Testbed for New Ideas

A destination where playful innovation thrives, unleashing bold, creative sensibilities & self-expression. SFF held in conjunction with Stockholm Design Week is a testbed for new ideas, showcasing a sense of renewal, exploration & creation.

Nordic designers are known for their forward thinking, innovative approach to furniture design with the design fairs showcasing new concepts. The region is increasingly seen as global leaders in respect to countering excessive consumerism and increasing a no waste, circular economy approach to design.

Since its inception in 1951, Stockholm Furniture Fair has been instrumental in showcasing Scandinavian design and production. This year’s director of the Stockholm Furniture Fair and Stockholm Design Week, Hanna Nova Beatrice, provides a curatorial approach to emerging design, collectibles, materials and sustainability practices all while shining a light on the beauty of Stockholm.

The Stockholm Furniture Fair 2024 held in the Stockholm Design Week upheld this ideal showcasing new design ideas and products, with themes that reflect minimalism, renewal and reinterpretation of 20th century design including a very 60-70’s design ethic. The design week events included design talks at the Amsterdam embassy residence, launch parties held across Stockholm city, Gamla Stan and Sodermalm.

While the Stockholm Furniture Fair may have been a little smaller in international exhibitors this year it made up for it in culture, local design and production, colour, design prototypes testing new ideas and products launched.

Bold, playful and wellbeing are key terms for this year alongside design initiatives that make positive contributions to our planet, such as no waste, and product longevity and repairability. There is tension between modularity and comfort in product ranges, with an undercurrent of design wellbeing.

Minimalism – Materiality and no waste

Natural materials with locally sourced sustainably forested timbers continue to be strong with vegan or non -chromium leathers, natural materials for cushion filling and a strong focus on longevity and repairability of products. Bioplastics and plastic alternatives (such as hemp fibre and eel-grass) are now available, alongside upcycling or repurposing the existing stock of petroleum based plastics with the aim of keeping old oil-based plastics from the ocean and our food systems

Renewal

The designers and design companies exhibiting showcased a strong responsibility for our planet and people. Numerous designers looked backwards to 20th century design, with refinements or reinterpretations of design classics launched. 

1960-70’s Design Ethics

A constant theme running through the design fair was of playful, bold and chunky design. While naturally connected with the obvious themes of the 60-70’s there is another strong undercurrent of comfort and support, chairs that hug you, cheer you up, create humour and aid in our wellbeing. Acknowledging the increasing mental health challenges of people, this playful discourse in furniture can’t help but bring a smile.

Älvsjö Gård

This year the Stockholm Furniture Fair launched Älvsjö Gård, a platform dedicated to collectible design, with limited edition pieces. Named after the 15th-century manor house where it debuted last year, the exhibition inside the fair played host to experimental designers, independent galleries and innovative collectives from across Scandinavia. Thos year featured a guest appearance by German designer Carsten in der Elst and statement pieces by artist Fabian Bergmark Näsman

Catch our perspective on the Stockholm Furniture Fair of 2024 this month with our very own presentation showcase. Contact our sales team or call (03) 8467 4700 to book a presentation.