Through the Looking Glass – An Exploration of Transition Through Different Lenses
This design project aims to shed light on the ongoing “renaissance” within the Kingdom of Glass in Småland, Sweden. Through observation and personal participation, it reflects on the transition happening in real-time – from what the Kingdom of Glass once was to what it currently is- and offers some thoughts about what might lie ahead. While zooming in and out from different lenses, one being the highly personal perspective as a native to the region of Småland, but also through the lens of a designer focusing on sustainable change. With the aspiration of mediating, how sustainable design principles could be implemented in the transition process.
Throughout economic turmoil, wars, pandemics, and fast-paced society, the Kingdom of Glass has continuously adapted and reinvented itself, remaining in a never-ending change cycle. However, change, while often unsettling, can provide a catalyst for growth, which the Kingdom of Glass has proven time and time again. While some things have changed the pride and passion the craft inspires remain crystal clear.
One of the privileges of growing up in Småland and knowing the area also means I’m aware of the good as well as the bad. Meaning, that apart from the Kingdom of Glass’s rich cultural heritage it also has a dark history with pollution. To the extent that the workers frequently experience lead poisoning, and multiple townships are still having to deal with the repercussions of the waste that was nonchalantly dumped into nature. Even though research and progress are being made concerning sustainability, there’s still a long way to go.
As a designer, I see this transition as an opportunity to explore how sustainable design principles could be implemented moving forward to ensure that we don’t repeat the same mistakes. While, as a native, I still want to preserve the cultural heritage and history that the region is so well known for.
To do so, I decided that I wanted to create something that could represent all the different components within– the history, the industrialization, the pollution, the craft, the transformation, the ability to constantly adapt, and the willingness to change, along with the pride, the passion, the craftsmanship, the material, the weight and depth of it all combined into an object where it can be viewed and give space to reflect. What intrigued me was the duality and paradox of what a reflection truly is, because when confronted with a physical reflection we only see what we allow ourselves to see, depending on what inner lens we are using. If I were to look through the lens of nostalgia or as a critical designer with a passion for sustainability the outcome would most likely differ quite substantially.
“…when confronted with a physical reflection we only see what we allow ourselves to see…”
This insight becomes the inspiration for a collection of mirrors. Which are very much conceptual – their purpose was never to act as a “normal” everyday mirror and are my interpretation of this very complex subject I’m exploring – I was trying to capture all the different aspects while still giving space for the observer to add their thoughts because as I mentioned before, a reflection is what we allow it to be and depends on what lens we choose to observe it through.
My intention not only for the collection itself but with my report as well is to create a platform and mediator; so that more people can become aware and get involved in the process of the transition and hopefully together find innovative ways of moving forward towards a more sustainable future for the Kingdom of Glass. Because there needs to be more done and for that to happen, there needs to be a greater involvement of people from all different sectors to add their knowledge, lenses, and own reflections.
