Monica, thank you for taking the time to talk to us. You were recently named Designer of the Year 2023 by AW magazine. What does this award mean to you?
It's an iconic award, so of course it's a great honour and means a lot to me. Overall, it tells me that people value my work – and that the products I design to be usable in everyday life and by everyone fulfil their purpose. Personally, that's a wonderful success.
On your website, you write that your aim is to turn the everyday into something unforgettable. So is an object's aesthetic more important to you than its function?
For me, it's not "just" about function and aesthetics. In our design studio, my team and I always try to create something that also has a poetic essence that will stand the test of time. So it's a combination of several goals, all equally important to me.
You work for various design brands, including Gense. What's special about this collaboration, and how does it differ from other brands?
My collaboration with Gense began a decade ago. I was commissioned to design a cutlery series that would seamlessly combine function and aesthetics. The result of this collaboration is the Dorotea series, named after my home town in northern Sweden.
Which aspects of your home region did you try to bring into the design?
I was inspired by the glacial landscapes that were shaped over thousands of years, leaving soft, flowing silhouettes on the mountain ridges of northern Sweden. That's where I grew up. These interesting shapes were also the starting point for the expanded Dorotea collection.
You mean the Dorotea vases and carafes?
Exactly – one of my favourite pieces is the water carafe. It has a special place in my heart. When I designed it, I wanted to create a piece that not only fulfils its purpose but also brings beauty and elegance into everyday life.
Your designs tend to look pared back, while the ceramic vases stand out with bold colours. What else makes the collection special?
Working with the colours and the ceramics was a special experience. The slender lines, the balance of materials and the attention to detail make the Dorotea vases not just functional objects but works of art that enhance the overall look of a room.
What does it take to design a collection like this? How does work at Monica Förster Design Studio run?
We're a small creative team with very different personalities and backgrounds. I'm the founder of the studio and also its creative director. Beyond work, our team shares a passion for culture, art, design, food, music and nature. We love exploring the world together – whether that's trying new restaurants and wines, visiting museums and exhibitions or simply enjoying each other's company. That creates a wonderful working environment and plenty of inspiration.
What project are you working on at the moment?
We've just completed a really exciting project: the studio's first holiday home in the southern Stockholm archipelago in Sweden.
And finally: Monica Förster Design Studio in three words?
Humanistic, poetic, functional.
Shop Monica Förster's look:
Thank you so much, Monica, for your answers and the fascinating insight into your work.
