Press release -
This year’s Design Talents at Formex
Design Talents is Formex’s department for showcasing new talent, where independent designers and design groups can both sell their products and display them for buyers, partners, producers and the press/media. This year’s exhibitors in this always exciting department at Formex include several designers with innovative ceramics, fabric patterns that highlight women's history, and a building set for children that hopes to inspire girls to become more interested in technology.
Some of this year’s design talents have participated before, for example Cribble, which makes a building set for children that they describe as being “Minecraft meets Lego meets Dollhouse.” We called Cribble’s CEO Christine Montalvo to find out more about this exciting product.
What is Cribble?
“Cribble is a building kit for children between the ages of six and twelve. It has been designed with children’s development in mind, challenges their creativity and encourages them to construct. My colleague Josephine had the idea several years ago when she was studying psychology. Cribble also focuses on sustainability since it is made with FSC-certified wood and can be used again and again. It is also great that the design community has appreciated Cribble’s simple lines and stylistic purity, and it is therefore available at the design store Designtorget and in several museum gift shops.”
You say that Cribble is a platform that is also welcoming to girls and not limited to being a “boy’s toy” – explain!
“Many building toys target boys in particular, but we want to make a product that welcomes all children. Cribble can be decorated however the child wants, whether this means painting it in the colors of their favorite soccer club or in pink and glitter; it is up to each child. And Cribble can also be combined with other toys: let the Smurfs move in or build a train station.”
You also have ambitious visions that Cribble will encourage girls to become more interested in technology, which in the long run will lead to greater equality.
“It is a scientifically proven fact that spatial cognition is lower in girls than it is in boys, which is linked to the interest in technology and math, so this is our contribution to increasing girls’ interest in these subjects. Today, only 22 percent of all engineers are women, so we hope that Cribble will be able to help raise this number in the long run and thus contribute to greater equality.”
You exhibited at Formex’s Design Talents last winter. How did it go?
“It went really well! We were really new back then, only in two stores, but Formex gave us a lot of new leads.”
What are your expectations for Formex this time?
“To continue to build our brand and find even more retailers so we can reach even more children with Cribble.”
Another Formex Design Talent who got a first taste at Formex in January and wanted to come back for more is designer Johanna Grahn Hollström and her company By Johanna Grahn Hollström.
Your artwork is created from stoneware – what makes your style unique?
“I often make slightly larger objects that I build by hand, and I am almost always inspired by nature. But it cannot be too figurative; I work more abstractly. This year I have focused in particular on surfaces and glazing to tease out even more dynamic surfaces on the basic forms I usually use.”
You exhibited at Formex’s Design Talents in January as well. What did you take away from this experience?
“I didn’t really know what to expect as a small player with in-house production, but I got a lot of contacts and good exposure in the media and from interior design bloggers. And then I came into contact with other designers and small-business owners, with whom I exchanged experiences and tips. It was very informative. It got me thinking about my business in a way that I had not done before. It gave me new ideas about how I could reach people and how and where I want to sell my products.”
What are you expecting to take away from Formex this time?
“I am hoping to come into contact with more sales channels that really suit my product. I have now had time to think things through, and I know more about how I want to expose and position my products. I am coming to Formex more prepared and with more of a purpose.”
Here are all 19 Design Talents at Formex on August 20-23:
Jochen Lavéno Mangelsdorf https://www.jlmform.com/
Katia Colt Konsthantverk https://www.katiacolt.com/
Anna Wadle Keramik http://annawadle.com/
CRIBBLE https://cribble.se/
By Johanna Grahn Hollström http://byjohannagrahnhollstrom.se/
PATTERN ME BRIGHT http://patternmebright.com/
Vydesign https://www.vydesign.se/
ArtLight http://www.dinaeveneus.se/
Moimi http://moimi.se/
Z Form camilla.zackrisson@gmail.com
Mia of Sweden https://miaofsweden.com/
Arketyp, Stockholms Furniture Lab https://www.arketyp.nu/
Chiconique https://www.photowall.se/
EKO Trädesign https://ekotradesign.com/
Little Matters https://littlemattersdesign.com/
Josephine Skapare https://josephineskapare.com/
Pin Around – Put Your World On The Wall https://www.pinaround.se/
Camilla Ekberg http://camillaekberg.se/
Victoria Gothenburgh https://victoriagothenburg.com/
Read more about Design Talents on Formex's website
https://www.formex.se/formular/designtalents2019?sc_lang=sv-se
For more information, please contact:
Kajsa Falck-Torlegård, Operative Event Manager Formex, +46 8 749 43 59, kajsa.falck@stockholmsmassan.se
Christina Olsson, Event Manager Formex, +46 8 749 44 28, christina.olsson@stockholmsmassan.se
Related links
Topics
Categories
World-class meetings
Inspiration and information, business opportunities and new friends. Stockholmsmässan is the largest meeting place in Scandinavia hosting around 70 leading exhibitions and hundreds of national and international congresses, conferences and corporate events every year.
Love to meet you!
