Tell us briefly about your origins: who are you and what did you study?

“Folkform is the name of a Stockholm based design art and design duo comprising designers Anna Holmquist and Chandra Ahlsell, both having studied
at Konstfack (University College of Arts, Crafts & Design)."

From the idea to the project: tell us about your project, how did it start, what does it start from and how does it interact with the area?

“An old book is not just literature but often a hand crafted artefact in itself. Like an archaeological object it can tell about a lot more besides the author and her texts. In this project Folkform explore the old craft of bookbinding as an art in itself and during the exhibition they will manufacture a unique book consisting of production novellas.During design week, Folkform will take over an old bookbinders workshop in 5vie. Collaborating with the bookbinders workshop craftsmen Folkform will manufacture a series of books and present their sculptural bookcases for the firs time. Folkform have worked with objects closely related to literature and books for some time one example are the bookcases, a new interpretation of traditional revolving bookcases, these often featuring three or four levels with larger volumes being stored at the bottom. Folkform believe, that in this time of increased digitalisation of texts, the book as a physical object will become increasingly desirable. The new additional reading lamps are a natural development of this work.”

Which values connect you with 5VIE? Why did you choose this district?

“We fell in love with the old bookbinders place chosen by the curators for our project.”

What does design mean to you?

“For us our design studio Folkform is a platform with freedom to experiment with materials, combining old and new techniques and manufacturing processes in new ways.”

Nowadays, what does “to be connected” mean?

“In todays rapidly changing global transformation of the manufacturing industry it is important for designers to understand historical and contemporary cultural ideas and links between local sites of production and national and globalized contexts.”

Where do you live? How is your house?

“We both live and work in Stockholm, Sweden “

Which are the design items in your house that you would never do without?

“I would not like to live with out my Piano.”

Which is the first design item you have bought?

“A friends art work in Glass, Simon Klenell (if you mean a limited edition piece)”

How is your typical day?

“We spend most of the time in the studio”

Which are your sources of inspiration?

“Inspiration comes from the everyday, we are constantly collecting samples of materials.”

What is your best talent?

“We love To collaborate”

How do you define your style?

“The material is the starting point for our work, sometimes the material almost become the final product in itself. We also like to explore the tensions between old and new industrial techniques and materials”

Why surface treatment and treated surfaces’ power of suggestion are so important in your work?

“We like to explore the meaning of a material. By combining materials and surfaces in new ways we explore the language of each material and surface."

In your opinion, what is the relation among drawing, handicraft and industrial production?

We like to explore the border land between the hand made and the industrial production.

In your works, what is the relationship between the poetic component and the influence of technology?

A Poet can have many languages one of them is embedded in the material you work with as a designer.