12 Iconic Designs by Verner Panton That Have Influenced Modern Design As You Know It

Verner Panton was a Danish-born architect and designer best known for his revolutionary approach to furniture, lighting, and interior design. Bold, experimental, and radically futuristic, Verner Panton challenged almost every convention of Scandinavian modernism at the time, curating a legacy of zeitgeisty furniture designs.

Born in 1926, during an interwar period in Denmark, a time marred by economic uncertainty, political tension, and rapid technological advancement, Verner Panton came of age in an era in Scandinavia defined by calm and restrained modernist principles. He initially trained as an architect at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, but rebelled against traditional and tame aesthetics — instead, rising to fame with a radical portfolio that employed bright colors, new plastics, and futuristic forms.

Think sci-fi 1960s, Verner Panton’s designs quickly became emblematic of the era. His now-iconic furniture designs (including the "ADHD" sofa) are considered as core to youth culture as Mary Quant’s sartorial mini skirt or The Rolling Stones. Embodying key ideas and principles of emotional, ergonomic, and multidisciplinary design, the products Verner Panton penned at the peak of his career remain as relevant today as they were then. So, to mark the centenary anniversary of Verner Panton’s birth, we’re exploring 12 of Verner Panton’s most iconic designs you need to know.

1. Cone Chair (1958)

Verner Panton’s Cone Chair was designed for the Kom Igen restaurant in Denmark. It is widely regarded as his first major breakthrough. The semi-circular padded shell of the chair extrudes upwards, incorporating both the back and the armrests into the precise, sculptural cone shape. It’s striking now, but it must have been even more so when it was first unveiled in 1958, as it looks, quite simply, like no chair that came before it.

“Verner Panton was instrumental in redefining what an accent chair could be," explains interior designer Gemma Luteijn, from Project London. "When the Cone Chair was introduced in the 1950s, its futuristic, sculptural form challenged traditional ideas of furniture design, pushing beyond convention at a time.”

Originally designed for a restaurant setting, Gemma notes that it has remained popular in a hospitality setting. “My knowledge of Panton stems from his work with The Astoria Hotel in Norway in the 60s to create a captivating experience, exploring how furniture, space, and lighting interact. Since then, hotels and restaurant design have continued to adopt the Cone Chair and its avant-garde principles, blurring the line between art and function.”

“Personally, I find it particularly compelling in historic residential settings, where the sculptural form creates a striking contrast against ornate architectural details such as plasterwork or timber panelling," she adds. "That tension between heritage and modernity is something we’re increasingly exploring in our own projects.”

You might also be interested in the Heart Cone chair (also designed in 1959), a popular variant of the Cone Chair that resembles a heart, interpreted as a modern take on the traditional Wingback chair design.

2. Topan Light (1959)

Regarded as one of Verner Panton’s most significant lighting designs, the Topan Light showcased the designer’s flair for simple geometric shapes, bold color, and a space-age aesthetic. The Topan’s simplified shape — essentially an aluminum spherical form — directs light for both task and ambient effect.

Topan is considered the precursor that paved the way for Panton’s later-penned Flowerpot series (another instantly recognizable luminaire). Originally designed in 1959 as a pendant light, it didn’t take long for table and floor lamp options to arrive in 1962.

The Topan’s significance lies in its simplicity. A package of pure geometry and available in a smorgasbord of colors, it embodies 1960s futuristic style and consistently cuts a good curve in interiors.

3. Fun Series Lights (1964)

Distinctive for its decorative character, Verner Panton’s Fun Series Lights (1964) is all about the shimmering mother-of-pearl discs. Constructed from several individual mother-of-pearl round discs, flexibly connected by small metal rings, the Fun light appears to sway gently as the central bulb heats up and radiates, moving the individual discs ever so slightly, creating both movement and nuanced light shadows.

With Shell, Verner Panton challenged the seriousness of mid-century design principles and instead created something that represented the glamour of its time. It’s Fun by name and fun by nature.

“The fun series lamps are the iconic chandelier of the 60s — resplendent with a fragile, opalescent beauty,” says Ines Moyes Li-Wearing, co-founder of interior design studio Atelier Como. “They still feel fresh and contemporary today thanks to the sensory nature of the rippling light effect, and the contrast between the polished metal frame and natural, mother-of-pearl petals.”

4. Panton Chair (1967)

Potentially Verner Panton’s most widely recognized design of all, the Panton Chair (1967) is a technological and aesthetic milestone in design. It utilizes a single piece of molded plastic, cantilevered for ergonomic comfort and compatible with mass production — it's what you'd call a double win.

"The Panton Chair is one of those rare design pieces that feels as radical today as it did at its inception,” says Caroline Milns, head of interior design at Zulufish. “Its sculptural form, fluid lines, and fearless use of color capture everything I love about iconic design, innovation, optimism, and timeless appeal. It’s a reminder that great design does not merely serve a function; it sparks emotion, conversation, and joy.”

5. Visiona Environments (1968-1970)

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Panton penned a series of interior 'environments', including concepts for homes, offices, exhibitions, and restaurants. It's widely agreed that Panton’s designs hit a peak with Visiona 0 and Visiona II, two exhibition installations he designed for the Bayer company to showcase at the Cologne Furniture Fair.

With a key aim of promoting the use of synthetic textiles and materials, these interior installations or ‘caves’ were constructed in below-deck rooms on a floating pleasure boat. “The iconic Visiona series, no doubt etched in every interior designer's memory from design school, is a widely celebrated concept from the early 70s,” says interior designer Elizabeth Keenan, founder of the eponymous Elizabeth Keenan Studio.

“With the Visiona I and II exhibition spaces — the latter of which featured the Living Tower’ design — Panton moved beyond designing objects to creating fully immersive interior worlds," Elizabeth adds. "These installations explored how color, form, and materials could influence mood, movement, and human interaction. Visiona ultimately presented a radical vision of the ‘total interior’ — one experienced with the whole body, not just the eye, and this, of course, feels so resonant in contemporary interior design.”

6. The Flowerpot Pendant Light (1968)

The Flowerpot Pendant Light (1968) — available as a series of both pendant light and table lamp variations — channeled Verner Panton’s visionary design, this time for the mass market. Mirroring the culture movement of ‘Flower Power’, the Flowerpot Pendant Light felt like a radical departure from the Scandinavian minimalism of the 1950s.

Designed with two semi-circular spheres facing each other, the design reduced glare and offered atmospheric indirect illumination, taking clear consideration of how people interact with the light source rather than just designing for functional direct lighting. The exterior is available in a spectrum of exciting, bright, and cheerful colors, mirroring the Flower Power shades of the 1960s.

“The Flowerpot lamp strikes a rare balance between simplicity and playfulness," says Alicia Meireles, creative director of OWN LONDON. "The clean, sculptural lines give it a timeless quality, while the confident use of color brings personality and optimism. That combination is what elevates it beyond a trend-led piece and firmly places it in the design canon."

Its versatility is why it remains relevant in contemporary design, Alicia explains. “The sheer range of sizes and finishes allows it to adapt to different scales and contexts, making it an easy way to introduce character and a sense of joy into a space without overwhelming it.” That said, it looks particularly cool amidst a modernist aesthetic, “paired with warm timbers and natural materials, where it acts as a subtle focal point,” she adds.

7. VP Globe (1969)

Often referred to as ‘the hovering bubble’, the VP Globe (1969) looks every bit like a UFO in the sky. Created from transparent acrylic and colored aluminium, it looked radically different from any of the popular designs by Hans Wegner or Arne Jacobsen, the popular tastemakers of mid-century Scandinavian design at the time.

Instead of natural materials like wood, Verner Panton’s VP Globe (available from Verpan) used newer material advancements and simplified, organic-inspired shapes for its distinctively futuristic, space-age look. It's highly significant in design history because it defied the traditional, functionalist Scandinavian design norms of its time, embracing plastic, bold color, and futuristic, sculptural form. It’s not just the look that makes the VP Globe significant; it’s also the lighting philosophy that it practices.

Unlike other lamps of the time, which were predominantly downward, VP Globe included reflectors with eye-catching red and blue accent details, positioned to diffuse light in an ambient fashion. VP Globe was originally designed in 1969 and launched at the Visiona 2 exhibition in 1970, and is widely considered a pioneer of the ‘Space Age’ style.

The iconic lamp is now recognized as a staple of 20th-century design and finds itself in major design museum collections globally. "Verner Panton was said to have been inspired by the street lights in Venice, and it is clear to see how his modern take on creating light reflections works with the VP Globe," says interior designer Emilie Fournet, founder of Emilie Fournet Interiors. "A perfect sphere of translucent glass, it is so versatile and can be used in a multitude of rooms without making them feel cluttered.”

8. Spiegel Lamp (1969)

One of Verner Panton’s key explorations into optical effects, the Spiegel Lamp (1969) was a complete departure from a light source that looks, well... anything like a light source.

For the Spiegel Lamp, Panton used an innovative approach and material technology to consider the atmosphere rather than just the brightness. It’s ambient rather than just practical. As a result, it looks like illuminated wall art or a form of sculpture, and it certainly bridges Verner Panton’s ideologies of rooms being designed as a total immersive space. The Spiegel lamp is typically constructed from chrome and a mirrored finish.

And why is Verner Panton's Spiegel Lamp still so relevant today? Because it focused on experience rather than just fashion, and the idea of a human-centred environment — and comfort — is at the forefront of interior design today.

9. Amoebe Chair (1970)

When people think of radical form and organic design, Verner Panton’s Amoebe Chair (1970) often comes to mind. It challenged conventional ideas of what a chair should look like and how it should function. Inspired by the shape of a single-celled organism, Verner Panton created an organic, flowing form with no straight lines. The iconic chair is deliberately removed from traditional furniture design and appears closer to sculptural artwork than a functional object. Yet despite its unconventional appearance, it’s every bit the practical chair, too.

Technically, Panton used a hidden metal frame rather than a traditional wooden structure. This innovative choice allowed moulded foam to be shaped into a fluid, sculptural form, and such complexity would not have been possible with conventional woodworking techniques. By combining industrial materials with organic aesthetics, the Amoebe Chair was a benchmark in demonstrating how new technologies could expand the possibilities of furniture design.

"Immediately recognizable, the Amoebe chair brings the exuberant spirit of the 1970s to whichever space it graces," says Emilie Fournet. "Its organic shape is so inviting, and it can work well on its own or as a group of chairs. The extensive choice of fabric colors allows one to either make a bold statement (an emerald green chair in a muted wall colored room would bring an unexpected pop) or a neutral color leaves the chair to take a step back and allow the simplicity of its rounded contours to speak."

10. Panthella Lamp (1971)

Another one of Verner Panton’s most widely recognized and iconic creations, the Panthella Lamp (1971) once again challenged traditional ideas of lighting, but thanks to its petite and practical size, it gained mass-market appeal.

Instead of exposing the bulb or using angular shades, Panton created a soft, organic silhouette with smooth curves. The hemispherical shade and trumpet-shaped base combine to reflect light downwards and outwards, creating a warm, atmospheric glow rather than a harsh direct light source.

“A design progression at its inception, the Panthella embraced moulded plastic and fluid curves in place of traditionally used materials," explains interior designer Lucy Van der Gucht. "Whether or not people can name Verner Panton as its designer, the majority would recognize the Panthella’s distinctive silhouette. It is a shape that has weathered decades of shifting tastes and styles — it is the definition of a design classic, and that’s why it remains so popular even to this day.”

11. The Wire Floor Lamp (1972)

The Wire Floor Lamp (1972) is a key example of minimalism and lightness, reflecting Verner Panton’s rejection of the heavy, ornate furnishings that had dominated Scandinavian design. Its curving wire structure creates a semi-transparent, airy form blending functionality with a sculptural, organic-looking form.

The Wire Floor Lamp remains influential today because it inspires designers to explore lightweight, modular, and flexible aesthetics. In a world where we are increasingly valuing adaptable spaces, its unobtrusive character and form resonate.

12. Systems 1-2-3 Seating (1973)

‘Modular’ feels like a word we are all accustomed to today, but imagine how radical it must have felt in 1973 when Verner Panton unveiled his modular 1-2-3 seating system. Embodying a vision of spaces needing to be flexible, Panton penned a series of modular seating options with his signature organic and sculptural flair.

As a result, the 1-2-3 Seating system, which originally comprised 20 different models with variations in seat height, armrests, and feet, offers a piece of functional, comfortable art. The Systems 1-2-3 Seating represents Panton’s true 1970s experimental spirit.

“Iconic for pioneering a radical alternative to formal dining, the 1-2-3 seating system offered a fluid, futuristic approach to sitting," says Lucy Van der Gucht. "It was a world away from the rigid wooden seating that had dominated interiors for much of the century. It represented a wider societal shift — a rejection of old-fashioned formality in favour of comfort, informality, and new ways of living.”

“These chairs were bold for their time yet rooted in simplicity," Lucy adds. "The absence of heavy pattern and the focus on shape and silhouette allowed the design to endure effortlessly."

Whether designin gthe petite Flowerpot Lamp or a complete interior experience, Verner Panton curated a portfolio of radical designs that truly pushed boundaries. Embracing an innovative use of advancing materials, alongside bold, futuristic forms, and by pairing human-centred design alongside functional experimentation (like the concept of modularity), Verner Panton has left us with a legacy of exceptional design icons that feel as fresh — and fun — as when first unveiled in the 60s and 70s.

Next up, it's time to learn all about legendary designer Eileen Gray.