Young Swedish Design 2023

2 March - 16 April

The Story of a Dress – Matilda Envall.

Meet the future of design in Älmhult – waste is transformed into thought-provoking design when Sweden’s design stars of the future get to decide. How can thought-provoking design be created from what we would normally call waste, or even rubbish?

 

This is one of the question that has been in focus for Young Swedish Design in its 25th year. IKEA Museum has curated and co-produced the exhibition with Svensk Form, which showcases works by some of the most promising young Swedish design stars.

The exhibition this year has a distinct circular theme and the participants inspiration comes from what we might normally refer to as leftovers, waste – or just plain rubbish. The pieces take shape from what humans and bark beetles leave behind. Waste from the sun and baby clothes is put to good use, and knowledge from earlier constructions is redeployed. It’s also about preserving old techniques, as this year’s IKEA scholarship Simon Bågstam has done.

Chair made out out wood.
Essing – Simon Bågstam .

”I have a background as a boat-builder, so my lounger is based on ancient Scandinavian boatbuilding tradition, which is called clinker construction. The materials and building techniques are based on methods from Viking times.”

– Simon Bågstam, winner of the Young Swedish Design IKEA scholarship 2023.

Young Swedish Design is Sweden’s biggest design competition for young designers. It is an annual distinction, awarded by a panel of judges and also a touring exhibition, which showcases the latest works from the young design scene in Sweden in furniture, fashion, handicrafts, architecture, industrial design and graphic design. Since its launch in 1998, it has become the leading platform for innovative designers at the start of their career.

”Young Swedish Design is an important platform for innovative young designers, who show a variety of ways in which good design can be expressed. IKEA has been involved from the start 25 years ago, and as a producer we’re proud to be able to help innovative ideas find their way to more people.”

– Anna Sandberg Falk, Curator at IKEA Museum.

Young Swedish Design on tour

The opening at IKEA Museum marks the start of a touring exhibition. Here is a list of everywhere this year’s winning young design stars can be seen:

Tour plan 2023: 2 March – 16 April, IKEA Museum, Älmhult 26 May – 4 June, Sara Kulturhus, Skellefteå 2 September – 5 November, Textilmuseet, Textile Fashion Center, Borås 16 November – 11 February 2024, Malmö Museer, Malmö

Here are the Young Swedish Design winners 2023

The Young Swedish Design exhibition 2023 is a co-production between Svensk Form (the Swedish Society of Crafts and Design) and IKEA Museum. The project is presented in association with IKEA of Sweden, the City of Malmö, Stockholm Furniture Fair, Swedish Wood, and a raft of exhibition organisers and scholarship providers.