---

Design Inquiries

Client: NORDES, SVID
Media: Interior Design, Set Design, Food Design
Project start: Feb. 2007
Status: Realised, Conference 2007.05.27 - 30
Link: www.nordes.org

Nordes is a network of people interested in design research in the Nordic countries. The aim of Nordes is to arrange biannual conferences and summer schools and to promote the development of design research. Design Inquiries was the title of the second conference held in Stockholm in end of May, 2007.
Muungano was initially contacted by the graphic design studio They Graphics, responsible for graphic profile, and our assignment was to create a stimulating and interesting interior for the conference. The main organizer and our client was SVID, The Swedish Industrial Design Foundation.
The conference took place at Konstfack (University College of Arts, Crafts and Design, Stockholm) and the adjacent old industrial building, once functioning as the restaurant and social space for the workers at mobile phone company Ericsson. Due to the limited budget it was a challenge to transform these large spaces into a setting where the researchers would feel comfortable, socialize and interact. The main space should function as a common meeting place and gather all guests during coffee breaks, lunch and dinner.
We liked the abandon large industrial spaces and the almost desolated atmosphere, which reminded us of the pictures of Swedish photographer Lars Tunbjörk. By using the light as our prime tool we wanted to reinforce this feeling, though create a space where different kinds of social interaction would spontaneously happen.
The final design was made by blue transparent film put on all windows, colouring the whole space, and translucent textile to create a more exciting interior. Standard chairs and tables were rented, large cushions put in the smaller discussion areas and the 10 meter wide bar in the middle of the space was designed by us.
Muungano was also responsible for arranging the food and coffee. Together with the catering company J&E Gastronomi we created a concept where the food would stimulate social engagement. The lunch was served in boxes packed four by four in cloth, according to the Japanese tradition Furishiki, which implied that the researchers had to team up by four to share a package and the cloth would then function as a pic-nic blanket or a table cloth. The coffee was served in thermoses enough for three persons so new teams had to be formed and new relations were established.

Graphics by: They Graphics
Catering by: Jerrhag & Eriksson Gastronomi