On the 7th – 11th of February, members of the project “Promoting Centres of Excellence: the Vilnius Academy of Arts Entrepreneurship Programme” participated in the Stockholm Furniture Fair in Sweden. In the “Greenhouse” space, together with other young designers, the researchers presented themselves to a wide audience and business representatives. At the Stockholm Furniture Fair, the “Greenhouse” is an international platform for young designers and a stepping stone for future design stars. The jury has selected the 2023 exhibitors – a total of 32 designers and 30 design schools from 18 different countries. The range of work on the show is extremely broad, from furniture with commercial potential to design research.
The works on display
The InoAcademy’s exhibition featured works by Gaudutė Žilytė, Inga Valentinienė and Viktorija Balčiūnaitė. Four R&D products (“KUKUBU”, a social interaction space for children with different neurotypes, “Design elements of seating eco-furniture made from plant panels”, “Fibrous plant panels and their production methods”, “Biodegradable solid biomaterial based on milk”). The works explore themes of sustainable and social design, researching creative solutions to problems. The new sustainable furniture materials and research proposed by the designers were a particular highlight for visitors of the Stockholm Furniture Fair.
Guests at the exhibition
During the fair, the exposition was visited by foreign and Lithuanian business representatives who were interested in the products developed by InoAcademy and their commercialisation opportunities. The Cultural Attaché to Sweden, Liana Ruokyte – Jonsson, visited the exposition and met the entrepreneurs Gaudutė Žilytė, Marius Norkus, Juozas Brundza and Audronė Drungilaitė.
Product presentation at “Greenhouse Bar Edition 2023”
During the Stockholm Furniture Fair, the “Greenhouse Bar Edition 2023” programme was also held, with the aim of bringing together industry representatives for conversations and the generation of new ideas. Here, the project’s entrepreneur Audronė Drungilaitė also presented InoAcademy’s R&D products to the public.
The Stockholm Furniture Fair is the world’s largest platform for Scandinavian design, with more than 400 exhibitors from the furniture and lighting industry. It attracts professional visitors from more than 100 countries. The 2023 fair has introduced a number of innovations, including a new platform, Älvsjö gård, dedicated to collector’s design, and The Nude Edition, a new exhibition area with smaller fair stands made from recycled materials. The fair organisers also offered a special conference programme, with inspiring speakers and discussions.
