Plenty to love

Posted by Tiffany on February 8th, 2011    Add your comment »

Mårten Lindquist was one of the first designers I met when I decided to start From Sthlm two years ago. It was his clever Bubbla notice board that first caught my eye, as a finalist in Swedish retailer DesignTorget’s annual Design of the Year award.

He’s been on my wish list from the start, which makes me extra pleased to bring his latest designs to the US this month.

And we’re lucky to have caught this talented and evolving designer right now. His past in graphic design is what led him into his home accessories brand, Plenty, and now he’s already well on his way to designing furniture.

Enjoy our exclusive interview with Mårten of Plenty Design!

FS: What part of Sweden do you come from?

ML: I grew up in Kumla, in the middle of Sweden. Nowadays I live both in Stockholm and in Hunnebostrand on the Swedish West Coast.

FS: How do you describe your design style?

ML: I think I’m a very idea based designer, both when I work with graphics and when I make product designs. Plenty has a bit more humor and tongue-in-cheek compared to my graphic work.

FS: Half of your work has a youthful feel that seems well-suited to a college dorm room. The other half uses materials with history, that evoke warm fuzzy feelings of grandma’s cottage. Which one is more like your style at home?

ML: Well it’s not really grandma’s cottage, that’s for sure… My home is a combination of flea market bargains, 60’s style furniture, and a kitchen in only black, red and white. The walls are covered with my friends’ paintings and photographs, and lots of graphic posters of course.

FS: What things, places, or people inspire you most?

ML: That is changing a lot but Bauhaus, London and Bob Gill will always be great sources of inspiration for me.

Work of graphic artist Bob Gill, compiled by drawmark blog.

FS: Is there something in particular that you try to accomplish in your designs?

ML: I try to solve problems, which are very often my own problems… If my solutions can help people in their everyday life then I’ve accomplished something.

FS: How does a design come together for you?

ML: Most often I start with trying to define the problem. When I have the problem in one sentence, the solution usually comes by itself.

FS: So what was the thinking then around the bread bags?

ML: I was fed up with the fact that bread in plastic bags became spongy quickly and that bread in paper bags became hard so fast. When I went to my local baker for some advice, he told me to wrap the fresh bread in linen towels instead. When I got back home to do that I realized I had a new product in front of me. All I needed was to find lots and lots of linen towels, thread, and someone to do the stitching (dear Mum). I think the fact that they are all unique and recycled makes them extra special…

FS: “dear Mum”? Do you mean to say…

ML: Yes, my dear Mum does all the stitching on the breadbags and the storage sacks! She retired last year and had some spare time, and she has done an amazing job so far!

FS: How did you come up with the idea for the shopping bag storage sack?

ML: I had so many plastic bags lying around and I wanted a product that would be easy to access and that could fit in with the rest of the kitchen towels. Again the fact that they are all unique and recycled makes them special.

FS: What inspired the birch candle holders?

ML: The birch is very Scandinavian and reminds me of the winter cottage we had when I was a kid.

FS: What are some things you’re most proud of?

ML: I like the poster “Gauge”, which I did just before the Iraq invasion in 2002. In terms of publicity, it’s my “Reminder” doormats.

Mårten’s “Reminder” doormat and “Gauge” graphic.

FS: What made you decide to shift your focus to furniture design?

ML: I’ve been doing interior accessories for quite some time and felt an urge to do more sustainable designs. Things that have a longer life. I was also fed up with working in front of a computer screen. Furniture studies are much more “hands on”.

FS: How do you think your previous work will influence your work in the furniture?

ML: I believe that I will always have a bit of the simplicity and quickness from the graphics industry in my furniture designs.

FS: What are you most excited about next?

ML: I’ve done a couple of pieces that a Swedish furniture producer is interested in. Hopefully they will get into production this year. I’ve done a wall clock for DesignTorget too that’s going to be in their shops in the middle of March.

Sneak peek of the clock Mårten has made for DesignTorget, to be released in March!

Also, in this part of the world we tend to get excited that we finally can see some daylight for the first time in 3 months…

FS: Congratulations on the new pieces, and you know, you can come visit us in San Francisco anytime!

Thanks Mårten!

Don’t miss Plenty’s hand embroidered and all unique designs for nesting. In the shop this month only!

---