sa:k design studio
Sa:k design studio is based in Malmö and was started in 2021 by industrial designer Stina Henriksson. Sa: k is a play on letters from the designer's full name but also the basis of the work; Things. The focus is on utility items and furniture a little outside the usual design flora. By exploring social patterns and behaviors, sa: k wants to create sustainable design that tells a story.
See sa:k design studio's handmade candles in the online store here ››
Questions and answers
Where are you born?
I was born and raised in Hästveda in Göinge in northeastern Scania.
How old are you?
Born in 1978
Where do you live?
Malmö
What are you doing?
I am an industrial designer and started Sa:k design studio in 2021. I also work part-time as a teacher in design subjects at the Technical Program in Ystad.
Favorite place?
Home. Both in Malmö, but also in my summer house outside Skurup.
Favorite material?
I don't really have a favorite material, but I'm probably a material geek in general and like a variety. At the moment I am very fond of materials that can be molded. What I find fascinating about candle waxes like stearin is that it is material that is very volatile, we melt it down with ease, but at the same time it is extremely durable and does not age. I have cast new candles from scraps from the 70's which produced amazing colors. There is something beautiful about wax in its various stages and the everyday luxury it gives us.
Favorite designer?
There are so many, far too many to highlight an individual! However, I have been inspired a lot by the Malmö designer Lisa Hilland, with whom I also had an internship during my studies, and her sense of form and materials and how what she creates constantly feels new.
Favorite color?
I feel for color as for material, it is in the combinations and contrasts that the greatness lies. But often I'm drawn to apricot or coral tones, preferably in contrast to blue or green.
what inspires you?
I am very inspired by encounters in form and color. It is contrasts and the slightly skewed that arouse my interest. I am also inspired by experimentation and exploration and am attracted by the feeling of not knowing from the beginning of a project how the end result will be.
Your vision/business idea?
The focus of my work is to create utility objects and furniture a little outside the usual design flora. By exploring social patterns and behaviors as well as different materials and manufacturing methods, I want to create sustainable design that tells a story. Sa: k is a play on letters from my full name but also the basis of the work; Things. We are constantly surrounded by things, both physical and mental.
Biggest mistake?
It's enough not to believe in myself enough earlier to dare to start my own business, now the ideas are piled up and crowded!
Dream project?
I am experimenting with the light material to see what else I can do with it and a dream project would be to find a completely different perfect product and manufacturing method for this. A collaboration with a large furniture company would also have been fun!
The next project?
I have some exciting collaborations with other designers that we are sketching, and I will also continue to work on a couple of projects with furniture and utility items that have been started but paused a bit for the larger light manufacturing.