Chief designer and co-founder of Massproductions Chris Martin was recently a part of the exhibition The Bruno Mathsson Prize: 40 Years (October 26, 2024–March 30, 2025). The event celebrates the legacy of Bruno Mathsson (1907–1988), a renowned Swedish furniture designer and architect dedicated to creating a better future through design.
Mathsson established a foundation before his death that has awarded the Bruno Mathsson Prize annually since 1984 to individuals advancing furniture design and related fields. The exhibition presented the many prominent designers and interior architects who have received the prize, including Chris Martin who was honoured with the award back in 2020, together with this year's laureates Fredrik Paulsen, Jenny Nordberg, and Finn Ahlgren.
We interview Chris Martin about the experience:
Chris Martin and the Woodwerk Chair.
How does it feel to be featured in the Bruno Mathsson 40th-anniversary exhibition?
'It feels great, it's a really important award and I'm honoured to join all of my fellow laureates in what amounts to a very interesting collection of Scandinavian design.
It was a unique opportunity to meet so many designers all at once. Workshops were held by this year's three winners and that really helped everyone to interact and exchange ideas.'
Your design Woodwerk was featured at the event. What was the creative process like for Woodwerk, from the initial sketches to the final design?
'It's a project that has its roots in my degree show work from 30 years ago! I was very interested in making a smooth connection between a back leg and a backrest. Woodwerk is a refinement of that piece, with added function and knowledge gained from working with production all of these years.
The seat was quite a challenge. At first, I wanted to use laminated wood, but it switched to solid wood when I realised that the 5 axis milling machines at the factory were capable of making the complicated shape. The chair is much nicer for being made completely in solid wood.'
The The Bruno Mathsson Prize: 40 Years exhibition.
Bruno Mathsson's work is iconic. Does his legacy influence your design approach in any way?
'Being in Värnamo and seeing Mathsson's home and studio is very inspiring. He was an innovator in all aspects, being a jogger before jogging really became a thing, building a special bed for sleeping outside in the fresh air. I'd like to adopt that kind of thinking to both design and life!'
More information:
Massproductions
[email protected]
www.massproductions.se
Sweden