North is where the compass needle points. Determined geographically from every location, North is also experienced, imagined and interpreted through unique social, cultural and environmental contexts. North as a Meaning in Design and Art considers it’s particular significance for a number of artists and designers, past and present, and accounts for some of the local, regional and national identifications of their works. The diverse and complex meanings of North or ‘northernness’ is a common concern for each of the essays, but each author – from the fields of architecture, art, design history, art history, art education, textile art, and cultural geography – approaches these particular meanings from unique perspectives. This publication was prompted by recent discussion of the Finnish and international artist-designers Tapio Wirkkala (1915–1985) and Rut Bryk (1916–1999) for whom the North and especially Lapland was to become a vital part of their work and shared life.