We met up with our designer Anya Sebton in her studio in Stockholm for a chat.
“Design is a team effort.”
Portrait of designer Anya Sebton
You’ve been working with Lammhults for over twenty years. During this time, you’ve designed a variety of products that have attracted a lot of attention and become very popular. Each of them with something ingenious about it, yet all of them have clearly expressed the unique identity of Lammhults furniture. How did your collaboration with Lammhults begin?
When I was doing my thesis project at Beckmans in Stockholm, I needed help building prototypes. I turned to Lammhults because I really liked what Börge Lindau and Bo Lindekrantz had done there. I remember how fascinated I was by the factory. They could build almost anything! And what they didn’t make themselves was manufactured by suppliers close by. Later on, when I wanted to make changes to the prototypes after having been nominated for the Young Nordic Design award, Marcus Larsson had just become the new CEO at Lammhults, and he offered me a contract. What emerged from that was a modular furniture piece called Multiplicity. Arlanda Airport ended up placing a large order. At the time, I didn’t realise how unusual it was to get contracted for your thesis project and go straight into production. In any event, when Lammhults won that tender from Arlanda, I went straight to Marcus Larsson to negotiate my royalty. (laughs)
How would you describe your role as a designer?
I see myself as an investigative designer who solves puzzles. I don’t see any value in just producing for the sake of it. I want my furniture to add something, which explains why I’ve made far fewer products than many designers who have been at it as long as I have. I always want my products to fill a gap for the client and solve a problem for the user. Like Add, for example, which is designed for open spaces and quick meetings. By tilting its seat, I was able to create a stool that supports the back by interacting with the structure of the occupant’s body.
What inspires you?
Problems inspire me. I’m extremely solution-oriented — even outside the studio in everyday situations. I’m also inspired by conversations I have with people who use my furniture, as well as by my collaboration with the people at Lammhults, and their expertise. But also by materials, techniques, and by shapes in nature. Nature has always meant a lot to me. It gives me time to reflect, to open my lungs and breathe. In Duvbo outside Stockholm, where I live, there’s a small, pristine forest called Tystnaden, or The Silence in English. It’s important to me. I’m a tree-hugger. I don’t like it when people in our area cut down trees on their properties. It takes so long for a tree to grow to maturity.
What do collaborations mean to you in your practice as a designer?
I’m not a designer who just wants to do my thing. For me, design is a collaboration. A team effort. Working together with the people at Lammhults means a lot to me. For the sake of the design process, it’s important to know the people who are working on your products. Everyone participates and contributes. What are the company’s needs? What can I contribute as a designer? How can we best use the know-how, talents and experience of the company’s people? Everyone is important to the process. Their craftmanship and tacit knowledge are crucial in my practice. The people in upholstery can work wonders. When we were working on Area, one of the managers contacted me and said: “It looks like a coffin!” I was completely horrified. But later, after the upholsterers were finished, it looked just fantastic. And the magnetic linking system, which we got a world patent for and which makes Area so easy to create new shapes with, is another result of teamwork. Tommy in the mechanical workshop is brilliant. He’s retired now, but still comes in sometimes. Over the years, he’s solved plenty of puzzles for me. He’ll stand there and look the thing over and mutter for a while, and then come back later knowing precisely how to sort it out. The pleasure of work and the joy of creating a product together are really important to its final aesthetic expression. By the way, I’m also really delighted to have worked with HC (legendary graphic designer Hans-Christer Ericson, whose poster art and playful catalogues have helped shape Lammhult’s personality).
You have said that good design is timeless and that this is something you strive for as a designer. Can you sum up what timeless design means?
It’s a piece of furniture that prevails in its purity of form. I want furniture to stand the test of time and not compete with the space in which it finds itself. To accomplish this, I often go back and question. Experience has also taught me to take a longer view of the furniture I’m working on. But a furniture piece must never be timeless in the sense of anonymous. It has to have a signature — although, there’s no need for that to be shouted. In the furniture I’ve designed for Lammhults, I’ve often done something with the piece’s frame.
There’s the sense that your design is imbued with great respect for space, as well as nature — which is a space for us all. Tell us a little about your studio — your workspace.
We have a creative studio that is family run. The place is a former dairy business, and at one time it was an upholstery workshop. We took over the space with everything it contained. We’ve kept some of it, because it’s fun to see what the space has been used for over time. It’s a playful place. Not very tidy, so inspiration can flow. It’s also a contradictory mix of me and my husband, Frederic, who works in graphic design and communications. He loves gadgets and flea markets and I’m a minimalist. The studio is located at Hornstull, right near Långholmen, in Stockholm. The surroundings there are very important, as I need to be near nature and move around in it.
You talk a lot about problem solving. How did you become so solution-oriented?
My dad was an artist and not particularly practical. Mom was a feminist and worked an awful lot. They divorced early on. Both of them gave my sister and me plenty of freedom. They had a lot faith in us to get stuff done. So, we had each other, my sister and I. We were like two Pippi Longstockings. Us against the world. We were doers. Exploratory and fearless. We built rafts and huts and fixed things. Once we repainted the new TV blue and yellow, because we thought it was so ugly. Then, Grandma came home and started to cry when she saw it. But Mom said she thought it was nicer like that. She was cool and encouraged us in our exploration. There was no such thing as “you can’t do that”.
Do you have any preferences when it comes to materials?
I’m really looking forward to working with fossil-free steel!
Has your furniture ever appeared in any unexpected settings?
Several of my furniture pieces have been featured in Hollywood movies. Two pieces appeared in two different James Bond films. In both cases, they ended up being blown up. (laughs) In the movie Spectre, the Area easy chair occurs in the bar that the villains use as their headquarters.
What would be your advice to aspiring furniture designers?
Stay curious. Never stop questioning!
Photo: Fredrik Andersson
Journalist: Jens Soneryd
Lammhults Möbel AB, Box 26, SE-360 30 Lammhult
Phone: +46 472 26 95 00, Fax +46 472 26 05 70
e-mail: info@lammhults.se
More news from Lammhults:
Taburett Plus is a homage to the popular 282 stool created by Lammhults founder Edvin Ståhl in 1955 and reissued as Taburett in 2014
Taburett Plus – An extension of an iconic design Designed by Peter Andersson, Taburett Plus …
Tension reimagines the trolley for the contemporary moment design by Gustav Winsth – Lammhults
Tension – A vehicle for playful expression Designed by Gustav Winsth, Tension reimagines the trolley for …
Geofanti – A statement seating solution design by Anya Sebton – Lammhults
Geofanti – A statement seating solution Geofanti is a modular sofa with a whole lot of …
A collaborative practice – Ung Svensk Form, Simon Mattisson @ Lammhults
During his first visit in our factory we met up with Lammhults scholarship holder in …
Bau by Note Design studio wins multiple awards at Best of BDNY – Lammhults
We are honored to announce that Bau modular seating has received two prestigious awards at …
Bau receives the Interior Design’s HiP Awards! Design by Note design studio – Lammhults
Interior Design’s HiP Awards celebrate the most innovative products and people in the commercial design industry. …
Lammhults opens new showroom in historic surroundings in Copenhagen
Swedish Lammhults is opening the doors to a completely new showroom in the heart of …
A22 by Anya Sebton is now available for outdoor use – Lammhults
A22 is designed for impromptu meetings and quick breaks in dynamic environments, whether indoors or …
Ciao – An interplay of geometric shapes design by Gunilla Allard – Lammhults
Ciao Through its interplay of geometric shapes, the Ciao table manages to balance expressiveness with …
Bau a modular seating series by Note design studio @ Lammhults
Anti-ordinary, versatile and expressive Say goodbye to dull and mundane seating arrangements and hello to …
Swedish design company Lammhults is proud to present its new products at Orgatec in Cologne
We invite you to visit our stand – KO38 in Hall 10.2 – at Orgatec, …
Inside Swedish Design @ 3daysofdesign 15-17 June 2022
Inside Swedish Design Inside Swedish Design promotes awareness, values and innovative elements in the Swedish …
A Collaborative Practice: Meet designer Anya Sebton – Lammhults
We met up with our designer Anya Sebton in her studio in Stockholm for a …
A new, sustainable, lightweight chair by Johannes Foersom & Peter Hiort-Lorenzen – Lammhults
A careful attention to detail characterizes the new office chair Atlas Air by the influential …
Gunilla Allard and Note Design Studio add a side table to the Sunny-concept – Lammhults
Gunilla Allard and Note Design Studio add a side table to the Sunny-concept Sunny is …
Anya Sebton’s new stool is designed to be part of a sustainable loop – Lammhults
Anya Sebton’s new stool is designed to be part of a sustainable loop The world …
Sunny appointed “Furniture of the Year”! – Lammhults
The renowned Swedish interior design magazine Sköna Hem has chosen easy chair & modular seating …
Trioo was to create “one” chair but with three different characters by Johannes Foersom & Peter Hiort-Lorenzen
Trioo Designed to fit varying ergonomic needs Trioo Inspired to create a design that fits …
Winner of the Born Classic Award 2021 Sunny by Note & Allard – Lammhults
2021 year’s winner is the Puffy Lounge Chair, by the experimental and unconventional star of …
The Corso easy chair started as a play with lines in the sketchbook by Peter Andersson – Lammhults
The Corso easy chair started as a play with lines in the sketchbook of designer, …
Space Matters – New showroom installation 9th – 12th February – Lammhults
Our new product launches for 2021 will be unveiled as part of the installation, Space …
Discover the traces of Erika Geiger Ohlin – winner of the new Lammhults scholarship
During last year, Lammhults introduced a new scholarship in support of Ung Svensk Form (Young …
Ponto table wins Architectural Product Design Award
We are happy to announce that the Ponto table by Troels Grum-Schwensen has won yet …
Lammhults Limited Jubilee L75 Cabinet by Love Arbén
The cabinet bears clear influences from the characteristic black and white striped Ono cabinet, which …
Archal XL by Johannes Foersom & Peter Hiort-Lorenzen – Lammhults
Lammhults presents the Archal XL lounge and conference chairs – designed by Johannes Foersom & …
Penne chair updated – Lammhults
Lammhults presents an updated version of the Penne chair – designed by Julia Läufer & …
A new version Spira by Johannes Foersom & Peter Hiort-Lorenzen – Lammhults
Lammhults presents a new version of the popular Spira chair – designed by Johannes Foersom …
Teius by Andrés Nilson – Lammhults
Swedish design company Lammhults launches Teius – a circular piece of sectional furniture designed by …
Ponto by Troels Grum-Schwensen – Lammhults
Swedish design company Lammhults presents Ponto – Ponto is designed by Troels Grum-Schwensen, 2019. Lammhults …
Spira Kvilt by Johannes Foersom & Peter Hiort-Lorenzen – Lammhults
Johannes Foersom & Peter Hiort-Lorenzen have introduced an option for their existing range Spira. Spira …
Grade Plus by Johannes Foersom & Peter Hiort-Lorenzen – Lammhults
Grade Plus Design Johannes Foersom & Peter Hiort-Lorenzen Lammhults welcomes a new member in the …
Ponto by Troels Grum-Schwensen – Lammhults
Ponto Designed by Troels Grum-Schwensen Lammhults is now launching the table series Ponto, designed by …
Lammhults @ Stockholm Furniture Fair 2019
Welcome to Lammhults at the Stockholm Furniture Fair 5–9 February 2019. Stand B06:11 Lammhults Möbel …
Detach – Lammhults
Detach – Adaptable & flexible Designed by Troels Grum-Schwensen Swedish design company Lammhults presents Detach …
Archal XL – Lammhults
Archal XL – The executive level Designed by Johannes Foersom & Peter Hiort – Lorenzen …
Lammhults movie
Dating back to 1945, Lammhults still lives and breathes the same principles founder Edvin Ståhl …
Lammhults @ Salone del Mobile Milano
Salone del Mobile Milano 2018 Welcome to visit us in Hall 16, Stand D:24 Opening …
Lammhults @ Workspace Expo Paris 2018
Welcome to visit us at Pavilion 1, Porte de Versailles, Paris Stand G44/G50 Opening Hours, …
Boss and Mini Boss – Lammhults
BOSS & MINI BOSS – INSPIRED BY NATURE During Stockholm Furniture Fair, February 6-10, …
Add Cable Table by Anya Sebton – Lammhults
ADD CABLE TABLE – POWER UP! Swedish design company Lammhults is launching the Add Cable …
S18 playful retrospect by Anya Sebton – Lammhults
Swedish design company Lammhults is launching the new table series S18, designed by Anya Sebton, …
Carousel chair series by Gunilla Allard – Lammhults
CAROUSEL – COMPACT COMFORT Swedish design company Lammhults is launching the Carousel chair series, designed …
Welcome to meet us and see our latest collection! – Lammhults
Välkommen till monter B07:10 för att träffa oss och se vår senaste kollektion! Tisdag-Fredag …
Campus – The story. Lammhults
CAMPUS – THE STORY The successful chair series Campus is celebrating its …
Boss & Mini Boss – Lammhults
During Designers Saturday, September 8-10, Swedish design company Lammhults launches the waste paper bins Boss …
Penne Awarded with Red Dot
Penne is the world’s first chair with legs made of laminated wooden tubes. It was …
Penne – Lammhults
COMPLEXITY MEETS SIMPLICITY IN LAMMHULTS PENNE CHAIR, DESIGNED BY LÄUFER/KEICHEL For Stockholm Furniture Fair 2017, …
DECO table – Lammhults
DECO table, designed by Julia Prytz for Lammhults – a contribution to a more decorative …
Lammhults’ table system Attach
A short film about ATTACH table system design by Troels Grum-Schwensen. ATTACH is a table …
Lammhults’ table system Attach Triple Design Award Winner!
Lammhults’ table system Attach, designed by Troels Grum-Schwensen, wins the European Aluminium Award 2016 Continued …
Lammhults bordssystem Attach, vinner European Aluminium Award 2016
Lammhults framgångskoncept “Attach” av Troels Grum-Schwensen Framgångarna fortsätter för Lammhults bordssystem “Attach”, formgivet av Troels …
Lammhults bordssserie Attach pristagare i Design S
Lammhults prisbelönta bordsserie ”Attach” får ytterligare uppmärksamhet och vinner pris i Design S. I Svensk …
Penne – Lammhults
LAMMHULTS INTRODUCES PENNE – THE WORLD’S FIRST CHAIR WITH LEGS MADE OF LAMINATED WOODEN TUBES. …
Aperi easy chair & sofa – Winner of the German Design Award
Soft Welcome To The Modern Office. Design Läufer & Keichel, 2016 Aperi easy chair and …
Lammhults table ATTACH winner of Gold in the International Design Awards (IDA)
Lammhults ATTACH table Gold winner in the prestigious International Design Awards (IDA). In Los Angeles, …
Portus by Johannes Foersom & Peter Hiort-Lorenzen – Lammhults
VISUAL AND ACOUSTICAL PRIVACY Launched in 2015, The Portus seating series offers many possibilities created …
Spira – Lammhults
COMFORT FOR THE MASSES Launched in 2004, Spira has been a great success for Lammhults. …
Comet XL by Gunilla Allard – Lammhults
COMET AT ITS BEST With the introduction of Comet XL, Lammhults expands the Comet seating …
Grade – Lammhults
GRADE UPGRADES Grade totality of shape has been its strong suit from its launch. Now …
Cajal table – Lammhults
MIX AND MATCH A series of small tables in different heights, shapes and materials to …
Add Move by Anya Sebton – Lammhults
VIVID STYLE IN MOTION Add Move is a brilliantly simple, wheeled four-legged chair. Light in …
Add Work by Anya Sebton – Lammhults
FUNCTION AT NEW HEIGHTS. Add Work is a task chair with a ve-star swivel base …
Area Radius by Anya Sebton – Lammhults
CREATE A ROOM WITHIN A ROOM. Anya Sebton’s Area Series adds to its lively planning …
Aperi – Lammhults
For Stockholm Furniture Fair 2016 Lammhults Introduces Aperi – a soft welcome to the modern …
Cajal table design Gunilla Allard – Lammhults
Cajal design Gunilla Allard. Cajal table is a series of small, easy to place, tables …
Funk table designed by Peter Hiort-Lorenzen & Johannes Foersom – Lammhults
New executions for Lammhults successful table series Funk, designed by the Danes Peter Hiort-Lorenzen & …
Cinema Table design by Gunilla Allard – Lammhults
In 1994, Gunilla Allard designed her most successful easy chair Cinema, one of the products …
Grade designed by the Danish duo Johannes Foersom & Peter Hiort-Lorenzen – Lammhults
At the Stockholm Furniture Fair, 3-7 February 2015, Swedish design furniture company Lammhults presents further …
Comet X designed by Gunilla Allard – Lammhults
At the Stockholm Furniture Fair, 3-7 February, Lammhults presents yet a new version of the …
Add chair & barstool by Anya Sebton – Lammhults
At Stockholm Furniture Fair 2015, Lammhults launches Add chair, yet another product in the successful …
Portus – Lammhults
For Stockholm Furniture Fair 2015, Lammhults designers Johannes Foersom and Peter Hiort- Lorenzen introduces Portus, …
Lammhults Möbel fyller 70 år
2015 blir ett betydelsefullt år för Lammhults Möbel AB. Företaget fyller 70 år och på …
Julstämning med Kasthall & Lammhults
Kasthall och Lammhults presenterar en exklusiv utställning i Kasthalls showroom under perioden 14 november till …
Add Series gives function, flexibility and design to the activity based work space by Anya Sebton – Lammhults
The Add series consists of stool and barstool, a table and an accessory program. Add …
Lammhults Home
Introducing Lammhults Home – a softer side of Lammhults. We have newly taken a series …
Introducing Grade from Lammhults
Introducing Grade from Lammhults, new chair designed by Johannes Foersom and Peter Hiort-Lorenzen. Animation: student …
Grade – Lammhults
Check out Lammhults latest chair series Grade, launched today at Salone Internazionale del Mobile in …
Cajal by Gunilla Allard – Lammhults
During Stockholm Furniture Fair Lammhults introduces the elegant and refined, timeless yet modern series Cajal, …
Lammhults at Stockholm Furniture Fair 2014
Presentation at Stockholm Furniture Fair 2014 with Anya Sebton, Gunilla Allard and Love Arbén. …
Swedish Midsummer Design Weekend
Explore the unique collaboration between leading Swedish design producers on a VIP design tour in …
Addit armchair and ottomans design by Anya Sebton – Lammhults
Addit, armchair and ottomans Addit ottoman and armchair supplements the modular system in the Addit …
Rio chair inspired by travels to Denmark and Japan by Gunilla Allard – Lammhults
Stackable chair with delicate soft lines, inspired by travels to Denmark and Japan. Available in …
Area easychair design by Anya Sebton – Lammhults
Area, Easy Chair The neat easy chair Area has a graphic profile with attitude and …
Årets möbelprofil – Lars Bülow vd på Lammhults Möbler
På den årliga Möbelriksdagen i Lammhult utsågs i torsdags Lars Bülow till Årets Möbelprofil 2012 …
In Memory Of HC Ericson
Hans Christer Ericson 1945 – 2012 The design world lost a leading light this past …
Slår tillbaka mot piraterna
Lars Bülow, brand and design manager på det framgångsrika svenska möbelföretaget Lammhult Design Group, skräder …
Comet Sport chair/armchair design by Gunilla Allard – Lammhults
Comet Sport chair/armchair 4-leg frame alt. 5-feet swivel base, 360°, of Ø16 mm powder coated …
Stolen #2 – Gunilla Allard / Maria Miesenberger @ Konsthallen Hishult
20 oktober – 16 december 2012 Form, möbler, foto och skulptur Fåtöljen ”Cinema” har fått …
Welcome to meet Lammhults and see our latest designs! Orgatec
During October 23-27 it´s time for the Orgatec fair in Cologne. We will exhibit new products …
Lammhults is back at 100% Design
After years of absence Swedish design company Lammhults will now exhibit at 100% Design in …
S70 design by Börge Lindau & Bo Lindekrantz – Lammhults
In 1965 Lammhults Mekaniska Verkstad AB (Lammhults Mechanical Workshop), as the company was called back …
Dexter – Lammhults
Dexter is a multifunctional little stool with a simple and graphical design. Place several in …
Archal – Lammhults
Archal aluminium chair is scaled down and poetic, designed for conferences and public settings, but equally …
Cargo Gastro design by Gunilla Allard – Lammhults
Lammhults’ Cargo trolley has become something of a modern design classic since its launch in …
Lammhults asked designer Anya Sebton to further develop the successful Area sofa collection
Lammhults asked designer Anya Sebton to further develop the successful Area sofa collection. New upholstered …
Gunilla Allard’s Comet strengthens shining star in Lammhults range – Lammhults
Gunilla Allard’s Comet strengthens shining star in Lammhults range Gunilla Allard is continuing her successful …
Area design by Anya Sebton – Lammhults
Area, design by Anya Sebton This modular seating series with its six different modular units …
Millibar Lounge Table by Anya Sebton – Lammhults
Millibar Lounge Table Design: Anya Sebton Lammhults extends the Millibar product family with a new …
Club Sofa by Peter Hiort-Lorenzen & Johannes Foersom – Lammhults
Club Sofa Design: Peter Hiort-Lorenzen & Johannes Foersom Peter Hiort-Lorenzen & Johannes Foersom have responded …
Millibar Soft lounge by Anya Sebton – Lammhults
Millibar Soft lounge Design: Anya Sebton Inspired by the moncler collection ”Gamma bleu” by thom …
Campus Air Armchair – Lammhults
Campus Air Armchair Design: Peter Hiort-Lorenzen & Johannes Foersom Lammhults introduced the Campus chair in …
Comet chair by Gunilla Allard – Lammhults
Comet Chair / Easy Chair Design: Gunilla Allard “A comet is a celestial body orbiting …
Imprint – Lammhults
Imprint Small Chair & Bar Stool Design: Peter Hiort-Lorenzen & Johannes Foersom The first Imprint …