by Charlotte West

published in LOFT The Nordic BOOKAZINE Summer 2008 Issue, Volume #6
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Stockholm-based Folkform is a design studio owned and run by industrial designers Chandra Ahlsell and Anna Holmquist. They work on their own independent collections as well as with clients. Folkform has a strong focus on new areas of application for materials, and material experimentation.

Name: Folkform, made up of design duo Anna Holmquist and Chandra Ahlsell.

Born: Anna 1978, Chandra 1973.

Field: Industrial design.

Educational background: 2005 MA in Industrial Design at Konstfack.

Main clients and/or projects: Our own collections, the most recent of which is “Unique Standard”.

Favorite object of design: Marble Cabinet. We think it’s interesting to combine the original material with surfaces that try to imitate its appearance. To play with the perception of various materials.

Sources of inspiration: We are constantly collecting everyday materials and standard building details and profiles. But of course we are also inspired by the people around us, contemporary culture, music and art.

Design philosophy: Bringing poetry into the mass produced object. To focus on new areas of applications for material and material experimentation.

Favorite designers: There are a lot of really fascinating designers. Ingo Maurer is a great thinker! An artist that inspires us is Clay Ketter.

Hidden talent: Anna is a guitar pro, and Chandra loves Vespas from the 60's.

The music you play while working: Lykke Li, Grace Jones, the Shins.

What tools do you always have out on your desk in your studio? Cardboard and a cutting knife.

Favorite material and color: Masonite.

This Report is part of an article that was published in LOFT The Nordic BOOKAZINE Summer Issue 2008 Volume #6.

It was written by Charlotte West, American writer and journalist living in Sweden. Please feel free to check out her website www.curiosity.se for further info.