Icon Magazine March 2016 Back Issue

In the lead-up to Stockholm Furniture and Light Fair, we indulge in all things Scandi in our latest issue – examining everything from the enduring appeal of the region's furniture to the developers flying the flag for good design
There’s a lot of good one can say about Scandinavian design – the success of Stockholm’s annual, mid-February Furniture & Light Fair is just one testament to that. And there seems to be an endless number of sharp designers coming out of the region, who all have endless energy. But it’s a design scene that often adheres to a strict aesthetic: very pared back, lots of wood, earthy tones. Does it ever challenge or surprise? In this issue, we speak to Anna von Schewen, designer and architect, who says it does.

Likewise, the many classics of 20th-century Scandinavian furniture – particularly those from the mid-century – are deemed “timeless”. All the very best design shops seem to pray at the altar of Scandi – some have even given over their entire identities to the cause. It’s nothing short of a cult. Yet we at Icon wonder how truly timeless “timeless” designs ever are? Tastes wax and wane. (And so do market values: we cover Artcurial’s latest auction of the stuff. Is Scandi soon to be over the hill?

We also take a look at three Swedish developers who believe that good design is the key to good business — why oh why can’t they all? Plus, we head to Shanghai to preview the city’s Design Shanghai fair, which takes places in March: from a pop star-turned-design entrepreneur, to Shanghai’s on-the-rise creative ‘hood.