Leaving sketches behind: Martin Larsson

Name: Martin Viktor Anders Larsson

Age: 22 

Hometown: Jakobstad, Finland

Could you tell us a bit about yourself?

I grew up in a small, seashore town called Jakobstad, in Western Finland. I had a good and peaceful childhood, like the most of us I think; running around in forests, teasing my brother and my sister, playing on playgrounds and so on. Ever since I could hold a pen in my hand I've been drawing. The most likely reason why I got "stuck" in drawing was my grandmother; she mostly painted landscapes, but drew and wrote a couple of poems as well; you could say that she was an artist. Every time she and my grandfather came to visit us, I sat in her lap, or beside her at the kitchen table, and we drew together. So, ever since this, drawing and painting have been two of my hobbies and interests.

 



Self-portrait



What got you interested in studying furniture design?

In my last year in high school I started to think about my future, which school I should try to apply to. I got more and more interested in culture, art and architecture, so one of my relatives suggested that I should continue my studies at the upper secondary school, and so I did. At that time I wanted to become an architect and my goal was to apply to the Aalto University. However, my dreams and plans went downhill because of my bad mathematic skills.  

 

Even though my dream of studying at Aalto University didn't become reality, I still wanted to study and do something in the creative field, something where you hold a pen in your hand, so to say. So, one day one of my teachers suggested that I should try to apply to the design program at Novia University of Applied Sciences in Turku. So I did and here I am! I must admit that I was slightly sceptical at first, but as soon as I began my studies, it got more and more interesting and I got more and more positive towards this line of work.   

You as a designer / What kind of jobs interest you?

It's a bit early to say, at this stage. I have a small feeling that I'm quite traditional, even slightly conservative at some points. But, at the same time, I'm still open and like to pick up modern expressions and new ways of thinking, which you have to be these days, in my opinion.

What kind of jobs interests me then? To be honest I haven't thought that much about it, but I could imagine myself working with industrial design and / or with interior design in the future.       

From what angle will you be approaching the theme "Senses"?

My concept is that I'm going to "fool the eye", so to say. The frame on the sofa table that I'm making has a twisted look; at the same time it's symmetric it's also non-symmetric, which makes it more interesting. It's also a combination between the straight, traditional lines and the twisted, modern ones.
 





Sofa table Nr 8

What do you hope for or expect from Stockholm Furniture Fair 2015?

Firstly to get more experience in this line of work, to see how people respond and what they expect from you. Secondly to get contacts, of course. To make friendships that you can build on, which hopefully leads to working partners one day. 

Can you name a piece of furniture that has made an impression on you and why?

It's quite hard to put your finger on it, but maybe Arne Jacobsen's Swan chair. It has a smooth and elegant look, I like the way the lines flows around.