June 2022 - awarded winners at the Red Dot Design Award for the work with the Bold Case for Nudient. Max & Jesper officially receiving the winning award and the Red Dot Gala of 2022. Thank you! In the word of the jury: “Robust and available in many colours – from bright to subtle – Bold is a striped smartphone case … the plastics used in Bold are from 100 percent recycled PC Plastic. The Bold smartphone case attracts attention with a versatile colour palette and delights with reliable protective functionality.”

Design S is Sweden’s national design award. Design S singles out creative and innovative solutions in every imaginable area of products, services and environments, regardless of the design field. The award has been presented every second year since 2006. For the Aluminium Bench “Domino” for Byarums Bruk, Jesper was shortlisted along 3 others for the grand Aluminium Prize 2020.

Flip Table by Jesper Ståhl for Design House Stockholm is awarded best design of the year 2019 by Plaza - with the motivation as follows: “Flip Table is in many ways the perfect table. It is not one table, but three ... A table to live with for a long time! “

The title Masterpiece. If that is not something grand then what is? My most extensive designer portrait so far, being selected and awarded “Design Masterpiece”. I got this magazine from South Korea, The Monthly IX Design Magazine. Towards the end of the magazine I found the most extensive article about my work ranging over 18 (!) pages. Fantastic. After a while I realised that in Korean, you read starting from the other end… the article was not presented last, but first.

Design S of 2018, the bi-annual design award with a grand event at Kulturhuset Stockholm. I was shortlisted (but not expecting to win this time). But as Li Pamp announced the winner of the Lighting project of the year, I realised I was called up open stage. For the spotlight series “Mocca” for Lystra. 
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The jury statement read “Through meticulous work, Jesper Ståhl has designed a spotlight with a personal expression that stands out among the huge number of cylindrical spotlights on the market. The elegant meeting between fixture and track mount gives Mocca a considerately discreet design of high aesthetic quality, without taking attention away from what is illuminated. The fact that the slit required for passive cooling is bevelled demonstrates keen accuracy and strengthens it minimal elegance.”

This is “Smålands och Ölands Gastronomiska Akademi”, the Academy of Gastronomy of the Swedish area of Småland and Öland. An award for my collective work in the area of food and design. At the very day of the event in Växjö, I happened to be in London, but on site was my youngest son Aron unexpectedly receiving the award in my name. Thank you Aron for a great "thank you" speech which echoed all the way to Heathrow Airport… I could not have made a better impression on the crowd and jury myself. 
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The jury statement reads “For his ability to create everyday objects that fits in the most various of settings, with his distinct and timeless design that includes a highly thought through functionality”.

I regard the Elle Decoration Design Award on of the most prestigious awards in Sweden with the always grand Galas inviting the very top of the Swedish designers and architects. I am proud to say this was my third winning Elle Decoration Award. For Mezzo, a bathroom design created for and with Vedum. The video found below gives you a glimpse of the event. Thank you Svante and Karin at Elle. I am most grateful that you see my work

The magazine Årets Rum has a party in connection to the annual Stockholm Furniture Fair. They announce winners in a few categories, the most prominent one being the Designer of the year. Together with Karl Malmvall, with who I created the Wick Chair for Design House Stockholm, I got nominated and shortlisted together with three others for the title. Thanks for the honour and for the kind words. The jury statement read as follows: “In the works of both Jesper Ståhl & Karl Malmvall, technical knowledge and sensitivity are both clearly present. The products they create shows both deep craftsmanship and a unique design expression, along with a clear storytelling in the result.”

Design S of 2018, the design award as arranged by Svensk Form - the Swedish Society of Design. I was nominated alongside three others for the grand Aluminium Award for the spotlights series vinci designed for Lystra. Fun fact, one of the other nominees was sitting just beside me, my brother Joel for his work together with Mårten Cyrén with a bicycle stand.
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Vinci is a whole new generation of spotlights. Now that the quality and efficiency of the LED has come as far as to be used in more demanding contexts such as for shop lighting, we decided to design and develop a collection of spotlights that are classic in expression, uncompromising in design, and have outstanding qualities for distributing the reverse flow of heat that defines high power LED lights.

This is an award party jury based, and partly voted by the public, ending up with an award as the best bathroom design of the year, this time in 2016. In fierce competition with the most well known brands and designers, we won. Jesper together with Vedum - the best bathroom design of the year for the design concept Free.

This was an award with a kind of twist (for me). The Muuuz International Awards, also known as Miaw Awards, are organized by the ArchiDesignClub in partnership with Muuuz magazine. They intend to identify every year the most outstanding new products for architecture. It is a French award and they found my poetic A-format cupboard “No.216” designed for the brand Voice, recently acquired by the brand Abstracta. The design award cermony took place in Paris, and a few days after a got a congratulation from colleagues in the business. I was indeed the winner but the invitation had not reached me through the bureaucracy of the new ownership of Voice… I still wonder what happened on stage in Paris as they announced the winner on stage.

This is one of my proudest moments in my career. The prestigious Elle Decoration Award when at its heights, a few well selected categories, and all secret until the very gala event, all national and some international press on site at the Rotunda at “Café Opera” in Stockholm.
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I had personally invited two of my main clients, Vedum and Design House Stockholm to join me (not knowing about each other). Maybee I took secrecy too serious but I enjoyed this moment. Out of the 10-12 awards, I got two, and furthermore these two were presented as the very first two awards of the evening:
“The aim of this design was to create a personal set of bathroom furniture that brings in the feeling of the living room into the bathroom. The inspiration from the swirling water is professionally captured in the shapes. The bathroom of the year goes to - Art by Jesper Ståhl for Vedum.”
And then.
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The product for the set table of the year, goes to Stockholm by Jesper Ståhl, for Design House Stockholm…

This is one of my proudest moments in my career. The prestigious Elle Decoration Award when at its heights, a few well selected categories, and all secret until the very gala event, all national and some international press on site at the Rotunda at “Café Opera” in Stockholm.
I had personally invited two of my main clients, Vedum and Design House Stockholm to join me (not knowing about each other). Maybee I took secrecy too serious but I enjoyed this moment. Out of the 10-12 awards, I got two, and furthermore these two were presented as the very first two awards of the evening:
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The bathroom of the year, goes to Art by Jesper Ståhl, for Vedum…
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And then:
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“With a balance between functional ergonomics and production challenges, this is set of cutlery with a classic yet contemporary design. The product of the year for the set table is - Stockholm by Jesper Ståhl, for Design house Stockholm.”

My first, but not last, Red Dot Design Award. For the design af Art, for the brand Vedum. Co-owner and my primary partner at Vedum, Niklas joined me in receiving the Red Dot award of 2013 in Essen Germany. Making the designer proud and creating lots of attention and recognition to Vedum and to the bathroom concept Art. Thank you Professor Peter Zec and jury.
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“In search of good design” – the Red Dot Design Award is one of the world’s largest design competitions. The Red Dot Label has become established internationally as one of the most sought-after marks of quality for good design. 
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Jury statement: "The functional, yet shape-oriented design of this collection almost gives the bathroom the appearance of a living room. This impression is heightened by the attention to detail and the quality of the craftsmanship.”

This is an award party jury based, and partly voted by the public, ending up with an award as the best bathroom design of the year 2013. A shortlist of a few well selected and curated bathroom design were selected by a jury, and voting was by the public. Yes, we won. Jesper together with Vedum - the very best bathroom design of the year.

The furniture business of Sweden has this very special “parliament discussion”, an arena to discuss the particular of the area of the furniture business with people inside the business such as large and small brands, entrepreneurs, designers, architects etc. But also including politicians, city planners and property developers. During these two days of discussion, some individuals and companies are awarded for their work contributing to the business as a whole. In 2013 I was shortlisted with my Jesper Design along three others as the “Design company of the year”. I did not win first prize but I was there on the very top. Thank you!

Back in 2013, the German Design Award did their own nomination of projects to highlight. And I got nominated for - not one - but two Awards. First one one was the Virtu kitchen knives which was relaunched during this year in black - Virtu Black. For Portuguese company Ivo Cutelarias. Second one was my No. 216 Cupboard for Voice just launched in Germany. Nominated the German Design Award in the furniture category. Two nomination in two completely different categories. Double thank you

I am from the region of Småland Sweden, Småland literally translated to Small Land. An area full of small business an entrepreneurship and cooperation. To promote local business to use design as a competitive advantage, a venture was formed that also awarded companies already using design in the business strategy. I was selected and nominated the year 2012 as having the “Design strategy of the year”. This was an unexpected recognition and I was happy to receive this honour in conjunction to the “Furniture parliament” - Möbelriksdagen - this very year. Thank you.

Design S is Sweden’s national design award. Design S singles out creative and innovative solutions in every imaginable area of products, services and environments, regardless of the design field. The award has been presented every second year since 2006. 
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In 2012 I was one of a few nominations for the 2012 edition of this award, for the work done in the cutlery set Stockholm designed for Design house Stockholm. This set of cutlery was launched in late 2012 and received lots of media attention, this nomination included, for its design which is said to be a very contemporary design with a flirt to traditions. A set of cutlery in stainless steel and solid Pom Plastic in a solid sweeping ergonomic form. All about balance.

At the Ambiente international Design fair in Frankfurt, only the very best of design was selected to a central exhibition space, an honour called “Designplus”. The product awarded was the new black edition Virtu, selected by Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH, Rat für Formgebung and Deutscher Industrie- und Handelskammertag DIHK, Berlin.
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Virtublack is a set of kitchen knives designed by Swedish designer Jesper Ståhl for the Portuguese quality producer & brand Ivo Cutelarias. The design is aimed for the demanding user and the professional chef, designed to be well balanced for the eye as well as in the hand. Soft form with a distinct profile. The knives are drop-forged and hand finished, true to the art of quality knifes. Virtublack consists of several sizes of handles & blades, all in black for a dramatic & contemporary design.

The Swedish interior design magazine is well known for its high profile and great Scandinavian taste. In 2011 the magazine was headed by Mårten Niléhn, and as the tradition was, they awarded and highlighted the very best of Scandinavian Design of the year. I was indeed very happy to receive the top award of the best storage design of 2011 for the No. 216 Cupboard designed for Voice. Thank you!
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The jury statement: “A strike of genius from designer Jesper Ståhl - when the standard A format for paper become the anatomi of a cupboard. A both mathematical and metaphorical furniture masterpiece. It is not often you come across a design that utilise som many aspects all originated form one core idea, here magnificently homogeneous executed - and indeed functional.”

Most awards is mainly to receive the honour. Some includes a sum of money. This award is one of the latter, and one of the largest sums connected to a design award. This was also the first award by Swecast, and a design award promoting the use of Aluminium in contemporary design. I was awarded First Prize, including the sum 100.000 SEK on an event at Elmia, Jönköping, Sweden. For my work with Liverti for Fagerhult. A light pendant where I introduced details in cast and highly polished aluminium to add character and to hold the pieces physically together, designed like a piece of jewellery. Where function and poetry of design goes together as one

The Swedish Ministry of Culture has an entrance and window at Drottninggatan 16 Stockholm. This is one of Stockholms most central and popular walking street. The Ministry of Culture offered this spot for selected few artists, craftsmen and designers to display their work for a limited time. Not at the same time, but one by one as a challenge prize between artists to artists, from craft to craft. In the spring of 2007 I was selected to follow up after my friend and Master craftsman Leif Burman to represent the creative designers of Sweden in the very window at Drottninggatan. My work on display in the very centre of Sweden, for the public and the people at the ministry of culture to see every day for two months.

My first award of a sharp project. Sharp as in created for a company and in full production. Sharp also literally as it was a set of kitchen knives. Designed for the Portuguese company Ivo, the project “Virtu” is a set of all forged stainless steel knives. Solid quality and soon becoming their premium segment of knives. Design and launched year 2000, awarded diploma from the newly founded “Core Design” of 2001 for its design. The nine headed International jury included Dieter Rams, Gert Wingårdh, Michael Erlhoff and Alberto Meda. Wow. 
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The knives was later rewarded again and again, including Designplus in Germany and multiple national design awards in Portugal. An anniversary edition in gold was launched in 2010, following an all black version in 2012 and later also in copper. As I write this in summer 2022, the Virtu line is still in production. Still the premium line of Ivo Cutelarias. Dieter Rams was always right, good design should last.

My main degree project was a drum kit, dubbed Drum Revolution. A new way to approach the traditional drum set. I researched, made a concept, refined, created drawings, made parts, had other parts made for me, ending top in a fully working drum kit to put on display for the Degree show of 1994 at the Royal College of Art, Kensington Gore. They layout of the whole exhibition was decided by the tutors and I got the primary spot at the very entrance. I did not think so much about this at the time, but later I understood the recognition and honour that I, in a typical understated British way, was granted.
Many magazines covered the event, one of the being the prominent American “ID Design Magazine” which rounded up the year with the 42:nd Annual Design review awarding the very best of design of the year past. Lo and  behold, my Drum Revolution was awarded. I got an invitation to take part in an event ceremony, and in the magazine a my project was sharing a spread with a project by Ideo for Nike and by Mr. Rashid for Siemens. In good company…

As a part of any Masters Degree it the Royal College of Art, you are expected to write an essay, to be read by Author and tutor Penny Sparke and Rector Christoffer Frayling. As I was from Sweden and from a Swedish point of view, I took a different approach to design studies than the traditional national design education route. So I thought, what will be missing in my future knowledge bank when finished? So I decided to research and write my essays named “In search of the Spirit of Sweden”, an essay about Scandinavian design from an inside and outside perspective, adding my own experience being from a family active in the furniture design of Sweden for generations. In this college-wide part assignment, about 3-5% gets on the very top, getting awarded “Commendation”. I was one of those getting this sign of approval personally from Mr Frayling. Thank you. (Also thank you for your excellent lectures about film design, and Penny Sparke for your enthusiasm and insight knowledge of .. everything labelled design). 

Back in early 90’s, Sweden was not a part of the EU/EC, so fees alone to study in UK was substantial, the same as if I was from Japan. Happily I got another scholarship for year two, a Swedish fund promoting international studies abroad. I got the Blanceflor-Bildt scholarship of 1994 making my further studies possibly to pursue. Thank you Blanceflor-Bildt, and with that I could put all my focus in creating projects and work to make my benefactors proud.

After my finishing my first university college degree, in innovation engineering at Halmstad University College Sweden, I applied to a Masters degree at the Royal College of Art London. To get accepted felt like the greatest prize possible, but to get in is not an award as such I can only brief mention it here… But alongside this acceptance to a seat at the Industrial Design Engineering program, I applied for a scholarship created by, and in memory of, Marcus Wallenberg, a great Swedish entrepreneur. They awarded a selected few a scholarship covering cost to studies promoting international entrepreneurial craftsmanships, business and studies. I received this scholarship and it did make a big difference for the adventure ahead of me. I got the scholarship approved and signed by Peter Wallenberg himself. To me, by doing this you made a difference.

Imagine a 13 year old boy who was curious and liked to create things, try things out. Through a teacher at school (thank you Olle) he heard about this national innovation competition called “FinnUpp”, that promoted creativity to upper secondary school students. This boy was also into music, playing drums and listening to vinyl records, so invented an accessory to his vinyl player, making it easier to switch side without touching it. He made a drawing, an explanation and a built a working prototype, and submitted it. This was 1983 and Kajagoogoo played “Too Shy”.
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This award brought him to the capitol of Sweden, Stockholm, an evening at “Svenska Vetenskapsakademin”, the Royal Academy of Science, receiving an award from the hands of royalty Prins Bertil. 
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Yes, indeed this boy was me. Still is. A possible first grand recognition of creativity and design, daring me to take the next step. And the next.