Monica Förster: Celebrating the Nordic light

For celebrated Swedish designer Monica Förster, ideas often supersede shape. Nevertheless, her cross-disciplinary approach has been described as formally pure and materially innovative. Having worked for leading brands like Alessi, Bernhardt, Cappellini, De Padova, Offecct, Swedese, Poltrona Frau, Volvo and Whirlpool, Förster’s Stockholm-based studio has established itself as one of Sweden’s leading firms. Developing new typologies in industrial, furniture and object design, the designer has received numerous accolades including the prestigious Imm Cologne Interior Innovation Award in 2015. Her work is also featured in numerous museum collections including New York’s MoMA and London’s V&A. TLmag spoke to Förster about her Silver Flower Pot vase for Swedish heritage brand Skultuna.

TLmag: What is your affinity for silver as both a visual and material composite?
Monica Förster: I like the purity of the metal. It also creates a really good contrast to the collection of pots that are now in brass and copper. I very much like the mix.

TLmag: Your Silver Flower Pot design features a silver finish. What visual, physical, or metaphoric treatment does this effect allow you to express?
MF: Reflections, both physical and visual.

TLmag: What process did you use to achieve a silver aesthetic?
MF: As part of the Flower Pots series, which come in four sizes and three materials, the silver can be both matte or shiny. In that present case, it is silver plated but could also be ordered in 925 sterling silver.

TLmag: How did your choice of material allow you to adopt an iridescent, reflective, or luminous effect within your design?
MF: I grew up in Lapland and, in the winter, there is a lot of snow, which reflects the light in many different ways. In springtime, the light is super strong. I guess that this affects my design and the way I approach it. There is a mystical atmosphere in the extreme areas of the Nordic countries, which is not really possible to explain but needs to be felt.

TLmag: In what way can the silver finish and chosen material extend the function of your design?
MF: In most of my studio work, the idea comes first, then the material follows to strengthen it. In some projects, the material itself could also be a starting point.