Swiss furniture company Teo Jakob is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, marking more than seven decades of influence on modern Swiss interior design culture. The company's founder, Theodor Jakob, revolutionized the traditional furniture business when he took over his father's upholstery and tapestry shop in Bern's old town in 1950, transforming it from a conventional operation into a pioneering force for contemporary design.
Instead of focusing on traditional upholstery work and the popular regional style of the time, Jakob shifted his business toward functional furniture, Bauhaus designs, and modern pieces from Scandinavia and Italy. This approach represented a living style that was barely known in Switzerland at the time, establishing Theodor Jakob as a trailblazer of modern Swiss home culture. His avant-garde direction was also reflected in the company's branding when his friend, photographer and graphic designer Alfred Hablützel, created the still-current logo in 1955: "teo jakob" written in simple, sans-serif Helvetica font in red lowercase letters, notably without the "h" in Theodor's nickname.
This rebranding extended to Jakob himself, who from that point forward called himself simply "Teo." His passion for design was deeply connected to his love of art, as reflected in his famous quote: "Without art, life around me is bland." In 1958, he co-founded the Swiss Design group alongside renowned Swiss designers Peter Haussmann, Hans Eichenberger, Kurt Thut, and Robert Haussmann. Their mission was to promote modern Swiss furniture design beyond the country's borders and establish Switzerland as a significant player in the international design scene.
Jakob cultivated strong partnerships with prestigious manufacturers as early as the 1950s, including Cassina, Fritz Hansen, Knoll Associates, and Zanotta – relationships that continue to this day. Art played a crucial role in his vision, and his extensive art collection is now displayed in Teo Jakob showrooms for customers to enjoy. Jakob maintained close friendships with prominent artists, including a notable relationship with surrealist artist Meret Oppenheim, documented in photographs from 1983.
Teo Jakob passed away on August 19, 2000, at the age of 77, but his legacy continues to thrive. "Pushing boundaries and bringing spaces to life – that's the common thread of our history," says Simon Flückiger, CEO of Teo Jakob AG. Today, the company operates seven locations across Switzerland: Bern, Biel, Geneva, Lausanne, Winterthur, Zurich, and Zug. Customers seeking to redesign and plan their living spaces can receive on-site consultation and choose from approximately 300 collections from international brands.
The company's bestsellers remain the great classics of contemporary design that have defined Teo Jakob since its inception. These include the Fauteuil Grand Confort LC2 designed by Le Corbusier, Charlotte Perriand, and Pierre Jeanneret in 1928; the Adjustable Table E1027 created by Eileen Gray in 1927; and the Swiss furniture classic USM shelving system by Paul Schärer and Fritz Haller from 1963. These timeless pieces continue to represent the modern design philosophy that Teo Jakob introduced to Switzerland decades ago, demonstrating the enduring appeal of functional, beautifully crafted furniture that transcends fleeting trends.
