Following a visit to Stolab’s factory, where Tengbom’s furniture designer Mathieu Gustafsson experienced the company’s craftsmanship up close, the creative framework for Sture took shape. The concept? A solid wood chair using spindle-back techniques, but with a fresh expression—tailored to Stolab’s advanced production line, which allows for soft, flowing forms.

A reflection of Stolab’s values

Sture embodies Stolab’s identity, built on a foundation of material expertise and craftsmanship. Tengbom’s designers embraced this legacy while pushing the boundaries of both form and function. The result is a chair with a contemporary aesthetic and a bold construction. With a slightly flexible backrest, Sture offers both comfort and versatility, making it suitable for a variety of settings.

A new take on tradition

Stability meets innovation

Like a traditional spindle-back chair, Sture’s construction is centred around the seat, where the legs and backrest connect. While the attachment technique may look familiar, it is, in fact, entirely new—developed through a close dialogue between designer and manufacturer. The result is an exceptionally stable chair, with legs that are both screwed and glued for added durability. These joints provide essential strength while also becoming a defining design feature.

Designed for versatility

Sture was launched at Stockholm Furniture Fair 2017 in two models: one with a solid wood backrest and one as an armchair. Both are available in birch and oak, showcasing the timeless beauty of natural materials.

The Tengbom Chair wasn’t meant to exist. The plan was to furnish our newly designed office with a beautiful 1950s chair, not to create an entirely new piece. But then, product designer Mathieu Gustafsson had a thought—wouldn’t it be great to design a chair specifically for this space? The answer was yes.

“The chair is part of the overall interior concept, which draws inspiration from a workshop environment—a reflection of how we work. It was never about flashy design, but about creating tools for our daily routines,” says Mathieu Gustafsson, naturally seated on a Tengbom Chair.

The Tengbom Chair – a tool for everyday life

As the office interior took shape, the question of seating arose. The space featured workshop-style shelving, rubber flooring, and cork-clad rooms—all designed to be functional and inviting. Initially, the plan was to source a simple, stackable chair. The interior architects had all but decided on an existing model when Mathieu’s enthusiasm took over. His brief? To design a chair that was understated, calm, and free from unnecessary details.

“The original chair had more presence—the backrest stood out, the legs were more angled. It had character. The Tengbom Chair is more restrained. Just like our shelves, which are meant to display what’s on them rather than stand out themselves, the chair serves its purpose as a natural part of the space—just another tool in the room.”

Removing character was what gave the chair its character

An instant favourite

The chair had to meet high demands—and be ready fast. The production was handled by Mitab in Småland, who managed to deliver high-quality chairs in record time, just in time for move-in day. (Although, not quite all of them arrived in time for the photoshoot, which led to some creative chair-swapping to make sure they appeared in every shot!)

Despite not being part of Mitab’s regular collection, the Tengbom Chair has sparked curiosity. People keep asking: What finishes are available? How much does it cost? Can I order one today?

“Originally, we weren’t going to make a chair at all. Then, it was meant to exist only in our office. But now, since it’s already become so popular, there’s a good chance we’ll start incorporating it into future projects. With different colours and materials, it could work in all sorts of environments,” says Mathieu Gustafsson.

A stripped-back process

It’s no surprise the chair has gained attention. With its clear, honest construction—a pop-riveted, stained, moulded plywood back, a steel frame, and an upholstered seat—it’s a natural fit for our office but could just as easily belong in a restaurant. And it’s comfortable, too.

“What made this process unique was that I aimed to remove character. Usually, design is about adding personality. Here, I wanted to strip things back to reinforce our concept. Removing character was what gave the chair its character. That was a first for me,” concludes Mathieu Gustafsson, standing up from the chair that wasn’t supposed to exist.

“No one likes cord chaos.” This is the essential insight behind the project. Even before 2020, a shift was underway in our offices and workplaces – and that includes our day-to-day electricity use. We’re seeing a transition from fixed workplaces to flexible co-working spaces and portable electronics. But the development of smart and stylish electric solutions seems to be trailing behind – who hasn’t tripped over a poorly placed cord?

“At Tengbom, we start every assignment by addressing a relevant question. In this case, we considered how to conveniently manage the messy cords that so often dominate environments that demand a lot of flexibility,” explains Sofia Dahlén, interior design architect and head of product development at Tengbom.

Winner of the Red Dot Award in Product Design 2021!

From boring power strip to stylish design object

Tengbom and Kondator joined forces to get to the bottom of the problem. Together, they created a handy and understated electric solution, without compromising on functionality or style. Iris is a union of aesthetics, technology, innovation and sustainability. The result is a brand-new kind of power hub for elegant, portable charging.

Technology should also be beautiful

“Electricity is one of our most important functions, but we usually do everything we can to hide cords and boxes. At Kondator, we think that’s the wrong way to go – technology should be beautiful, too. When we realized together with Tengbom that there were no attractively designed power strips out there, we seized the opportunity and designed the Iris Powerhub. With its soft shape and understated style, Iris is a flexible, beautiful solution to messy cords in any setting,” says Anders Axéen, head of product development at Kondator.

User-friendly design and recycled materials

Iris premiered at the 2020 Stockholm Furniture Fair and has quickly become a favorite among everyone from companies to individual customers. “Modern, minimal, simple and understated” are key words behind its success. Plastic and sharp edges have been replaced by a curved design covered in beige or gray felt. With four electrical outlets, two USB sockets and a hidden cord winder, Iris truly shines when it comes to user-friendliness and attention to detail. The entire design process has focused on sustainability: Iris consists of carefully chosen materials, such as felt made from recycled PET. The Iris Powerhub is the exception that proves the rule – an electronic gadget that actually contributes to a calmer, more stylish workspace.

Iris Powerhub is not the only item in our product design portfolio

Look HERE if you’re curious about more of our product designs.

Blond produced Miso, a series of light fixtures inspired by our designs for Örebro Business School. We aimed to merge the hard and soft elements of the environment. To achieve this, we let the form transition from square to organic. The base features molded aluminum, while the shades use pressure-lathed metal.

The aluminium provides a visual weight that fits well in the raw architecture, while the lathed shades harmonize with the decoration.

”We were already at an early stage of the project inspired by all the activities that were going to be housed in the new building, from the Business School to Drivhuset and the Entrepreneur forum. Innovative ideas will emerge throughout the building – a bit like mushrooms in a fertile environment. From here, we developed a distilled shape which we named Miso”, says Mathieu Gustafsson, product designer.

Innovative ideas will emerge throughout the building – a bit like mushrooms in a fertile environment

Integrated technique

Blond offers an extended selection of Miso fixtures as products today. The series includes suspended, floor, and table lamps, all of which can be supplemented with electricity, network, and USB contacts. Additionally, customers can order the series through Blond , with more products planned for the future.

As our work becomes increasingly more digital and wireless, the requirements for our offices keep changing. To be able to relax with the laptop in a lounge environment is for many a welcome contrast to the more traditional, assigned desk. Today, more and more offices offer different types of work stations and new products are continuously appearing on the market, specially adapted to a more flexible way of working.

Flexible tools

When we were developing the product range Platform for SA Möbler, the idea of complementing the lounge areas in the series with a small table to put your computer or notes on was born. A table that could easily be moved around as need be. The solution was the Y table.

A caring shape

The name Y comes from its distinctive shape, inspired by a foot and a leg. You can easily pull it over your knee, letting it serve as a small, practical helper. The stand also works as a handle, so you can bring it along effortlessly.

Illustration: Tengbom

Illustration: Tengbom

Illustration: Tengbom

“With a simple design, which characterizes both X & Y, the design of the details become even more important. Thus, the table stand made of steel profiles have been given rounded corners, to give them a kinder and more caring expression,”

Daniel Lavonius Jarefeldt, Industrial Designer

Many different versions

The launch of Y naturally led to the next step—the X table. Here too, the name comes from the design of the stand, where one leg now sits at the center of the base beneath the tabletop. X comes in different heights and sizes, making it easy to combine in groups. Both X and Y have multiple models at SA Möbler, allowing you to adapt them to specific environments.

Swedish Design Goes Milan is an annual venture by Business Sweden Milan in partnership with Svensk Form and Sveriges Arkitekter. Specifically, the initiative aims to support Swedish companies by making it easier to reach out, strengthen their brands, and develop international business opportunities at one of the world’s most prestigious design fairs – Salone del Mobile in Milan.

Foto: Michel Giesbrecht

Foto: Michel Giesbrecht

Foto: Michel Giesbrecht

Foto: Michel Giesbrecht

Foto: Michel Giesbrecht

Foto: Michel Giesbrecht

Foto: Michel Giesbrecht

Foto: Michel Giesbrecht

Playfulness at the heart of Swedish design

In 2016, Tengbom curated Sweden’s exhibition Sweden Plays. Interior designers Annika Gottell and Torbjörn Höeg, together with furniture designer Mathieu Gustafsson, developed the concept SwedenPlays. This is their brief explanation:

Things have never been so good.
Our living standard has been high for decades. 
We have been spoilt. We do not need to worry about tomorrow. 
We feel safe which gives us the opportunity to explore expressions and possibilities from a personal perspective. 
Our unpretentious and naturally curious attitude, in combination with a solid democratic background and a large dose of playfulness is a unique breeding ground for innovative design.

#SwedenPlays is a play on words created by the trio that could mean anything from ‘play’ and ‘playful’ to ‘places’. It is equally much a celebration of the joy that keeps the enthusiasm going during all the hard work and the long processes when innovation and creativity are born, according to the creators of the concept.

“We wanted the booth to inspire and arouse people’s curiosity while at the same time be bursting with hope, joy, and perspective. Furthermore, it had to be full of prestige-free playfulness!”

Annika Grottell

A stage for creativity and innovation

The task was to develop a unifying concept, design the space, plan, produce, and curate the Swedish exhibition. Moreover, with a total of 25 players involved, this included everything from products and graphics to talks, music, and presentation materials. Through fashion, music, accessories, lighting, rugs, and furniture design, the exhibition showcased the breadth of Swedish creativity. Ultimately, each element reflected key values such as quality, sustainability, innovation, democracy, humanism, and humor.

The exhibition highlighted the products with a strong, unified approach. At the same time, clear graphic design helped shape the space. A simple layout and carefully selected Swedish materials further enhanced the presentation. To create a clear connection to Sweden, the team chose a coordinated color scheme. Inspired by the shifting tones of the Swedish landscape, the palette reinforced the exhibition’s national identity.

Kelly is produced by Ragnars, a firm that we have worked with before and with which we developed the office furniture series Metro. We wanted to supplement the more advanced system with a freestanding product and decided to develop a new and unusual table design in partnership with Ragnars.

Friendliness and tactility

Our starting point was to create a workplace that felt private and inclusive, despite the small space. We designed a table with rounded shapes and a work surface in DeskTop linoleum. A soft screen, covered in coloured felt, adds both comfort and character.

“We were actively involved in giving Kelly a friendliness and materiality. The surfaces should feel soft to the touch and the shape should be nice to work at. A lot of the inspiration came from some of the colourful, graphic work of the artist Ellsworth Kelly,” says Mathieu Gustafsson, designer.

We were actively involved in giving Kelly a friendliness and materiality

The golden section

Soon, the range expanded to include stools. By defining a golden section, we created a smart and efficient design. Stools and tables share the same dimensions, fasteners, and fittings. The materials are robust, with sustainability in focus throughout development. Kelly aligns with Ragnars’ expertise in flat-pack furniture while adding a new twist to their minimalist design language.

We launched Kelly at the Stockholm Furniture Fair in spring 2016. The series offers a variety of woods and colours, making it easy to adapt to different spaces and styles. Tables come in two fixed heights, 74 cm and 90 cm, working well for both standard and bar-height settings. Stools are available in three heights—45 cm, 65 cm, and 75 cm—providing flexible seating options. With its clean design and carefully crafted details, Kelly brings both function and character to any environment.

The name, the A-series, was inspired by the A-shape trestle supporting the tops of the different tables. The series is designed for so-called touch down work, which often includes stand-up meetings and high seating, with a focus on temporary work and meeting situations. The series also include a stool of various designs.

“The A-series blends Swedish craftsmanship with innovative design and shapes a new atmosphere for work and meeting spaces. We constantly develop future workplaces. Creating a series that fully meets both functional and aesthetic needs is an incredible opportunity,” says Johanna Munck af Rosenschöld, former Practice Director.

We wanted to combine aesthetics and technology with solid craftsmanship and tactile materials.

Aesthetics through technology

We wanted to combine aesthetics and technology with solid craftsmanship and tactile materials such as wood, leather and textile. The result is a simple and harmonious shape developed through advanced construction. The A-series is produced in Sweden and is currently available in ash or oak, as well as in different designs and colours. We are still working on the series continuously producing new products.

Focusing on sustainability has been one of the preconditions for us and for the manufacturer, SA Möbler. The products that we have developed according to Möbelfakta’s requirement specification, are of high quality and with a long lifespan – a sustainability aspect that is at least as important as the use of environmentally friendly materials.  The A-series also has been awarded European Consumers Choice Award, good evidence that we have managed to translate our vision into a qualitative end result.

About SA Möbler

SA Möbler offers office furniture designed by selected architects and designers from across Scandinavia. The company’s history dates back to 1896, always with a focus on quality and ergonomics. The range includes both standard and customised products, crafted in their own factory by Tibro’s most experienced carpenters.