What is the true value of creativity in today’s design landscape?
What do fashion and furniture design really have in common? And why have some countries succeeded in building a design identity that extends far beyond individual products and industries?

These questions set the stage for our latest Design Salon, hosted in collaboration with Oslo Runway at Kunstnernes Hus on October 22, 2026.

Bringing together voices from the worlds of fashion, design and culture, we invited an engaged audience to explore how creativity, identity and collaboration across disciplines can help shape the future of Norwegian design.

The conversation featured Anders Kemp (D2), Anne-Stine Bae (Rolodex Studio) and Sunniva Hartgen (Oslo Runway / SHY Collective), moderated by Guro Røberg.

Drawing on different perspectives and experiences from the creative industries, the discussion centred around what Norway can learn from the world's leading design nations – and what it takes to build a stronger, more unified design culture.

Design Is More Than a Product

In countries such as Italy, France and Denmark, fashion, furniture, architecture and culture have long been closely intertwined. Together, these disciplines have helped shape strong national identities, with distinctive aesthetics and cultural influence extending far beyond their borders. But what allows certain countries to build such recognisable creative identities? This was one of the central questions behind the evening's conversation. Because design is not simply about what we create, but also about the values, stories and perspectives we choose to represent. The way we dress and the way we furnish our homes are different expressions of the same things: identity, belonging and culture. And perhaps part of the untapped potential of Norwegian design lies in recognising the connections between them.

Stronger Together

Norway has a rich design heritage, strong traditions of craftsmanship and a new generation of creative talent increasingly making its mark internationally. Yet there remains great potential in bringing these creative communities closer together. How can we build a more distinctive Norwegian design identity if we continue to operate within the boundaries of our individual industries? The evening's theme invited reflection on the importance of collaboration, knowledge-sharing and creating spaces where different perspectives can challenge and inspire one another. To strengthen Norway's position internationally, we must look beyond individual designers and brands. We must also build a culture around them.

A culture in which fashion, furniture design, art and craftsmanship do not compete for attention, but instead contribute to something greater together.

This Is Just the Beginning

A heartfelt thank you to Oslo Runway for an inspiring collaboration, to our wonderful panellists, moderator Guro Røberg and everyone who joined us at Kunstnernes Hus.

Design Salon is about more than a single evening. It is about building a community, making room for new perspectives and contributing to a stronger culture of Norwegian design.

We look forward to continuing the conversation.

Driven to shape our future design story.