Parts of the jury of the Grand Award of Design 2023, Anna Granberg, Head of Design, Lynk&Co Design, Michael Henriksson, VP & Head of Design, Bang & Olufsen and Andreas Säfström, Head of Design & User Experience, Ericsson.
“Stora Designpriset” reborn as the Grand Award of Design. The award focuses on design excellence in connection to commercial success/potential and sustainability, and is organized by Techarenan in cooperation with Teknikföretagen, the Association of Swedish Engineering Industries.
An expert jury will evaluate all the incoming entries for the competition. Let’s meet some of them over a trio of questions:
- What’s the status of Swedish design in a global perspective?
- What are the most distinguishable design trends on your horizon?
- What will you be looking at when evaluating the entries in the Grand Award of Design?
Anna Granberg, Head of Design Practice Excellence, Lynk&Co Design
What’s the status of Swedish design in a global perspective?
“I believe that Swedish design is associated with quality and sustainability, and hence is continuously competitive, but we need to broaden our perspective on what design is, in order to keep our position.”
What are the most distinguishable design trends on your horizon?
“I’m not sure if you could call it a trend, but one phenomenon that now demands concrete engagement in most design disciplines, practical as well as theoretical, is the question on how we as designers can and want to deal with AI.”
What will you be looking at when evaluating the entries in the Grand Award of Design?
“I’m always interested in interdisciplinary solutions, it would be exciting to find something like that. But in general, I think I’m looking for the feeling of certainty that often exists in the most successful solutions.”
Michael Henriksson, VP & Head of Design, Bang & Olufsen
What’s the status of Swedish design in a global perspective?
“Swedish design is standing strong in an international perspective, with both creating and commercially scaling powerful brands, iconic products and companies for many decades. That particular tradition and innovation power, have moved Swedish design forward.”
What are the most distinguishable design trends on your horizon?
“Design has a broad spectra and several trends in many areas. From fast moving consumer goods to lifelong installations. B&O drives towards Luxury Timeless Technology, in which design, craftmanship and iconic products are with us for many decades and generations.”
What will you be looking at when evaluating the entries in the Grand Award of Design?
“Design, not least, as a distinct instrument and cause to a commercial success, and as an expression of groundbreaking innovation, smart design, and a strong brand.”
Andreas Säfström, Head of Design & User Experience, Ericsson
What’s the status of Swedish design in a global perspective?
“There are many powerful examples from different parts of the Swedish industrial sector which, in my view, are world class. But at the same time, there is a lot to do. There is a great need to explain where design can contribute, both strategically an practically. And I feel that the potential of working even more design and user driven, still is enormous.”
What are the most distinguishable design trends on your horizon?
“I’m active in a complex field where we always work on the boarder of what’s technically possible. In that, it’s very important for designers to always have the user perspective and work on doing new features understandable. The needs of simplifying and clarifying are constantly increasing.”
What will you be looking at when evaluating the entries in the Grand Award of Design?
“User centered, level of innovation, and a well thought-out design language.”
The full jury 2023
Ann Granberg, Head of Design Practice Excellence, Lynk & Co Design
Jonas Pettersson, Co-Founder, FUWL
Michael Henriksson, VP & Head of Design, Bang & Olufsen
Camilla Kullborg, VP Global Startup Technology Scouting, ABB/Synerleap
Andreas Säfström, Head of Design & User Experience, Ericsson
Julia Valentin, Director of Communication, Teknikföretagen
