Formex kickstarts the design autumn
The Nordic region’s most important marketplace for interior and design
Foto: Stockholmsmässan | Angelica_Liljenroth
The Grand Entrance Square Exhibition
When the design and interior fair Formex opens its doors in Stockholm on August 26, visitors will be greeted by an emotional knockout of color, form, and pattern. At the entrance square, a vibrant experience has been created with maximalism in focus, curated by fashion designer Maxjenny Forslund and trend analyst Jan Rundgren. Together, the duo has crafted a visionary exhibition they call Eclectic Maximalism, redefining our perception of Scandinavian design. In a world where minimalism often dominates the design scene, Maxjenny and Jan aim to showcase an alternative path where technology, color, expression, and sustainability coexist.
“The physical meeting place continues to be incredibly important. In addition to being a marketplace for business, knowledge, and inspiration, we want to promote networking and collaboration. That’s why it feels especially rewarding to bring together fashion and interior design—and two creatives who have never met before but will now merge their thoughts and souls to elevate this year’s entrance square exhibition to a wow dimension,” says Sonja Björk Ebert, Project Manager at Formex.
Wallpaper in Focus
With the exhibition Tapetgalleriet (The Wallpaper Gallery), featuring around ten wallpaper producers, and Tapetlunden (The Wallpaper Grov)e, visitors are invited to a unique experience with 150 meters of wallpaper inspiration—a colorful tribute to Sweden’s unique tradition of printmaking on paper and textiles.
Here, historical techniques meet innovative design. Handtryckta Tapeter Långholmen demonstrates how old original samples are brought back to life in their workshop on the central island Långholmen in Stockholm, while Lim & Handtryck continues the tradition with classic rollers and deep knowledge of color. Lisa Bengtsson contributes with her playful and characterful patterns, and Rebel Walls with large-scale digital prints. Boråstapeter showcases the full range of its offerings, from collaborations with contemporary designers to iconic patterns like Stig Lindberg’s Berså, which—like Formex—celebrates its 65th anniversary this year.
Other featured names include Norrviva, Duro, Sandberg Wallpaper, Midbec, Majvillan, Fiona Walldesign, and Paintpart—together creating an inspiring snapshot of the current state of Swedish wallpaper design.
Program Highlights at the Fair
Formex always offers an inspiring stage program, featuring well-known names from Swedish TV design and interior shows, as well as industry influencers and established speakers.
Some of the Keynote speakers in August include:
- Lena Nyholm, interior expert and TV host
- Marie Olsson Nylander, interior designer and TV personality
- Jan Rundgren, trend expert
- Birgit Torkildsby, color manager at Jotun
- Louise Byg Kongsholm, trend researcher
...and many more.
In addition to inspiring talks, visitors can join Lena Nyholm on a Things I Love tour around the fair, where she highlights her favorite products. Or take part in Stefan “Trendstefan” Nilsson’s Design Walk through the exhibition halls for deeper insights into this year’s colors, items, and inspiration.
See the full program at formex.se
About Formex:
Formex is a trade fair where national and international buyers, agents, wholesalers, importers, designers, producers, and media meet twice a year to explore the latest in design, interiors, and trends. For 65 years, Formex has offered inspiration, trend insights, educational workshops, exciting speakers, and influential exhibitions to its visitors. The fair offers 8 different product areas. See the list of exhibitors for the fair in August here.
