The exhibition What Matter_s 3.0

presents the results of a development project that brought together creatives and industry partners to collaborate on materials, sustainable production and innovative design solutions. By combining artistic and industrial processes, the participants have developed new ideas and possibilities for the sustainable design of the future.

For the first time, the results of What Matter_s 3.0 are being presented – a cross-disciplinary collaborative project for sustainable material development. Ten creatives have worked together with seven industrial partners from the manufacturing sector, taking the theme Materials and Manufacturing Industry as their starting point.

What Matter_s 3.0 is the third edition of the cross-sector platform run by Form/Design Center. The project was carried out in 2024–2025 together with the Cultural Administration of Region Skåne as part of Cross Innovation Southern Sweden. Here, designers and manufacturing companies have collaborated in an exploratory, experimental process focused on developing new materials, production methods and business models with sustainability ambitions. The outcome is products and prototypes that challenge traditional processes and demonstrate the power of creativity within industry.

The exhibition showcases not only products – it tells the story of the process, the interplay between artistic practices and industry, and how creative methods can support sustainable transformation. Visitors are invited to follow the journey from idea, through material experimentation, to finished prototype, and to reflect on the possibilities for the industry of the future.

Participants and projects

In the exhibition, visitors can follow the process from idea to product and explore both experimental and functional objects.

Gergely Kovacs ✕ Konsthantverk i Tyringe

Lamps made solely from bent sheet metal, with perforated and smooth sections that create a playful interplay of light.

Konsthantverk i Tyringe has a long tradition of crafting lighting with artisanal precision. With solid expertise and great attention to detail, they produce lamps where design and function meet, with a strong focus on quality and sustainability.

Gergely Kovacs holds a BA and MA in wood-oriented furniture design from HDK-Valand. He is an independent furniture designer and maker, focusing on self-initiated projects, exhibitions and material research.

The Designer on the process

Lisa Darland ✕ Konsthantverk i Tyringe

Flexible lamp forms and candleholders created from leftover materials, where the hardness of metal meets the pliability of textiles.

Konsthantverk i Tyringe has a long tradition of crafting lighting with artisanal precision. With solid expertise and meticulous attention to detail, they produce lamps where design and function come together with a strong focus on quality and sustainability.

Lisa Darland holds a BA in Textile Design and an MA in Furniture and Object Design from the Royal Danish Academy. Since 2020, she has run her own design studio, working on both small studio projects and collaborations with commercial companies in industrial production.

The Designer on the process

Louise Hederström ✕ Vilax

Furniture inspired by natural forms and the company’s coil springs, combining comfort and sustainability.

Vilaxis a Swedish company specialising in the production of sofas and beds with hand-woven coil cores. By combining traditional craftsmanship with contemporary design, they create durable and functional furniture that brings both comfort and style to homes as well as public environments.

Louise Hederström trained at Beckmans College of Design. She collaborates with furniture companies such as Elfa, Maze Interior, Karl Andersson & Söner, Skagerak, Skandiform, Swedese, Offecct and Örsjö Belysning. Her work is represented by Hostler Burrows in New York and Los Angeles.

The Designer on the process

Magnus Göransson ✕ Zaarstone

Stone basins and experimental ceramic materials made from stone slurry and industrial waste.

Zaarstone creates exclusive stone products with a strong focus on quality and craftsmanship. With solid expertise, they offer customised solutions for both interior design and architecture, placing design and sustainability at the forefront.

Magnus Göransson is an industrial designer with 25 years of experience in the field. He has worked at design studios in Sweden, the US, Denmark and France, and has held in-house roles at Sony and LEGO. Today he works as a freelancer at SWEN Creative AB.

The Designer on the process

Max Gerthel ✕ Betongdesign

Washbasins in green concrete, inspired by Islamic muqarnas, with a reduced carbon footprint.

Betongdesign specialises in creating unique and sustainable concrete products for both interior and outdoor environments. With a focus on design and quality, they offer customised solutions for clients seeking refined and functional concrete details.

Max Gerthel trained at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts’ School of Architecture in Copenhagen and has worked at architecture studios in Copenhagen, Paris, Beijing and Malmö. He has also run art projects and gallery activities in Beijing. Since 2020, he has operated his own practice focusing on small-scale architecture, reuse and renovation.

The Designer on the process

Stina Pehrsdotter ✕ Vilax

Acoustic columns made from cold foam and textile offcuts, where joined “cushions” effectively absorb sound and are concealed behind a flexible screen

Vilax is a Swedish company specialising in the production of sofas and beds with hand-woven coil cores. By combining traditional craftsmanship with contemporary design, they create durable and functional furniture that bring both comfort and style to homes as well as public environments.

Stina Pehrsdotter holds a textile teacher’s degree from Umeå University and has studied contemporary art as a pedagogical practice at HDK, along with several independent courses in art, textiles and cultivation. She has been a freelancer for 20 years and works within art, art handling, project management and creative workshops.

The Designer on the process

Pia Högman + Jóna Berglind ✕ TekoTryck

Sauna and spa products made from recycled textile material and cellulose – recyclable and sustainable.

Tekotryck is a company specialising in textile printing and branded products. With long-standing industry experience, they offer high-quality printing solutions for businesses, organisations and events. Using modern technology and sustainable materials, they create customised products with a strong focus on detail and customer needs.

Pia Högman holds an MA and BA from the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, Schools of Architecture, Design and Conservation, as well as a degree from Design Academy Eindhoven. Her work has included projects for SPOK, the American Hardwood Export Council and the touring exhibition Falnande Språk – ur Finnskogen.

Jóna Berglind holds a BA in Graphic Design from the Iceland Academy of the Arts and an MA in Textile Design from the Swedish School of Textiles. She has worked commercially for companies such as IKEA and collaborated with other creatives across various projects.

The Designer on the process

Torkel Doehmers ✕ Contura Steel

Camping stoves and charging stations made from stainless steel offcuts – where function meets aesthetics in outdoor settings.

Contura Steel manufactures high-quality steel products with a focus on function, durability and design. The company offers customised solutions for construction and interior projects, combining steel with innovative design ideas to achieve both aesthetic and sustainable results.

Torkel Doehmers holds an MA from the Royal College of Art in London and has worked as a vehicle and concept designer in both London and Paris, including as Creative Director at Studio Ora Ito. He now runs his own research and development lab in Sweden.

The Designer on the process

Sara Sjöbäck ✕ Herman Anderssons Plåt

An artistic installation and redesign of a bus stop aimed at putting Askeröd on the map, developed through co-creation with local youth and the area’s business community.

Herman Anderssons Plåt is an established sheet-metal workshop in Hörby with long-standing experience in building and ventilation sheet metal. The company provides high-quality solutions for both private and commercial clients, with a strong focus on craftsmanship, sustainability and tailored services.

Sara Sjöbäck holds a BA from Beckmans College of Design as well as studies at Konstfack and the Royal College of Art in London. She works artistically with industrial objects, primarily sculpturally in metal, glass and light installations, and has created everything from smaller design objects to public sculptures.

The Designer on the process

What Matter_s 3.0, 29 NOV 2025 – 11 JAN 2026

Cross Innovation Southern Sweden is a project run by Region Skåne’s Cultural Administration and Region Blekinge, funded by the European Regional Development Fund. Its overarching aim is to accelerate the green transition and strengthen the innovation capacity of small and medium-sized enterprises. The unique expertise found within the cultural and creative industries – spanning everything from materials and construction to storytelling and communication aesthetics – is an often overlooked resource that the project seeks to harness. We believe that sustainable innovation can only emerge through co-creation and a systemic approach.

What Matter_s is a platform initiated by Form/Design Center that brings together designers and actors from other sectors to develop new materials, innovative concepts and business opportunities based on sustainable development. The projects within What Matter_s have received significant attention both nationally and internationally, demonstrating the potential of interdisciplinary collaboration. Through What Matter_s, unique partnerships have been formed where researchers have contributed knowledge about the chemistry, behaviour and properties of various materials, while designers have added creative exploration and an eye for product opportunities. Production processes have been advanced through designers’ fresh perspectives on circularity, upcycling and waste management.

IUC Syd is a member organisation and meeting place for industrial development, growth and collaboration. IUC Syd connects industry, research and academia, and offers projects, knowledge-intensive seminars and networks characterised by shared learning and exchange of experience. Based in Malmö, IUC Syd collaborates with experts and consultants primarily in Skåne, but also across the country. IUC Syd is part of a network of 16 Industrial Development Centres across Sweden.

Form/Design Center is Sweden’s leading meeting place for architecture, design and craft. In a unique historical setting in central Malmö, visitors can experience exhibitions, workshops and lectures, or visit the shop and bookstore. Form/Design Center serves as a platform for the field and runs a range of sustainability initiatives. It is appointed by the Swedish government as the national node for architecture and the designed living environment and is an official partner of the New European Bauhaus. Established in 1964, Form/Design Center is operated with support from the Ministry of Culture, the City of Malmö, Region Skåne and the Swedish Arts Council.

Photographer, Daniel Engvall

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