The exhibition Design for Life at Nationalmuseum Jamtli, Östersund, showcases examples of design products from 1960 to the present day. Around 200 objects from Nationalmuseum’s collections are presented. Themes addressed include the space age, the TV age, modern conveniences, the work environment, sound and leisure.
The exhibition Design for Life – How design changes thinking and improves living standards presents examples plucked from the wealth of products launched in the years from 1960 onwards.
The hiring of designers for products is linked to the rise of industrialisation, with production accelerating after the Second World War and industrial design becoming an established profession. Creating attractive products became important and by the 1960s the Swedish economy was booming, with the high quality of Swedish design playing an important role in this success. Companies increasingly began employing designers and industrial designers in their product development and in a drive create a credible corporate identity. Design often expressed a strong belief in the future and resources were seemingly endless.
Today, we view our needs differently and design for sustainable development is the major challenge for manufacturers and designers alike. They need to think in terms of circular processes and using waste and residual products as a raw material resource. With the advent of new materials and technologies, design can now even influence our lifestyles, not least ‘smart design’, where objects can communicate with each other or with us. The exhibition also includes some examples of projects and ideas that design students at Konstfack University of Arts, Crafts and Design in Stockholm are working on today.
The exhibition contains around 200 objects from Nationalmuseum, which holds an extensive collection of applied art and design from the 16th century to the present day and has been collecting industrial design since the late 1960s. Themes addressed in the exhibition include the space age, the TV age, modern conveniences, the work environment, sound and leisure.
Curator
Micael Ernstell
Exhibition designer
Henrik Widenheim
Carl-Arne Breger, Microwave oven "Husqvarna Cupol". Photo: Anna Danielsson/Nationalmuseum.
Bernadotte & Bjørn Industridesign A/S, Elektro-Helios, Rolf Häggbom, Electric stove. designed 1961–1962, produced 1963. Photo: Erik Cornelius/Nationalmuseum.
Husqvarna; Carl-Arne Breger, TV jug "24 karat". Photo: Anna Danielsson/Nationalmuseum.
Jacob Jensen Design, Timothy Jacob Jensen, Rosti Mepal, "Victoria Bowl". Carl-Arne Breger, Od Christensson, Ceka Förpacknings AB, Margarinbolaget AB, Margarine box "Flora". Gustavsberg, Anna-Britt Agnsäter, Measuring cups. Tetra Pak; Arla; Tom Hedqvist, Milk packaging. Photo: Anna Danielsson/Nationalmuseum.
Gustavsberg; Ergonomidesign AB; Sven-Eric Juhlin; Maria Benktzon, Knife with cutting board. Photo: Anna Danielsson/Nationalmuseum.
Olaf Diegel; Odd guitars, Guitar "Atom". Photo: Anna Danielsson/Nationalmuseum.
Bernadotte & Bjørn Industridesign A/S, Husqvarna Borstfabrik, Picknic set "Taffel Gul". Bernadotte & Bjørn Industridesign A/S Bahco, Gas stove “Primus”. Sigvard Bernadotte, Moderna Kök, Coffee pot. Bengt-Johan Gullberg, AGA AB, Transistor radio Stella. Photo: Anna Danielsson/Nationalmuseum.
About Nationalmuseum Jamtli
Nationalmuseum Jamtli is an arena for art and design experiences in Östersund that is run as a close collaboration between Nationalmuseum and Jamtli. It was opened in summer 2018 to house exhibitions produced by Nationalmuseum, featuring objects from its own collections. Design for Life is the seventh exhibition for Nationalmuseum Jamtli since its inauguration.
Visitor information
Opening hours, tickets and more information for visitors avaiable at Jamtli's web site.