with Japan. It’s a trade and cultural exchange that started some 150 years ago, according to Nicolina Olsen-Rule of Design Museum Denmark in Copenhagen. 

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