Stockings of discarded fishing nets, wooden tables planed by hand, a streetwear brand that hires Syrian refugees and designer furniture that still feels modern after more than 60 years in production. Those are just a few examples of design that makes a difference on the climate. In the following weeks, you will meet eight designers who have all been appointed flag-bearers by the Swedish Design Movement.
The state-funded project is run by the Swedish Institute in partnership with Svensk Form, Architects Sweden, the Swedish Fashion Association and the Swedish Federation of Wood and Furniture Industry, representatives from the cities of Gothenburg, Malmö, Stockholm and Umeå, as well as the region of Western Sweden, Business Sweden and Visit Sweden.
Swedish Design Movement Manifesto:
Design plays a key role in the transition to a sustainable society. Design can turn information into action, and so of course, idea into business. Design can entice people to make wise, longterm decisions. Design can close the circle.
Influencing how we live our lives is nothing new in Swedish design. Driven by society’s evolution, Swedish designers have shaped profound social reforms and fast-footed unicorns alike. Innovations that have forever changed our daily life. And now, it’s time again. The world must transition, and rapidly so, in order to meet the global challenges. Some argue that it’s already too late, but humanity has done it before: found solutions that no one thought were possible. Encouraged by the next generation and supported by politicians, academics and the industry, the creative sectors are taking the leading role in achieving the goals of Agenda 2030.
Architects, fashion designers, researchers and designers, craftsmen, engineers and developers in Sweden and all around the world! Under a common flag, we can push the development in the right direction. From the glassworks to the lab, from the forest to the drawing table, from north to south, locally and globally – let us do what we can to hasten the transition through groundbreaking design.
A new era for our design nation of Sweden starts now.
Read more about the eight flag-bearers here
This post is a collaboration with Swedish Design Movement.