We meet with Ilse Crawford at her Neckinger Mills studio – a Grade II-listed former tannery on Abbey Street in Bermondsey, south London. Crawford and her husband Oscar Peña have lived in the building since 2018 and the studio has been here since 2012. In 2021 Studioilse moved in to one of the spaces that was formerly a fine arts restoration studio with a view to turning it into a workshop, a place where physicality is first and foremost. Here the team can work together and lay out large-scale material samples, often with their clients, so they can touch and feel the materiality of a project, and understand the final result, rather than prioritising screens.

Fredrik Paulsen, a furniture designer renowned for integrating pop culture into his work, resides in Stockholm with his family. Educated at the Royal College of the Arts in London, he has established a distinctive approach to design, focusing on relevance, sustainability and the seamless blend of furniture with broader cultural expressions. Paulsen’s work, characterised by simplicity and an honest use of materials, often incorporates an element of joy. He is also the founder of Joy Objects, a brand that champions small-scale production and sustainability, reflecting his commitment to meaningful design in the contemporary landscape.

Artist and interior architect Caroushka Streifert shares her unique perspective on construction and object fascination. From observing downpipes instead of shop windows due to her architectural heritage, to creating art from found objects in cities and nature, her work critiques mass consumption and the clutter of modern life. Operating from a top-floor studio in Stockholm, Streifert’s creations are inspired by everything from urban debris to natural finds, emphasising the importance of quantity in making a statement. Her journey from interior architecture to art reflects a deep engagement with the material and conceptual aspects of space and objects, culminating in art books that document her extensive and playful exploration of her craft.

During Stockholm Design Week Nick Ross showcases two new bodies of work at The Swedish History Museum, made in solid wood and cast metal. The self-initiated collection balances his more traditional work with producers such as The Audo and +Halle. Ross is also involved in the experimental Copenhagen-based brand Niko June, which challenges the traditional notions of how a furniture brand operates. He says the exhibition Primitive Arrangements is about going “back to the basics”.

Atelier Axo is a Danish design studio that pushes boundaries in the realm of art, architecture and design, with a unique perspective that comes from the intersection of disciplines between founders Rose Hermansen and Caroline Sillesen. The studio creates detail-oriented architecture, interiors and furniture that are not only striking but also sustainable. In this interview, Hermansen and Sillesen take us through their joint design process, their approach to sustainability and how they balance the needs of their clients with their own vision.

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.