Final of Design Competition

- Four Chinese students make souvenirs to the Swedish Pavilion

One hundred students stood in a design competition organized by Tongji, the Chinese Institute of Design in cooperation with Konstfack. Four of the students reached the final. Some of their products will be sold in the souvenir shop in the Swedish pavilion at World Expo in Shanghai.

Tongji University´s own jury selected in a first stage, a number of grants which have now been assessed by an international jury in which, among others, Lars Dafnäs, Design Director at IKEA, is included.

- I could never just by looking at them, determine whether the objects were created by Chinese or Swedish adolescents. I think young designers around the world are influenced by similar things and the same type of design. Several of the objects were very up to date and it is clear that the world has become more global, says Lars Dafnäs.

The students who participated in the contest were commissioned to create a product that is innovative, sustainable and useful in everyday life.

- It´s easy to find the funny innovative objects, but harder to create something that fills a demand. The level of contribution was generally quite high. The hardest parts is still there – choosing the right materials and create a high quality product, says Lars Dafnäs.

Left in the contest is Jing Liu with a teacup which has room for a tea bag, Linfeng Zhao with a combined fork and spoon, Junjie Liu with an energy – smart aromatherapy lamp and Wenchao Gao with cutlery where chopsticks are built-in. Some of the products will be available for sale in the Swedish pavilion during the exhibition period.

- 95 percent of visitors are expected to be Chinese, and by allowing Chinese designers to interpret the Swedish theme, we hope to be able to address the target group better, said Bob Lee from Konstfack, who is one of the initiators of the design competition.

The final winner will get to go on a field trip arranged by Scandinavian Perspective to study Swedish form and Crafts tradition. One of the finalists will also receive a newly designed electric bicycle from Höganäs. Prizes will be awarded in conjunction with the exhibition opening.