Scandinavian Design in the context of culture and cultural memory. Its market and consumption

I found them very artistic overall, very well thought and user friendly.

I must admit that I tend to associate Scandinavian design with IKEA - i.e. low-cost, well-designed and functional (as well as being sold in massive out-of-town stores, teaming with families and cafeterias selling Swedish meatballs!). However, I suspect I am seeing only one side of the story, as IKEA is an international firm based on scale and mass-production, admittedly with quite pronounced values in terms of design and principle. I think the other side of the story - authentic local design - would probably be unaffordable in the UK, which is a great shame. The popular appeal of IKEA also leads to a contradiction in my perceptions of Scandinavian design, because on the one hand I regard Scandinavian design as being long-lasting and durable, yet I associate IKEA furniture as relatively cheap and easy to dismantle and throw away. I sometimes see Scandinavian interiors in books and magazines, and my impression is that what I'm missing is the more mellow and naturalistic elements that do not appear in mass-produced items. It would be fantastic if this level of authenticity could be more readily available in other countries and at mid-market prices. I also hope that other countries can learn from Scandinavia and make the most of their native craft traditions to produce high quality and modern furniture with some of the best qualities of Scandinavian design.

simple. natural materials, functional, clean lines, natural shapes.

skandinavia is expensive, but once you find a job here, life gets affordable because salaries are really high!!!