lifeiscarbon®

Revised Design Classic

Normann Copenhagen, our Danish design favorites, have just announced that they are introducing a steel version of their highly popular and award winning Norm 03 lamp. Originally designed by Britt Kornum in 2003, Norm 03 is a wonderfully sculptural, self-assembly lampshade designed with simple and organic principles in mind. It comes with as many as 39 pieces but no tools or glue are needed for assembly and luckily it’s easy to put together. Attractive, functional and affordable, Norm 03 in its standard form has quickly become a Danish design classic and the steel version is bound to become equally desirable.

Britt Kornum initially designed Norm 03 whilst studying Furniture and Space Art at The School of Architecture in Aarhus, Denmark as she explains: “Originally, Norm 03 was an assignment at the School of Architecture. However, it had to ripen before becoming a reality. After a while I had to evaluate the design and came up with the idea of using strips to create a sphere. By using paper strips it was possible to create the interesting pattern of waves. Within a short time I had developed the first prototype, but to reach the perfect shape I had to do several experiments. Norm 03 is now shown around the world, and it’s amazing to experience one’s idea becoming an actual product”. Look below to take a first look at Norm 03 in steel and find out about some other lifeiscarbon® favorites from Normann Copenhagen:

Sustainable Minimalism

Given our peculiar aesthetics, it’s probably no surprise that lifeiscarbon® have long been huge admirers of the art and architecture of Donald Judd (we are even planning a pilgrimage to Marfa, Texas when we can spare the time). Easy therefore, to see why we love the brutally hard edged work of Norwegian architects BKARK.

Comprising of Geir Brendeland, Olav Kristoffersen and Simen Stori, BKARK was originally established after the architects successfully won a competition to design sustainable low-cost housing for the Svartlamon district of Trondheim. Completed in 2005, the Svartlamoen housing project is a unique example of sustainable multi story wooden housing in an urban context and has been widely published internationally as well as being nominated for numerous awards (including Mies van the Rohe award 2007, The Architectural Review Award for Emerging Architecture 2005, Iakov Chernikov prize 2006 and Young Norwegian Designers of the year, 2005)

BKARK have continued to address the issue of sustainability in their projects and to explore more and more innovative uses of wood in their designs. Recent projects include a stunningly minimalist private home that seems to float above a skirt of glass, converting a car dealership into a kindergarten and over coming Polar conditions to create designer apartments on Svalbard. Latest news is that BKARK have won first prize in a competition to create visitor facilities at the spectacular Torghatten mountain in northern Norway. Take a look below at some examples of their work:

Swedish Design Diversity

Not content with merely having “studios” (creative work spaces combined with retail stores) in Austria, Denmark, France, Germany, Norway and their native Sweden, The Acne Collective have now opened their first venture in the US. With help from architect Andreas Fornell, Acne’s roving Creative Director Jonny Johannsson has rather aptly created a Shaker meets Gustavian style for the interior of the new store in Soho, New York. Whilst remaining firmly Scandinavian, the new store has a quirky retro feel rather than more commonly seen, hard-edged minimalism.

Founded in Stockholm in 1996, Acne's ambition has always been to create and develop their own products whilst simultaneously helping other people to build brands. These days, Acne is a sprawling creative collective with a uniquely diverse range of ventures, that currently includes Acne Creative (specializing in advertising, design and product development), Acne Digital (all aspects of online production), Acne Film (making commercials, music videos and feature films) and Acne Jr. (creating toys and characters). Not to mention two of our favorite Scandinavian brands, the fashion label Acne Jeans and the stunningly beautiful magazine Acne Paper.

Take a look below to read more about Acne and check out our favorite fashion website Refinery 29, who have an interesting interview with Jonny Johannsson and photos of the new Soho store:

Surprisingly Traditional Design

Having just arrived back from a quick trip to the mountains to celebrate Easter, as is traditional here in Scandinavia, we’re surprised to discover that Winter seems to have finally arrived. With the temperature dropping and snow lying thick on the ground outside, we’re intent on staying warm and cozy by sitting on a sofa in front of a roaring open fire. Since we’re not moving, it seems only appropriate to mention our current favorite Scandinavian cushions by the Norwegian design company Funkle.

With backgrounds ranging from graphic design, illustration, arts and teaching, the designers behind Funkle are self taught when it comes to product/interior design, a fact that perhaps explains their surprisingly refreshing designs. Living up to their mantra of Overraskende Tradisjonell (Surprisingly Traditional), Funkle’s cushions are made of materials normally used in areas other than interior design, for example they use wool that’s traditionally used for Norwegian and Sami costumes (Bunad and Samedrakt) or elegant suit materials normally used for menswear.

Treading the border somewhere between art and design, Funkle’s products are produced as limited editions or numbered collections. Take a look below at some of Funkle's designs together with some prototypes from their upcoming 2008 collection, some of which have been inspired by the British band Gravenhurst.

Design Against Throwawayism

Pitcher & Bowls by Camilla Kropp

On a recent trip to London, lifeiscarbon® were pleased to discover that the Finnish design brand Iittala has opened its first flagship store in the UK, and for the first time its possible to appreciate the full scope and diversity of their product range. There are probably few people who don’t have at least one Iittala product somewhere in their home, even if it’s only one of their ubiquitous glass tea-light holders.

Iittala continues to be a major driving force for Scandinavian design with legendary designers Kaj Franck (1911-1989) and Alvar Aalto (1898-1976) as the cornerstones of the brand. Iittala objects are design essentials stripped to their core; the pure union of function, form and quality that demonstrates their core philosophy of lasting everyday design against throwawayism.

Over 50 years ago Kaj Franck defined successful design with his question: "Is not the ultimate meaning of beauty to be essential, functional, justified, and correct?" Design, he felt, is far more than a question of beauty. It is about life. And life, said Franck, consists mostly of everyday events. Ensuring that everyday objects are universally relevant is perhaps the most important design challenge there is. Take a look below to read more about Iittala and to see some of our favorite products from their range:

Dedicated Swedish Uniforms

Somewhat similarly to their fellow countrymen Kask, Team Manwhore™ started out as a bunch of broke Swedes riding snow in Colorado. Rumor has it that they gained their name not only for their staying power on the slopes but also for the way that they earned enough money to pay their rent. These days their lifestyle has evolved somewhat to include music and design - while mixing and matching tunes, the team creates street fashion for their Uniforms for the Dedicated label.

Beyond creating their excellent hyper-typographic designs for Uniforms for the Dedicated, Team Manwhore™ also try to help up-and-coming creative talent - new sounds are frequently presented and made available for download on their website – as well as being involved in a number of creative collaborations. Sadly their recent limited edition range made together with Kollektivet Livet’s YTA brand is now completely sold out. However, you might still have luck tracking down one of the sleek limited edition skateboard they created in collaboration with Slipstream Longboards.

Team Manwhore™ are currently busy putting the finishing touches on their new collection for SS08, entitled Street Circus. Take a look below at a sneak peak of the new range together with our favorites from the Uniforms For The Dedicated AW07 collection:

Designboost at Hem and Villa

From this Thursday onwards, our friends at Designboost are hosting a series of events at the Hem & Villa fair in Malmö, Sweden. Designboost, which is the brainchild of the communication strategist Peer Eriksson and design and future strategist David Carlson, will be tackling the subject of sustainable design through a series of what they’re calling Design Orienteering events.

Visitors to the show will be able to experience a number of knowledge based events including The Sustainable Children’s House - In which children will be able to play with a number of classic toys from Brio and paint their imagination onto a range of white furniture supplied by Artek. At the end of each day, the chairs will be sold at auction with the proceeds going to SOS children’s villages.

Designboost will be visualizing their proprietary Sustainable Wheel through seven different mini environments containing products, descriptions and filmed interviews together with two conceptualizations of sustainable design; 2nd Cycle by Artek and Against Throwawaism by Iittala. Take a look below to find out more details and to see more images from the last Designboost event:

New Design Classics From Finland

Despite producing well over 50 different furniture models, the Finnish design company Artek, is perhaps still best known for the distinctive furniture, lamps and textiles designed by the renowned architect and designer Alvar Aalto.

Whilst puritans might say that Alvar Aalto’s designs should be enjoyed in the original naked wood in which they were designed, Artek is continuing the Aalto tradition by re-issuing his designs in a variety of bold new styles. lifeiscarbon® love several of the recent Artek releases such as the Artek Classics in primary colors and their new sustainable Bamboo range. Given our liking for all things monochromatic, we especially love the recent Artek White and Artek Glossy Black collections. Take a look below at some images from each of the collections and read more about the Artek company:

Floor Art From Sweden

If you’re at all like us and like to keep your walls bare of all pictures but sometimes hanker after a way to display some art, then you might be interested in Design by HZL, an interesting range of rugs from Calle Henzel Studio, a multi-disciplinary design studio based in Gotheburg. Sweden. HZL’s hand-tufted rugs, with their amazingly layered surfaces flooded with graphical images, are beautiful enough to be deemed 'art for the floor'.

There’s a vibrant feel to the work of Calle Henzel, the designer behind the collection, as he attempts to deal with subjects such as vanity, innocence, life and death with a mix of graphic symbolism and pop art imagery. Calle’s designs have been featured in a wide range of international interior design publications and can be found in a range of high-end private residences, design hotels, art galleries and public buildings. His work has been showcased at Salone Satellite in Milan, Designweek in Los Angeles, It´s Sweden in Hong Kong, Station Nord Gallery in Berlin and Design Center in Malmo. Take a look below to see a small selection of Calle Henzel’s creations:

Graphic Scandinavian Patterns

We have to admit that we’ve always had a thing for those wonderful looking bolster pillows that one often finds in French hotel rooms. Perhaps this explains why we love the cushion daybed from Danish design company Kragh Rosenberg. Despite our liking for all things monochromatic, we love the way that it’s possible to customize the design of each daybed by mixing and matching different patterns, colors and genres without losing the overall characteristic Scandinavian feel.


Twice a year Kragh Rosenberg bring out a new collection for the home together with womenwear, childrenwear and a range bags and accessories, but at the heart of every collection are the wonderful patterns that they create. Whilst strong graphics are always much in evidence, Kragh Rosenberg’s range varies from minimalist and functional designs to intricate and charming patterns. Take a look below at a selection of images from their recent collections: