Year of Design Will Boost Swedish Industry

Year of Design Will Boost Swedish Industry
The pantheon of Swedish design classics already contains some familiar names. From carmakers such as Volvo and Saab to the furniture of Ikea, Swedish companies have been setting the pace internationally. Combine that with Sweden's well-documented success in IT and telecom, and it is unsurprising that Sweden is turning out high-tech products with cutting edge design.

Sweden's focus on design is stronger than ever. The Swedish Industrial Design Foundation (SVID), together with Svensk Form, the Swedish Society of Crafts and Design, have designated 2005 Year of Swedish Design. The aim of the project is to encourage wider use of good design, and thereby to create business opportunities.

The Year of Design is focused on design that can benefit society through development of culture and the arts, economic growth, enhancement of democracy and environmental protection.

Robin Edman, managing director of SVID, describes design as "a competitiveness tool with enormous development potential in Sweden today."