Gatherings

At the Stockholm Furniture & Light Fair 2017, the HDK – Academy of Design and Crafts presented “Gatherings”, a show that investigates the ethical implications of design.

At the Stockholm Furniture & Light Fair 2017, HDK – Academy of Design and Crafts at Steneby, University of Gothenburg, presented “Gatherings”. In partnership with Forbo, the school investigated the ethical implications of design through material, form and function. It also designed artifacts that embody various kinds of gatherings; the gathering of materials and the gathering of people – all about stimulating interaction through design.

Sofia Nillson, Kuttingen

Sofia Nillson, Kuttingen

Mariska Lamiaud, Mokita

Mariska Lamiaud, Mokita

Anke Dold, Crokinole

Anke Dold, Crokinole

Lisha Li, Interface

Lisha Li, Interface

Sofia Nillson designed “Kuttingen”: a transportation bag that protects the cuttings, but which can also be used as a display. Using a “special” technique to bring flexibility into the Desktop linoleum while keeping the strength of the material, she created a practical yet refined solution that allows people to bring their cuttings with them. After investigating humankind’s history of key inventions, Joe Clark designed “Fire(Escape)”: a kit containing a fire drill and bow, enabling people to learn how to start a fire in an ancestral way. Robert Curran decided to have a look back in the history of storytelling, following the tracks of cabinets of curiosity and Victorian natural history museums. This led him to create “Illuminations”, a vessel for visual stimulation, connecting to a tradition of shadow puppetry.

While working on an organic farm, Alice Huldtin discovered kombucha: a beverage produced by fermenting tea using a SCOBY (Symbiotic Colony of Bacteria and Yeast). She worked together with different craftsmen and designed “Bout’chou”, a brewing station for kombucha combining Desktop linoleum with other refined materials. Anke Dold designed a “Crokinole” board game and matching lamp with the help of “Café Schukert”: a language café in Dals Långed where refugees can meet inhabitants of the village around a cup of coffee. Yong-Kang designed modular stations inspired by both the Swedish fika culture (to have coffee) and the Japanese tachinomi standing bars. The organic shapes obtained by laminating plywood can be used as coffee tables, benches or room dividers, depending on the situation.

With “Kuvert”, Johan Andersson wanted to question the meaning of table settings and how they affect our behavior, the way we interact with each other but also with the cutlery itself. Johan created a series of abstract representations of tableware which make us wonder how we can relate to them. Marie-Louise Velthujizen designed “Huddle”, a series of lamps inspired by the construction of old factory lights. Aiming to show that there are benefits from debating with others, Mariska Lamiaud designed “Mokita”, a visual metaphor turned into a tactile tool through the combination of wood and Desktop linoleum. Lisha Li designed “Interface”, a tray coming in a variation of colors and appealing patterns which can be used in a café like setting to serve drinks, but also to write or draw on it.