Known for its use of unconventional materials and inquisitive approach to projects, Malmö-based architect firm Förstberg Ling is the result of an architecture school friendship. For their latest project, Twelve Houses – a block with residential townhouses in Sorgenfri, the oldest industrial area in Malmö – they have added the role of property developers to their repertoire. With full control of the process, they have reached an uncompromising result that fully displays their abilities and intentions.

“We always look for the remarkable idea that makes the difference. With Stockholm Furniture Fair we focused on the gathering force they are in the industry, ” says Björn Kusoffsky, CEO and founder of Stockholm Design Lab when we visit the SDL studio in Stockholm. With 400 exhibitors booked for the fair and an ever expanding design week, Stockholm Furniture Fair is preparing for the first run in three years in February 2023. Adding a number of new features to the agenda has been as important as working on the identity and branding with Stockholm Design Lab. Founded in 1998, the agency has designed some of Sweden’s most iconic identities for the likes of SAS, Polestar and Volvo Cars.

Levi Di Marco is Head of Brand & Communication at Swedish producer Hem. We asked him to share his media diet – and the design topics occupying him right now.

The pandemic has profoundly changed people’s relationship to their homes but also where to settle down. Government agency Statistics Sweden has reported that, for the first time in 15 years, Stockholm doesn’t have the largest population rise in the country. One in four people have considered moving to the countryside in the past year, and this is a trend that can also be seen globally. However, Johan Åkesson, co-founder of trend forecasting agency Hint, expects that large cities will still maintain an element of growth, instead he expects a hybrid lifestyle.

After working together at renowned JoAnn Tann Studio which has a focus on window display, Saba Gedda, Kia Lublin, Cora Hamilton and Elin Skogkvist decided to go on their own mission by opening the creative agency Ray Atelier during 2018 in Stockholm. Tiger of Sweden, Totême and Hermès, are just some of the international brands they have created visual interiors for. In a time when the physical manifestations of a brand is more important than ever their knowledge is in demand.

Interior designer Lotta Agaton, featured with her home in our issue one and a regular contributor to The New Era, is working on a new hotel concept on a Swedish island and is soon to launch her first furniture collection. We asked her to share her best tips for keeping energy levels high and getting ready for spring. 

Stockholm-based Amanda Rodriguez work as a set designer and stylist for commercial and editorial clients. Throughout the years she has found her own tone of voice, often focusing on a specific material or detail in an image, and letting that set the tone. Light, as well as the the absence of light, plays an important role in her compositions, and the result is often subtle and poetic. Rodriguez set up her studio in 2014 and work with a number of well known brands such as Ikea, Zara Home and H&M.

Ellen Dixdotter, the CEO at Danish fashion house By Malene Birger, shares her inspirations in art, design and clothing.