Dags för Design March 2014

Design Nation participates in Design March on Iceland. The event is going on March 27-30 in Reykjavik. Daniel Byström from Design Nation will take part in a seminar focusing on Design for Small Communities – Explore. Reflect. Respond. The seminar will be held on Friday 28 of March at Hannesarholt, Grundarstígur 10, 101 Reykjavík. Read more about it here – http://designmarch.is/program/explore-reflect-respond-designing-for-small-communities-seminar/

Also, Design Nation contributes to the exhibition of Designers & Forests. Daniel Byström is a part of the Designers & Forests team, who visited the State of Utah, USA in 2013 to explore and reflect about the issues in the region. The forests in this region are affected by beetle kill and aspen die-off. In summer 2013, members of Designers and Forests explored and experienced the region, with the intention of finding new ways of looking at the problems of stressed forests. The project linked designers from Sweden, New York, and Iceland with foresters, activists, designers, artisans, and community members in Utah. Design Nation has contributed in facilitating workshops and leading the process, as well as creating design concepts with the aim to find new solutions, bring attention and communicate.

Designers & Forests is an initiative to help revitalize forests and foster healthier communities by taking a holistic view of both natural ecosystems and the design process. Forests provide many benefits and services to society. Climate influences the structure and function of forest ecosystems and plays an essential role in forest health. A changing climate may worsen many of the threats to forests, such as pest outbreaks, fires, human development, and drought. Through an interdisciplinary and creative approach, Designers & Forests aims to share knowledge and engage communities in sustainable forest management and regional development.

Read more about the project here – http://www.designersandforests.us

The exhibition will be open from 27-30 during Design March at Minjasafn Reykjavíkur, Aðalstræti 16, 101 Reykjavík. Read more about it here – http://designmarch.is/program/explore-reflect-respond/
Informal opening event / Pressinfo: March 27 at 6 pm

About Design Nation’s contributions to the exhibition:

The lamp: HOLLOW illuminates society’s involvement with forests. It is a lamp made from a hollow tree, caused by wood-decay fungus. HOLLOW is an experimental design concept that makes use of practically worthless dead wood. HOLLOW has not only a unique design, but also something important to say. It aims to explore the social and ecological approach to forests, to spread awareness, and to prompt reflection on the place of humanity in the ecosystem. 
HOLLOW is an open-source design, made with craft techniques, which can be locally produced. is aspect of social sustainability connects to not only the human yearning for creativity, but to also engage communities in the creation of HOLLOW.

Material: Spruce
Design: Daniel Byström & Kristján Kristjánsson
Contributors: Advisor & supplier Forester Magnus Edmark, Project sponsored by PHILIPS

Thee stool TRIO is inspired by the heritage of Utah, which is historically connected to Scandinavia through the immigrants who settled the region in the nineteenth century. TRIO draws from a simple, yet sophisticated, and sustainable form of craftsmanship. The legs are tapered and octagon shaped. They are fitted with the seat using a traditional technique of wedged joints, which are very strong and durable. 
The “three-legged stool” is commonly used as a model to explain sustainability. Sustainability centers on a balance between the three legs – society, economy and environment. TRIO aims to remind us about the intersection of people, planet and profit while also being an attractive, useful, and well-made piece of furniture.

Material: Spruce
Design: Daniel Byström

BLUE STAIN is conceptual flooring made from stored scotch pine that has become discolored from blue stain fungus. Nothing is wrong with the wood apart from the color marks, which can be seen as an asset. The color variation in the wood brings a unique expression, and adds personality and character to the floor. Despite such character, the demand for blue stained wood is very low.
The BLUE STAIN flooring concept aims to showcase the material to the public and encourage its market demand. It should also prompt us to question why we should overlook a material with such aesthetic richness in favor of more uniform and traditional woods.

Material: Scotch pine
Design: Daniel Byström
Contributors: Advisor & supplier Forester Magnus Edmark