It has become a tradition. Every year at this point people from Swedish furniture industry meet up in the heart of Småland, in Lammhult for the annual Möbelriksdag – the Furniture Parliament. This year about 300 participants did show up deep into the dark Småland forest in the big entrance hall of Lammhults/Abstracta on January 4th, well done! Möbelrikstagen is arranged by Möbelriket – the Kingdom of Furniture – a trading region and a network of design and furniture companies from Småland. Möbelriket working together to highlight the unique design and furniture history from the region. To name just a few examples: Lammhults, Abstracta, Norrgavel, Bruno Mathsson, Källemo and Ikea.

Möbelriksdagen is a kick-start. Kind of a team building event and gathering of our strengths together to meet the new year. A lot of interesting subjects, as design export, destination building and good examples in how to build long term sustainable companies and products. The program was tight! About 60 speakers entered the stage. Among those Jens Spendrup representing Företagarna, Stefan Nilsson from Trendgruppen, Patric Åström – Stockholmsmässan, Lars Bülow – Materia, Johan Lindau – Blå Station, Tomas Carlzon – MD Ikea.

The day was both inspiring and informational and I met a lot of new and old friends and had a good time all in all!

Thank you Möbelriket – Johan Sjöberg and Anders Wisth!

About 300 participants was attending Möbelriksdagen 2011

My pal Stefan Nilsson – Trendgruppen on stage – speeding up the audience…

The trends forecasted by Stefan:
Made Here – Now (made unique right now)
Made Here – Location (made unique geographically)
Made Here – Time-concious (made with time perspective)
Made Here – By me (made with personal signer)

Johan Lindau – Blå Station, together with Lars Bülow – Materia and the young designer Fredrik Färg

Hello again! Had a nice summer? Me too! I have been relaxing together with family and friends, and after the holidays I feel pepped and inspired getting back to business. I got some very interesting projects in the pipeline and I am really looking forward to deal with them. Also, back home it is a big difference than before. We had our first child in april. It is a very special feeling to see the happiness in my son’s eyes when I come home after work.

Here are some new pics from the last design events and exhibitions I visited. Design S is from june and Formex from last weekend. Also a couple of nice pics from the hotel Nordic Light where we stayed during Formex. Since Snoopy celebratin 60 years they had this Joe Cool exhibition.

Design S exhibition and award ceremony

Formex

Beautiful lamps by young swedish designer Johan Lindstén

The Joe Cool suite at Nordic Light

A brand new fashion store opened in Västervik – Avenue 68! First of its kind, with a very exciting and different design approach; at least for being in Västervik. The interior is tasteful and elegant, with smart and creative display solutions. Visitors are given this feelings of traveling far away when entering and arrive to a very contrastful place filled with carefully selected fashion from all over the world. So next time in Västervik don’t miss it – ”Avenue 68 – your fashion destination”. Definitely worth a visit!

Design Nation was engaged for building the brand and developing the design concept. We are very glad to be a part of this and looking forward for a long-term cooperation.

It has been a while since my last input, I know. The reason is that I have been busy, not a minute to spare for the blog… bad excuse… but I will improve, I promise! There are so many things going on right now. Besides the destination design project in Dalarna, Sweden, I am working on lots of new projects, and more are coming up. Product design & graphic design, design management, lecturing…  more reasons to really write about it!

Still winter, but the spring is in the air, good feelings. Sun is warming and days are getting longer. Also time for fairs. Right now the annual Stockholm Design week and the furniture fair. Here are some pics from a couple of the exhibitions I did attend to.

Karin Wellin

Asshoff&Brogård

Kredema

Johan Lindstén

Alexander Lervik at Nordic Light hotel

A short report from some of my journeys I’ve been doing recently. That includes impressions from fairs and exhibitions in Berlin, Stockholm, Oslo and London. Take a moment and have a look at the slideshow.

It’s obvious how the eco-trend is here to stay, and it’s very interesting to see the directions of the future development within the area. In some way the eco-friendly handicraft connected ideas are being replaced with the more high tech solutions, but still with the eco-friendly attention. Sustainable thoughts have become more naturally included to the process, nothing new when working with industrial design, but far more accepted from the market, much thanks to the importance as selling point.

It is very exciting to see the new materials that are being adapted. And the upcoming fabrics, wallpapers, nano technology – well, it’s pure science fiction. And there are far more to come! Many of the materials that the scientists have done are still waiting for field of application. But there are also the traditional stuff like bamboo, very eco-friendly and adaptable within many areas like furniture, table ware and even fabrics etc.

So… What will the future bring? Well that´s up for you and me to decide. Let´s be optimistic and innovative… and create a sustainable future for next generations.