Erik Olovsson & Kyuhyung Cho are the winners of Formex Nova 2015

The motivation of the jury: “Kyuhyung Cho & Erik Olovsson are awarded Formex Nova 2015 for the playful collaboration in their three collections Room, Sine and Numbers. With a fusion of graphic elements and architectural volumes, the creations of these two designers are characterized by contrasts between light and heavy, discipline and playfulness, and 2- and 3-dimensionality, conjuring up a feeling of opposites in perfect balance.”

-“Winning Formex Nova means so much! We were very happy when we were nominated, and the fact that we won feels like an important part in our development as designers. Recognition is always fun and it is important for your self-confidence, particularly if it comes from such a well-respected jury,” say Erik Olovsson and Kyuhyung Cho.

Erik Olovsson and Kyuhyung Cho both received their Master's degree in graphic design from the University College of Arts, Crafts and Design. It was there that they met and discovered that they both wanted to work more with room configuration and the design of furniture and objects. Today they work with furniture and product design as well as graphic design and they always try to find connections between these disciplines that can create new expressions. In their own words, their style is playful, intuitive and graphic. They get inspiration from everything around them. They often make sketches independently and then share them with one another. Together, they sort the sketches and select the ones they want, and they try to use an intuitive process for as long as possible.

-“Since we are relatively new product designers, we have had up until now a rather naive and intuitive approach to how we work. If you do not know what all of the limitations are and how much work something will require, you tend to take a few more risks, which is what I think we do. We have been very curious about product design for a long time, and we believe that this curiosity is the key to success,” say Erik Olovsson and Kyuhyung Cho.

The 2015 jury consists of journalist and author Lotta Lewenhaupt, professor in design history Kerstin Wickman, and two new members, Ewa Kumlin, CEO at Svensk Form, and Anders Färdig, founder and CEO of Design House Stockholm. The 2015 guest jury member is designer Emma Olbers.

The award includes an exhibition at this spring's Formex as well as SEK 50,000 for a sponsored activity. Nominees also receive a unique, designed diploma. This year the diploma was designed by illustrator Johan Mets, www.johanmets.com.

Previous Formex Nova winners include Hanna Hedman and Simon Klenell, Sweden, 2011, Mari Isopahkala, Finland, 2012, Mattias Stenberg, Sweden, 2013 and Line Depping, Denmark, 2014.

Erik Olovsson & Kyuhyung Cho

Age: Erik Olovsson 33 and Kyuhyung Cho 40
Education: MA University College of Arts, Crafts and Design

Design studio (opened): 2013 & 2012

Previous exhibitions/awards:
Architecture Museum, Stockholm 2015

Greenhouse/Stockholm Furniture & Light Fair 2015
Spazio Rossana Orlandi, Milan 2015
Greenhouse/Stockholm Furniture & Light Fair 2014
Spazio Rossana Orlandi, Milan 2014
Designers Block, London 2013
Neu gallery, Stockholm 2013
Kolla!, KB, Stockholm 2013
University College of Arts, Crafts and Design Vice-Chancellor's Scholarship, 2012

www.studioeo.se, www.kyuhyungcho.com

To find out more, please visit www.formex.se or contact:
Christina Olsson, Event Manager +46 8 749 44 28, christina.olsson@stockholmsmassan.se,
Catarina Oscarsson Media Relations Manager, +46 8 749 43 66, catarina.oscarsson@stockholmsmassan.se

Formex, August 19-22, 2015 is arranged by Stockholmsmässan and takes place twice a year. Formex is the leading Nordic meeting place for new products, business opportunities, trends, knowledge and inspiration in the interiors industry. Formex welcomes 900 exhibitors, 23,000 trade visitors and more than 850 media representatives.