By Editor Design.nl / 12-02-2009

Ineke Hans told Damn magazine recently about when she was young, how she thought Swedes survived their harsh winters.

"My childish theory was that they got more white snow than we did in Holland, just to give them a good reflector in the darkness. It's very human to try to get a grip on things. It's part of my work as a design as well. However...sometimes you have to take things as they are."

This winter, Ineke Hans was invited by Stockholm fair to be their guest of honour. She was commissioned to create a lounge which served as a relaxation and reflection oasis in the centre of the busy fair. The walls of the lounge featured her philosophy and thoughts that puzzled Hans about design or the way we live today; the small details that can make enormous difference, how objects attract us, how children are masters in dealing with what doesn't make sense and do all products always have to make sense?

It was a hectic week involving a tight schedule, giving talks and meeting people, people and more people. "What I really enjoyed was the optimistic mood of the Stockholm fair. The quality was high and I think that the long term way the Swedes tend to think (about design) could turn out very well for them in these times," Hans says. "I found it really a pleasure to be the guest of honour. It felt like a warm bath, everyone was sincerely interested in my work. Of course this is always nice if you are very passionate about the things you do."

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