Kelp Chair – see the collection at Stockholm Design Week between 5-11 September.
Interesting times for interesting design When does design come full circle? That’s an interesting question, and perhaps one best posed to Swedish design firm, Interesting Times Gang. “The design business is on its way, but it’s still a challenge,” says co-founder Alexander Westerlund. By John Sempill |
Photos: ITG
You might call the core quartet at Interesting Times Gang somewhat of a motley crew; their diverse professional backgrounds are what make them unique. They knew each other prior to the founding of the company, and decided to combine forces. “We felt that we were a good team and that we could accomplish bigger things together,” Westerlund says. “We didn’t want to be restricted by anyone else’s vision or plan.” Design doesn’t have to be safe, solely functional and lacking in personality. The proof is in the pudding. Or in this case, 12 |
Issue 145
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August 2022
the Michelin-starred meal. When two Michelin-star chefs, Niclas Jönsson and Daniel Höglander, were looking for furniture for their new sushi restaurant, Black Milk Sushi, they had a few specific requirements. Principally, they were looking for something out of the ordinary. This led to interesting times for the gang, who were immediately up to the challenge. Inspiration came from the picturesque archipelago on the west coast of Sweden. The flowing seaweed, or kelp, beneath the surface, ultimately led to the Kelp Collection – chairs made of ma-
terials sourced from maritime gear, such as old ropes and fishing nets. The chair’s design gives an impression of life on the ocean floor. “Thanks to 3D printing techniques we were able to create shapes that would otherwise be difficult to produce,” Westerlund says. Conscious design Kelp Collection isn’t just a striking furniture collection; it also brings attention to the loss of kelp forests due to unsustainable fishing and rising ocean temperatures. In turn, this led to the creation of the computer game No Time To Waste for the non-profit recycling organisation Håll Sverige Rent – a digital escape room designed to raise awareness of the global plastic crisis, which demoed at the United Nations Ocean Conference 2022. “How do we help
