I should never have said it, the spring is approaching. Just because of that there has been a snow chaos in Sweden. Trains suspended, roads closed and flights delayed. I mean, I like the winter but come on. I heard there is some kind of record in our area, it has been almost 60 days in a row with minus degrees!

Last week I was in Oslo, had a meeting with the scandinavian design organizations, Swedish Association of Designers, Danish Designers, Grafill – the Norwegian Organisation for Visual Communication and NID - the association for professional industrial designers in Norway. The reason we met was to discuss the opportunities for closer cooperation between the organizations. The meeting was successful and a good step ahead in the progress.

When I had the opportunity I also visited this school that a friend of mine started six years ago; Designinstituttet. The students gets the opportunities to explore their skills within different disciplines in an open creative atmosphere and together with the very best of teachers. The results from the school is really impressive.

Anyhow we stayed over the weekend spending some time with some old friends living in Oslo. We had a very nice time, good food, cinema and ”fika”. Because of the snow, the cold weather and the transport issues the travel back home got a bit delayed. But finally we got home, safe and happy.

Seasons greetings from Sweden. It is holidays and people are celebrating together with famelies and friends. The winter has come and it’s time for outdoor activities in the snow. Skiing, skating and building snow castles.

If you are in the need to get in touch with me you are welcome. I will be available at my phone and my e-mail.

The first pic below is from the region Dalecarlia (Dalarna) in Sweden where I am doing a project within destination design. The ”dala-horse” is a strong symbol for the region and also for Sweden abroad.

The second picture is från a ski area up north, Åre, where I recently started my ski season when participated in the Fis Ski World Cup working in the slopes with the course setting for the ladies slalom and giant-slalom. It is a nice ittermitent assignment to do, specially since skiing is one of my big interests.

Thank you everyone for a great 2009. See you next year that will be even greater!

Best Daniel

It´s Sunday August 16. I am in Berlin, at historical ground – the Olympic Stadium. The World Championships in Athletics. In just a few minutes Usain Bolt will break the 100 metres world record. He’s about to doing the ”impossible”. But everyone know – the ”impossible” is possible. The expectations are high. But no one expected 9,58.

Usain Bolt and I have the same motto. Anything is possible! That’s what I have in mind in my everyday creative profession, and that’s also the reality for the fastest man on earth. 9 seconds and 58 hundredths. That’s insane. That’s inspiring…

It’s summer in Sweden which means holidays. In Sweden most people take five weeks off, spending their time together with friends and families, doing a holiday trip by boat or with the caravan. Tourists are coming in droves, both swedes and from abroad. This is for sure the most important time at the year for the tourism business.

Observing this carousel spinning is interesting and fascinating, all the commerce, big sales, drinks, foods, campers, festivals, partying. It’s a nice time of the year! But it’s also a bit thought-provoking. What happens?! What’s making all this people gathering at the same spot at the same time? Where does everybody come from?! And the biggest question of them all; what is it about this casual holiday “fashion”, “Foppa”-slippers, tube socks and shorts?

Tourism, experience industry and community design, I have done a lot of work within these areas, it’s very interesting. How can design contribute in developing cities, communities and places to visit, to be more accessible and also sustainable? Here are some links with useful information and statistics; Drivkrafter för nya näringar, Upplevelseindustrin, Kommundesign, The Tourist Year in Sweden 2008

My perfect holiday is inspiring – relaxing, quiet and easy – close to the sea to cool off, and to the beer when I get thirsty. That’s where I am at this very moment. And the work? Just couldn’t stay away from it, so I brought it! So, when the ideas are coming to you while resting in the hammock or on the beach, feel free to contact me…

Enjoy the summer! /Daniel

Tillbaka till verkligheten. En vecka i Åre tar på krafterna fysiskt, men man blir otroligt mentalt utvilad och inspirerad. Vi hade tur med vädret, särskilt under tävlingarna. Det är svårt att slita sig från Åre, när man väl är på plats vill man gärna stanna för gott. Det är verkligen en riktig vinterort, och det är kul med alla olika aktiviteter som finns runt omkring. Får se när vi syns nästa gång, men nu är det annat jobb som väntar…

På söndag bär det av till Åre. Den 11-15 mars pågår världscupsfinalen, och då kommer jag att befinna mig mitt i tävlingsbackarna. Jag ingår i det team som underhåller backarna före och under tävlingarna.

Det kommer bli skönt att komma i från kontorsjobbet ett tag och arbeta mer fysiskt utomhus. Förhoppningsvis blir väderet lite bättre denna gång, i motsats till VM 2007 då jag också var med och jobbade. Det kan bli ganska tungt arbete i bland. Särskilt vid snöfall, det vill vi inte ha. Skulle ju inte vara fel med lite sol, men man vet ju aldrig. Inspirerande kommer det bli i allafall!