The 10 highlights from Stockholm Design Week 2024

It’s safe to say that, for design-lovers, February started out with a bang. Last week, Stockholm hosted its much-hyped Design Week, which celebrates Nordic design of both the emerging and well-established kind. The vibrant spectacle combined the trademark Furniture Fair with showroom events in the city, many of which were open to the public.

Related: The 4 furniture pieces to know by Danish design master Poul Kjærholm

Much like fashion week, Design Week is the perfect time not only for inspiration, but also for a sneak peek at emerging trends. Below, we’ve listed the highlights from Stockholm Design Week 2024 – and it might just be worth taking notes.

The collective yearning for all things analogue continues. Whether it’s neutral interiors or tech-free corners of our homes, we’re lusting for relaxing spheres made for contemplation and recharge.

At the entrance of Stockholm Furniture Fair, the Italian design studio and this year’s Guest of Honour Formafantasma presented their Reading room. Behind dusty pink curtain walls blossomed Artek furniture and books, a tranquil space where visitors could read about sustainability and ecological forces of modern design, emphasising reflection rather than production.

Happy 100th birthday, Svenskt Tenn! Synonymous with Swedish design and easily recognised for their vibrant prints, 2024 marks the trailblazer's centennial – which certainly calls for year-long festivities.

During Design Week, the house showcased several exciting new pieces at its flagship store. Each object celebrates Svenskt Tenn's rich heritage, an extraordinary blend between cherished archive pieces and never-before seen items in a continuation of its Josef Frank collaboration.

Related: Inside the extraordinary home of Finnish design icons Vuokko and Antti Nurmesniemi

It’s safe to say that our crush on unique furniture has transformed into long-term infatuation. Think eccentric one-of-a-kind pieces, the perfect marriage between quirky and long-lasting.

Scandinavian auction house Bukowski’s introduced their take, as they paired up with Swedish designer Fredrik Paulsen to create the Foundation of Joy. Known for his atypical Nordic creations in exclusive drops, Paulsen spearheads a new wave of enthralling Swedish design. Paulsen, who is also the founder of independent furniture brand JOY, was commissioned to design thirty-three unique objects in equal amounts of days. The objects were later auctioned online by Bukowski’s.

Circular and reinvented were central themes of this Design Week, much thanks to a just-launched Swedish design brand. Founded by Lovisa Sunnerholm and Miriam Bichsel, Enkei de- and reconstructs materials, turning waste into home objects.

Circular consciousness is the focal point, keen to rail against our fast-paced ways of consumption and manufacturing. Their first piece, Reminder(001) is a sleek table lamp, made out of repurposed material such as deadstock fabric and 3D-printed fossil free steel.

A similar, repurposed narrative was present over at furniture company Verk. Their exhibition The Future Is Local embraced the Swedish-made and showcased their own creative process. From initial sketch to materials used and the final product, everything is locally produced, demonstrating how sustainable furniture production is in fact possible.

From curvy mirrors to chunky tables, Swedish designer Gustaf Westman continues to dominate the emerging design scene. While Scandinavians love all things sleek, Westman doesn’t limit himself to muted palettes or safe shapes. Instead, it’s curated maximalism across the board.

For Design Week, he flaunted the soon-to-be-launched Spiky Chunky Cup, a studded version of the Chunky Cup, which is set for release in May. Safe to say, the waitlist will be a mile long.

Related: Discover Gustaf Westman's viral wine table with over 2,000 names on the waitlist

With its clever design and endless possibilities, modular furniture is growing in popularity. Previously an office staple, people are now more open to similar solutions at home, much thanks to its flexible nature.

Stockholm-based furniture company Massproductions unveiled Patch, a modular sofa system replacing foam with pocket springs, made to boost comfort while reducing its environmental impact. Think duffle bag gone furniture, coming in ten different modules and eight configurations.

Biggest buzz right now? During Design Week, news broke that Finnish design giants Iittala enters a new era. At a disused power plant, newly appointed creative director Janni Vepsäläinen invited the press to an exciting launch party. Guests caught a glimpse of the Iittala Play collection and a new logo, swapping the trademark red dot for Aino, a custom typeface named after Finnish design pioneer Aino Aalto.

Pay close attention to Wekino, an exciting design force worth having on your radar. Introduced at the Stockholm Furniture Fair for the very first time, the South Korean brand presented With, eight products from six emerging Korean designers. Curated by Note Design Studio, each piece targets conscious materials and functional designs, from Studio PESI’s Stout chairs to Studio-Chacha’s vibrant Chroma mirror.

A starring act of the Furniture Fair? The Zen New York chair by Gärsnäs. Designed by Åke Axelsson, a furniture maker and interior architect with more than 65 years of experience, 470 of these chairs have been in place at the UN Headquarters in New York since autumn. Now, the Zen New York becomes available for private and public environments.

“It’s not just about designing a new chair, but gathering together and developing experiences,” Axelsson says. The piece is based on an earlier model by Gärsnäs, simply named Zan, which has become a cult favourite for its durability and adaptability to various interiors. No doubt about it – this is a chair to invest in.