Since 18th of June, Pratt Manhattan Gallery is presenting “Design S: Swedish Design Award,” an exhibition that features 19 shortlisted entries to Sweden’s biggest design award competition, with a focus on design for sustainability issues including climate, the environment, the welfare of society, and the long-term quality of life. The exhibition opened with a panel discussion moderated by design critic and curator Julie Lasky at 4 p.m. on June 18, followed by an opening reception from 6 – 8 p.m. The exhibition, which is free and open to the public, will continue through August 5, 2009.

“Design S: Swedish Design Award” features the most innovative Swedish furniture, lighting, science, fashion, and transportation designs as organized by Svensk Form, the Swedish Society of Crafts and Design; The Swedish Industrial Design Foundation; and The Advertising Association of Sweden. The exhibition is made possible in part by leading European intellectual property firm Albihns, The Consulate General of Sweden, and Saab Automobile.

The Design S:Swedish Design Award singles out successful designs and rewards creative solutions to problems. The aim of the award is to present a picture of today’s broad Swedish design expertise and to highlight the ability that Swedish design has to give added value to people, companies, and organizations. Each individual submission for the award was assessed based on the problems faced by companies and organizations, the final solution, and how design expertise contributed to the result. Particular importance was placed on a holistic approach to sustainability.

Participating designers and design firms are Tobias Berneth, Michael Bihain, Anna Bonnevier, Stefan Borselius, Ilse Crawford, Björn Dahlström, Folkform, Jonas Hultqvist Design, James Irvine, Kollektivet, Jean-Marie Massaud, POC Sweden, Propeller, Claesson Koivisto Rune, Sandellsandberg, Stockholm Design Lab, Syntes Studio, Tonium och No Picnic, Gunilla Lagerheim Ullberg.

The panel discussion, titled “Practical Makes Perfect: Design in the Age of Obama,” will be moderated by Lasky and will include panelists Per Bornstein, architect, Bornstein arkitekter and “Design S” juror; Katherine Nelson, editor, Metropolitan Home; and Robert Langhorn, visiting assistant professor, Industrial Design, Pratt Institute.

The 2008 award’s 19 nominations constitute a selection that has been methodically drawn from an extensive body of more than 200 submissions. Of the shortlisted entries to the 2008 Design S:Swedish Design Award, a jury of design experts chose to single out the 10 with the symbol of the award, a Design S.

Svensk Form, the Swedish Society of Crafts and Design, is a not-for-profit membership association mandated by the Swedish government to promote Swedish design at an international level.

“Design S: Swedish Design Award”
June 18 – August 5, 2009
Pratt Manhattan Gallery
144 West 14th Street, 2nd Floor
Gallery Hours: Tuesday – Saturday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.