Q&A

Stefan Nilsson - 5 Playful Must-sees for 2022

Stockholm-based trend expert and manager at Designgalleriet Stefan Nilsson, aka Trend-Stefan, tells us how play shaped his creative career and reveals his top five 3daysofdesign must-sees.

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Q&A

Stefan Nilsson - 5 Playful Must-sees for 2022

Stockholm-based trend expert and manager at Designgalleriet Stefan Nilsson, aka Trend-Stefan, tells us how play shaped his creative career and reveals his top five 3daysofdesign must-sees.

What toys or games did you love as a child? Is there one that you’d say has shaped your sense of creativity as an adult?

I’m not sure I had a specific toy, but I loved boardgames, cards, etc. I love the interactive side of games. Any game is basically good. We were never competitive in my family or with friends. We played cards to have something to do with our hands when we talked.

How do you keep your playful inner child alive in a professional landscape? How can work be more like play?

Laughter and excitement are still important to me. And in general, the sensation that you are creating a game or a new world with someone. When I was 12 years old, we made this game based on the Medieval plague. One could get infected and die or survive. But it was all about creating these new rules. My career is based on the same thing – breaking the rules, creating new formats and being interactive with people. And no one dies…

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 Describe your path to your career – has it been linear and typical, or unusual and accidental? Where there any major turning points, catalysts, or forks in the road?

I have had several careers and they were all accidental. I sat next to a woman who liked how I talked about contemporary design at a dinner, so she invited me to her radio show as a regular guest. From there, I got a call to go on TV. From there, I got invited to talk about design on stage. I have made up my own job. Not being a pure journalist. Not a pure gallerist. Not a full-time speaker. Not a stylist. Definitely not an influencer. But a little bit of everything. And that is fine.

Stefan Nilsson's must-sees during 3daysofdesign 2022:

What: Risk Knit by Erwan Bouroullec
Where:
Wrong Shop, Store Regnegade 2

I look forward to seeing Bouroullec expand their creativity into art. 

What: Laila Gohar at HAY
Where:
Østergade 61

I want to see her culinary universe for the first time for a Scandinavian brand.

What: Fritz Hansen Pavillion at Designmuseum Danmark
Where:
Bredgade 68

Huge installations in a beautiful park.

What: File Under Pop
Where:
Frederiksgade 1

They always make beautiful, colourful installations. Always Instagrammable…

What: Wendelbo
Where:
Bredgade 35

They got an energy boost last year with a handful of new designers. I look forward to seeing if they've managed to keep up the energy.

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My career is based on breaking the rules, creating new formats and being interactive with people.
Stefan Nilsson
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It all began in 2013 as a small design event held in an old warehouse in Nordhavn, a harbour area overlooking Copenhagen’s waterfront. Four Danish brands launched the event as a joint initiative: Montana, Erik Jørgensen (now owned by Fredericia Furniture), Anker & Co, and Kvadrat. At that time, Copenhagen lacked a proper design festival, since the previous annual furniture fair at Bella Center closed down some years before.

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