When we speak about Scandinavian design, what do we mean? Perhaps it is time to rethink the phrase and give the individual design nations their proper due, because each has its own distinct flavour. When we visited Stockholm this year it became clear that Swedish design is becoming increasingly maximalist, while Denmark continues to go from strength to strength with 3 Days of Design gaining prominence in the international calendar. What of Norwegian design though?
Last week, Oslo hosted Designers’ Saturday (12-14 September), a biennale event that highlights the very best of this nation’s design output. Seeing itself as a challenger to the Nordic design crown, this nation’s dedication to natural materials, local craft and circular principles means there’s much to be excited about…
DS Unika
A part of Designers’ Saturday since 2017, this curated exhibition is a chance for some of Norway’s most promising young creative talents to produce one-of-a-kind work. This year, the eight participants were working in collaboration with Hamran (a bespoke kitchen and furniture maker based in southern Norway) using its supply of sustainable local oak to produce work that champions its colour, grain and knots. ‘Svarg’ (pictured top) by Anna Maria Øfstedal Eng stood out – the bench’s soft pebble-like form carved by hand, the marks rough and key to its charm. designerssaturday.no
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Eskoleia
Known for manufacturing steel furniture (its lockers can be found in gym changing rooms across Norway), this brand based in Kongsvinger has collaborated with Norwegian designer Jonas Ravlo Stokke on a collection made from recycled steel. Called ‘Unit’ the designs are intended as high-end furniture for offices, but thanks to the sleek design and on-trend lacquered finish, would also make a very stylish addition to homes. It’s just one example (more to follow) of the excellent partnerships arranged as part of DS Collab – an initiative for Designers’ Saturday that pairs local talent with Norwegian brands. eskoleia.no
2050 Furniture
Have you heard of doughnut economics? This new model created by Oxford academic Kate Raworth puts emphasis on the need for social foundations as well as sustainability principles. Both, the theory shows, are needed for a positive society. These are the ideals that drive this new brand based in Hardanger by the creatives behind design studiuo FjordMoods. It uses waste wood from local businesses and creates job opportunities for people who otherwise struggle to find employment. It’s a model for the future and its first design, the ‘Sondre’ chair, is available to pre-order now. 2050furniture.com
Northern
Norway’s elections were held just a week before the start of Designers’ Saturday, so there is a nice synergy in the launch of Northern’s latest light: the ‘Dahl’ chandelier, which was originally designed by Birger Dahl for the renovation of Norway’s parliament building in Oslo back in 1956. The brand reissued the pendant light back in 2016 to mark the centenary of the designer’s birth, but this new launch completes the collection. northern.no
Håg
‘When designing a chair for Håg, you are standing on the shoulders of Peter Opsvik. There is a sense of reverence in that,’ says Andreas Engesvik, whose new chair, the ‘Minu’, launched during Designers’ Saturday. Opsvik, who sadly passed away last year, was one of the most prolific designers of chairs, creating pieces that challenge how we sit. This new launch is intended for homeworkers – small in profile and with mix-and-match upholstery and colour options to fit seamlessly into any interior. flokk.com
USM
Yes, this may be a Swiss brand, but by bringing its ‘Haller Re-Framed’ project to Oslo, it has served as a platform to present some of the most exciting and imaginative design talents from across Norway. The original USM structures are from old filing cabinets once used at the Kredittkassen Bank (now Nordea) headquarters in Majorstua, Oslo, with Martin Andersen, CEO of StudioM3, asking each designer to reinterpret them using upcycled materials. Pictured are Josefin Johansson’s version, woven from cargo straps, and Bård Arnesen’s, using traditional Norwegian textiles. usm.com
Fora Form
Hunting & Narud, a Norwegian design duo that’s based in London, launched its new ‘Bast’ table system during Designers’ Saturday. Conceived as a furniture concept for office spaces, the pieces, which, say the designers, ‘are built to last and change over time,’ would not look out of place in a home environment. The secret to their longevity is the floating aluminium bracket that connects chunky legs to the tabletop – easy to unscrew, it allows for replacement of broken parts and shifts in taste. Modularity is key for the Norwegian brand that’s known for Fora ReForm, an initiative that takes back its products to be fixed or upgraded to prevent them being thrown away. foraform.no
Volver
Ksenia Stanishevski, founder of Volver, likes to push the designers she collaborates with, challenging them to tell their stories through the medium of the rugs her brand produces. For ‘Echoes’ its new collection, artist Kristine Five Melvær did just that. The three designs, which each come in three colourways and a variety of sizes, are inspired by her family (one literally depicting an abstract version of her family tree). Through geometric symbols she speaks of the people and places she loves. volverstudios.com
Ygg & Ling
Tasked with creating a new dining chair for this Norwegian brand as part of the DS Collab initiative, local designer Vilde Hagelund created the ‘Iden’. She was inspired by the form of arches (played out in the shape of the seat and backrest), creating a piece that utilises traditional woodworking joints, but with a lightweight, streamlined and contemporary aesthetic. yggogling.no
