Published 17 September 2026
Young Swedish Design has been held since 1998 and is Sweden’s premier award highlighting the next generation of design. Every year, hundreds of young designers and architects from across the country submit their work through the open call, and about twenty entries are then selected by an interdisciplinary jury.
“What makes Young Swedish Design so important is that it showcases not only objects and products, but also ideas, questions, and visions for tomorrow’s society. The breadth of this year’s participants demonstrates how design can be a tool for innovation, inclusion, and change. The fact that these voices get to reach the public in Älmhult reinforces our ambition to build a design destination where people can be inspired, discuss, and explore the design of the future in a spirit of togetherness,” says Pär Gustafsson, Destination & Museum Manager
Common to this year’s selected works is a strong foundation in craftsmanship and a deep understanding of materials; many of the entries address issues of sustainability, reuse, and circularity, while others revolve around identity, inclusion, and our place in a changing society. It is design that both shapes and is shaped by its time, with equal parts intuition and intellect.
“This year’s designers show just how much there is still to discover in familiar materials. From a stool made of reeds to wool that purifies water of contaminants—it’s innovative, exploratory, and at the same time deeply rooted in craftsmanship,” says Therese Ståhl, project coordinator at the IKEA Museum.
This year’s jury for Ung Svensk Form consists of sculptor Anton Alvarez, comic book creator, artist, and illustrator Moa Romanova, Norwegian furniture designer Daniel Rybakken, Ulrika Knagenhielm-Karlsson, a professor at the School of Architecture at KTH, designer Hampus Berggren, and industrial designer Jenny Nordberg.
IKEA scholarship recipient Love Persson with the work “Heaven and Earth”
In addition to the spots in the exhibition, a total of 18 scholarships are awarded by Ung Svensk Form’s partner organizations, including IKEA of Sweden. The grants are awarded regardless of whether the work has been selected for the exhibition, and offer opportunities for production, internships, mentorship, or further development within their respective fields. Love Persson is awarded IKEA of Sweden’s work grant for the piece *Himmel och jord*.
Exhibition Opening at the IKEA Museum
The IKEA Museum will open the exhibition on September 17, 12:00-13:00.
Attending the opening will be IKEA scholarship recipient Love Persson, Svensk Form’s Executive Director Axel Swanstein, and the IKEA Museum’s Destination & Museum Manager Pär Gustafsson. In a panel discussion, they will share their thoughts on the development of Young Swedish Design and its important role in promoting the next generation of designers, this year’s exhibition and the IKEA Fellowship, as well as how tomorrow’s design can shape the future.
After the discussion, Axel Swanstein will give you an introduction to the exhibition, after which you can explore it at your own pace.
About the Ung Svensk Form Exhibition
The Ung Svensk Form 2026 exhibition is a co-production between Svensk Form and Dunkers Kulturhus. The project is being carried out in collaboration with IKEA of Sweden, the IKEA Museum, and a wide range of partners, scholarship providers, and exhibition venues, with support from the City of Stockholm.
Following its run at the IKEA Museum, the exhibition will be on view at Dunkers Kulturhus in Helsingborg from November 19, 2026, through January 3, 2027.
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