Oh lovely! Lotta Odelius

Posted by Tiffany on August 1st, 2010    2 Comments »

All images courtesy of Lotta Odelius unless otherwise noted.

Lotta Odelius has spent the past four years creating one hit after another with her designs for the likes of Sagaform and Bookbinders.

This month, she took time out from her hectic schedule to give us some insights into what makes her tick and what surprises she has in store for us next!

Retro pattern plate for Sagaform, available in the shop for the month of August! photo: www.fromsthlm.com

FS: Where did you grow up?

LO: I grew up in Bromma in an idyllic residential area from the 1930’s in western Stockholm.

FS: Where are you based now?

LO: I live in Kungsholmen in central Stockholm and my design studio is located in Gamla Stan (Stockholm’s Old Town).

Lotta’s “Juicy” range of designs for Sagaform.

FS: What first drew you to a career in design? Are you doing what thought you’d be doing or have things gone in an unexpected direction?

LO: I grew up in what you might call creative chaos. Both my parents worked in creative fields and as children we were always provided with tools to express that part of ourselves: pens, crayons and paint sets, books, newspapers, and musical instruments. Painting, writing, drawing was a given and simply part of our daily life. My path leading to a career in design came about after studying both film and law. It was when my school work took up all of my waking hours that I saw how much I missed illustrating, and I decided to switch to design.

What followed was 10 hectic years in advertising and it was mostly by chance that in the spring of 2006 I introduced my first collection Klyftig. That collection was extremely well received and since then I’ve worked with patterned design and partnered with chosen companies. Among them being Sagaform, and it was a commission from them that led me to product design.

“Pomerans” (bitter orange) pattern tea towels from the “Klyftig” (clever) collection for Sagaform.

FS: How would you describe your design style?

LO: It’s clean yet playful with roots in Scandinavian design. I tend to use a lot of color in my work as it makes people happy and spreading joy is one of my goals as a designer.

Kitchen themed notebook patterns for Bookbinders.

FS: How does a design come together for you? Do you have a clear idea of the design you have in mind when you start, or does it just emerge?

LO: In many ways my background as a commercial art director has impacted my work style. I always think of my clients as collaborators and consider my work as a way to create and develop their vision while leaving my own creative mark on the final product.

The first step in my work begins when the client formulates a brief describing their vision. Once that vision is clear for me, I can create and shape it. I usually think of that brief as the path toward the eventual style, motif, and expression of the design.

Kitchen themed cards for Bookbinders.

FS: What inspires you?

LO: I typically find inspiration everywhere. Nature is constantly giving me new ideas for composition and pattern, architecture and urban areas inspire line pattern and contrast. Regardless if I’m jogging in the forest or taking a walk in the city at lunch, I’m always struck by a new potential pattern. The challenge resides in sorting out which idea to develop.

Kitchen themed wrapping paper for Bookbinders.

FS: Describe your studio or creative space… what do you need to have around you?

LO: Aside from things I need for a current project underway: color charts, reference pictures, and product samples, I try to keep things somewhat in order around me. When I’m inspired, I enjoy reveling in colors, patterns or a certain form. However while doing the actual work I prefer to keep things neutral and calm. Nothing should distract me from my own thinking and the work going on in my head, on paper, or on a computer screen.

Perhaps one of the most important things for me is my books. I have huge bookshelves both at home and in my studio. It doesn’t matter how much I expand them, I never seem to have enough room for them all.

Polka pattern placemats for La Shelf.

FS: What kinds of clients do you like to work with most?

LO: My current clients are in many ways the best possible kind. With them I have been given the opportunity to establish a collaborative relationship, providing my work with continuity while also giving me room for professional development.

In the future I can see myself working with a textile company, complimenting the work I’m doing now with my current clients. My dream job would be creating something huge like a giant mosaic covering the entire surface of a building or even something really small like a stamp.

“Snapsvisor,” a game of eating and drinking songs with Lotta’s distinctive touch.

FS: What’s your biggest challenge?

LO: It’s balancing my bigger projects with smaller ones of my own. The last three years I’ve been busy with commissions, but now I’ve started my own that I hope to release in 2011. It sounds far off in the future but it will keep me busy if I’m to get it done in time.

FS: What are you most excited about right now?

LO: In a few days, my newest series from Sagaform will be released. Like Retro it is also stoneware, but the pattern is totally different. It will be exciting to see how it’s received!

Retro pattern table set.

FS: How did you come up with the Retro pattern?

LO: The style was decidedly “retro with a twist”. I was inspired specifically by the the 1950’s. At that time, common motifs were leaves, fruit, and flowers as well as geometric patterns with dots and lines. With Retro, I wanted to include both creating a pattern that incorporated nature and gardening. I wanted to invoke feelings of locally grown food or something that comes from one’s own garden. Moreover I wanted to construct a highly stylized motif while still leaving something to the imagination.

FS: What do you like to put in the Retro storage container?

LO: All my favorite pencils! :)

FS: What a great idea! Mind if we borrow it? Can’t wait to see you later this month and the new designs you’ve been working on!

Retro storage container for Sagaform, in the shop this month. photo: www.fromsthlm.com

(Thanks Lotta!)

Bring Scandinavia home to your table with Lotta’s Retro pattern tableware in the shop this month only!

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