++cataci.com topics/Ann Wåhlström++

Ann Wåhlström was born in Stockholm in 1957. She has produced glass in Stockholm, Switzerland and the United States. She has been designing for Kosta Boda, one of the most well-known glassmakers from Sweden, since 1986. She has also taught at the Pilchuck Glass School in the U.S., and at Beckmans College of Design in Stockholm.

Style-pd(PD): What are your sources of inspiration?

Ann Wåhlström(AW): look at nature. I never get tired of seeing the shape of flowers, water, and leaves. I also have a habit of looking at what is going on in water.

PD: You have extensive experience as a glass designer. Does this have something to do with it?

AW: Yes, but I think that non-figure shapes are attractive. For example, I like shells. I like the patterns of shells which are non-figure shapes. I think they are very inspiring.

PD: Do you think that the fact that you are Swedish affects your work? A lot of people think that Swedish design is closely connected to nature.

AW:I think we are very close to the nature. I grew up in Stockholm and I loved to look at the trees and water. I lived in New York for a few years, but I didn't see trees! But here, I am surrounded by nature.

PD: What do you think is the most appealing part of being a glass designer?

AW: It is very appealing in the way you never really know what is going to happen. It is almost like the material lives its own life. When you draw something and go to glass factory, the craftsman can make something quite similar, but not exactly the same. But lots of things happen in the process. You might actually pick up what is happening on the way. So it is very much in the process. When you make something with steel, you know exactly what is going to happen. So glass for me is a bit mysterious.

PD: It is more like collaboration with the producers?

AW: Yes, with a craftsman. Designers and craftsmen collaborate to make products.

PD: So for example, do you think that metal designers are more responsible for products than glass designers?

AW: Then, you can be more precise. It is more like designers can design at home.

PD: You have mainly worked as a glass designer, but you have also been working with other materials as well. Is that something you started recently?

AW: In the late 80's, I did lots of different projects, and last year I felt like doing something different. You can actually benefit from working with other materials. You get different angles.

PD: What do you think is important in design? In order to live as a professional designer, is there any quality you think you need to have?

AW: I think you have to try to be true to yourself. Of course, there is a certain amount of compromise. If you can stand for it - if you can say, "This is my product and I can be proud of it", then it is good. If you compromise too much, then you cannot stand for it.