Profile: Theodor Nilsson – Only Natural Design Competitions

Theodor Nilsson

Kontsfack University of Art, Craft and Design

I am a recent graduate from Konstfack’s Industrial Design program with a deep-rooted passion for furniture design and the material wood. My journey with wood began in childhood under the guidance of my grandfather in northern Sweden. He introduced me to the fundamentals of carpentry and wood carving, sparking a lifelong fascination with the material and its possibilities. Over the past three years I have dedicated myself to refining both my design sensibility and hands-on craftsmanship. My work explores the intersection of tradition and contemporary design, aiming to create furniture that is both functional and tells a story of the design and the decisions that lead to that design. I believe in the value of making with one’s hands and I strive to let the natural character of wood guide my design process.

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Alne

Category: Furniture

Competitions: Home Competition 2025

I have designed a kitchen sofa that combines inspiration from traditional Swedish folk design with a contemporary interpretation. My vision is to give this classic piece of furniture a lighter and more airy expression than traditional versions, without compromising its robust character. The kitchen sofa is designed for disassembly, meaning it can be taken apart into smaller components to facilitate transport, repair, and replacement of parts. The different pieces are held together using screws and bolts that I have crafted from wood. These visible joints serve as an homage to industrial design and to the various woodworking techniques I have explored during my three years at Konstfack. The sofa is made entirely of elm, a type of wood that is currently threatened in Sweden due to a fungal disease spread by the elm bark beetle. By working exclusively with elm, I want to draw attention to this issue while also celebrating the wood’s beautiful aesthetics and unique properties. To me, the kitchen sofa is so much more than just a piece of furniture. It takes me straight back to Christmases in northern Sweden, to evenings playing Monopoly with my cousins – but most of all, to my grandfather lying on his back, resting for a moment before dinner. It’s fascinating how objects can carry memories. My bachelor degree project, a kitchen sofa, is a tribute both to craftsmanship and to the memories that such a piece of furniture can hold.