Posted by sabine7
Interview | 13 Dec 07 | Comments (1) | Stumble
Ulrika E. Engberg and Kasper Medin are the designers behind Sweden’s Little Red Stuga line of furniture for children. Their Dreambag cushion and play space for kids is now in production. It is a machine-washable flower pouf, 1 metre in diameter, that opens right up or remains in a bud. These two design students are excited about their projects and the craftsmanship that goes into them.
The Dream Bag is very floral in shape; how does this form relate to the child who will be using it?
The flower is a universal organic symbol that any child can relate to. The tangibility of the scale enables the child’s fantasy and imagination to come to life. Who wouldn’t want to sit in the heart of a big soft flower? It’s poetic!
What other items will be coming up in your Little Red Stuga line for
kids? By the way, what is a little red stuga?
Little Red Stuga is a small red cottage that is common in the countryside of Sweden. It was become a rural retreat for urban citizens and has almost a mythical status amongst the Swedes and (Germans!).
The essence of storytelling is the uniqueness of which the furniture and products are based on. Simple functions with strong expression that appeals to both kids and grown ups is a design signature of Little Red Stuga and that you soon will see more of…
The world is already full of 'stuff' – as designers, why do you choose to create more?
This question is probably something every designer lives and deals with. We feel that our design is a response to the overload of kid’s products on the market that lack quality. It’s very important for us to design to counteract ‘buy and throw’ consumption. Our products are well designed with sustainable qualities that are long lasting. We are aware of the social and ecological impact and decided to only manufacture in democratic counties. We encourage the consumers to be more conscious of these aspects by communicating it through our designs. This will hopefully bring a positive change of attitude in the chain of design.
I know that children's furniture is not new, but this particular model reminds me of the same kind of products that some westerners buy for their pets.