The Design Industry Awards were handed out at the National Museum in Oslo on 25 April during the Design Industry Conference. There were awards in the categories Export Company of the Year, Product of the Year, Brand Builder of the Year and the Classic Award.
Photo: Norsk Industri
Five winners received their awards in front of around 140 participants at the end of the conference, after a day of professional replenishment and inspiration.
The jury consists of Kriss Daatland editor at Bonytt, Fredrik Torsteinsen interior architect and furniture designer MNIL, Leif Nilsen general manager Blåmann Møbler, Pål Eid-Hviding marketing manager at Fora Form and Egil Sundet branch manager Designindustrien. The jury's secretary is Ragnhild Grytten in the Design industry.
Brand builder of the year
The nominees for Brand Builder of the Year were Wik & Walsøe and Aclima.
This year's winner was Aclima, where the jury pointed out that the company has paved the way from its start 85 years ago where they produced wool felt soles, to becoming a well-known and strong brand and supplier of quality products in wool for both adults and children as well as professional users such as the police, fire service and defence. The company has had a clearly increasing turnover for many years. In 2023, the good trend has continued, major agreements have been concluded, and the manufacturer passed 300 million in turnover.
Product of the year
The nominees for Product of the Year were Hadeland Glassverk with two products, and Fora Form with its chair series Atrium. Atruim, designed by the award-winning design duo Anderssen & Voll, ran away with the victory with the reasons, among other things, a that 'the result has become the perfect harmony between aesthetics and practical utility'.
Export company of the year
The Mo i Rana-based company and internationally recognised brand Heymat has, within a few years, turned everyday mat life upside down. They have previously been nominated for Export Company of the Year and this year they won ahead of two very strong candidates, namely Lundhs and Devold.
With the help of solid professional expertise and collaboration with leading Norwegian designers such as Kristine Five Melvær, Heymat has turned the trusty door mat into a design object. The jury was concerned that the company has had an uncompromising plan for exports since its inception in 2016, including strategic participation at international fairs and meeting places. After the company was established, they have had a large increase in turnover, much of which is export-driven - and in 2023 they doubled their exports.
The classic prize
Two companies won the Klassiker prize, which the jury thought was entirely appropriate. You just have to be impressed by Hadeland Glassverk and their iconic Archive lamp series, designed in the middle of the 20th century. From the 1930s to the 1960s, Hadeland Glassverk was one of Norway's largest lighting suppliers. Then followed several decades in which the traditional craft company concentrated on its many glass products, but in 2019 the classic lamps made a comeback and the archive series of Jonas Hidle and Arnulf Bjørshol was relaunched.
The other winner of the Klassiker prize was LK Hjelle for the legendary and internationally recognised Siesta chair. It was highlighted that Siesta has paved the way for Norwegian design exports.
More Information:
Norsk Industri
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