Jenny Nordberg (Swedish, b. 1978) is an industrial designer based in Malmö, Sweden, whose interdisciplinary work explores and challenges contemporary notions of design as well as the role of the designer. Nordberg is driven by a desire to develop strategies and alternative methods that counter the problematic aspects of mass production. Her research and studio practices focus on the history as well as the future of consumerism with an end to transforming the preconditions that exist in much of the design world today. Stylistically Nordberg’s work is characterized by a combination of Brutalism and Minimalism, and often leaning on chance as an important element. In her ongoing series, 3 to 5 Seconds: Rapid Handmade Production, begun in 2014, Nordberg researched mirror-making techniques from the nineteenth century and became fascinated with the process and results of her experiments. To create each mirror, a thin layer of liquid silver is applied to the surface of the glass, where its uncontrolled movement results in a unique design where unpredictability is central to its allure. Nordberg’s mirrors create a striking effect wherein one’s reflection appears almost as a haunting apparition, an ephemeral quality that contrasts dramatically with the immediacy of the design itself.
Nordberg received an MFA in industrial design and has been the recipient of numerous awards and commissions. Her work has been exhibited widely.
JENNY NORDBERG
(b. 1978, Sweden)
EDUCATION
2007 Fashion and Technology, K3, Malmö Hogskola
2004 Entepreneurship and Business Development, Centre of Finances Lund
University
1999-2004 Industrial Design Programme, Master of Fine Art, Lund University
1998-1999 Åsa Folk High School, preparatory arts education
1999 Evening course in photography
1998 Graphics Course for Ove Ottosson in Åsa
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2023 Strategies for Moving Freely, Design Museum, Helsinki, Finland
2022 Active Cargo, Vandalorum, Vämamo, Sweden
Positive Enough, Stockholm Modern, Stockholm, Sweden
2020 Stratagies for Moving Freely, Stockholm Modern, Sweden
2018 Most Common Element, Galleri Obra, Malmö
Fluid Add-Ons, Stockholm Modern, Stockholm
2016 3 to 5 Seconds, Hafnarborg Museum, Reykjavik, Iceland
2015 Vandalorum, Vämamo
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2021 Unconventional Illusions, dual exhibition with José Manuel Castro Lopéz,
C Gallery, Melbourne, Australia
Printed Matter, Galleri 22, Stockholm, Sweden
CUP Exhibition, The Classen Library, Copenhagen, Denmark
2019 Design Matters, Umeå Art Museum, Sweden
Portrait Painter, Stockholm Modern, Chart Art Fair, Copenhagen, Denmark
MiArt, Stockholm Modern, Milan, Italy
Salon Art + Design, Hostler Burrows, New York, USA
Design Miami, Hostler Burrows, Miami, USA
2018 Scene Unseen in the Subtropics: Contemporary Design from Denmark, Finland,
Norway and Sweden, He Xiangning Art Museum, Shenzen, China
Whatmatters, Dutch Design Week, Eindhoven, Denmark
Various Behaviours, Stockholm Modern, Chart Art Fair, Copenhagen, Denmark
Berättelser, Konsthall Marieholm, Marieholm, Sweden
Nomad Circle, Etage Projects, Monaco, France
2017 What’s your DNA, Dutch Design Week, Eindhoven, Netherlands
The Plinth Project, Etage Projects, Copenhagen, Denmark
2016 October-November, Galleri Obra, Malmö, Sweden
Welcome to Sweden, Swedish Pavilion, London Design Biennale, UK
Nomad, Form/Design Centre, Malmö, Sweden
Sweden Plays, Salone Internazionale del Mobile, Milano, Italy
2015 Twelve, Stockholm Furniture Fair, Stockholm, Sweden
AWARDS AND GRANTS
2022 Designer of the Year- Elle Deco Awards (Sweden)
2022 Designer of the year – Swedish Design Awards by RUM
2022 The City of Malmö Business Award - Winner in the category:
Creative and Cultural Industry for the SPOK project
2022 The Swedish Arts Grants Committee project suport
2020 The Swedish Arts Grants Committee two year working grant
2019 RUM Award, Object of the year
2019 Create in Residence, IASPIS/Nova Iskra, Belgrad
2018 Residence Magazine Design Award - Craft of the year
2017 Formbärare 2017 Svensk Form Syd
2017 Form Award – Årets Nykomling (Newcomer of the Year)
2016 The Swedish Arts Grants Committee two year working grant
Malmö Stads Näringslivspris inom Kulturella och Kreativa Näringar
(The City of Malmö Award in the category Creative and Cultural Industry)
Fröfabriken Residency in Landskrona
2015 Malmö Stads Ateljéstipendium
2014 Create in Residence at Nova Iskra, the Swedish Institute
2012 Malmö Stads Ateljéstipendium
2011 The Swedish Arts Grants Committee one year working grant
Malmö Stads Stora Miljöpris
Elle Interior Design Award
2010 Wallpaper Annual Design Award
Terre de Femmes, andra pris
Nöjesguiden Malmö/Lund Pris i kategorin Form
Allas Miljöpris, nominerad
Rankad nummer 7 av 100 i nykomlingslistan “Uppstickare” av Shortcut
2009 Region Skånes Designstipendium
Greendigger Stipedium, Sweden Cleantech Incubators
HDK’s pris för bästa monter, Stockholm Furniture Fair
Malmö Stads Ateljéstipendium
2008 IASPIS kulturutbyte, Portugal
2007 Malmö Stads Kulturstipendium
IASPIS kulturutbyte, Paris
IASPIS kulturutbyte, Milano
