A national organization for professional designers
The need for a national professional organization for designers has long been evident within the industry. The design field is characterized by unfavorable working conditions and difficulties in organizing, even as the creative industries are growing and becoming increasingly important for Sweden’s economy and societal development. The Sveriges Designers Riksorganisation is being developed to address these challenges and bring together the professionals.
An organized design community
Within the profession, as well as among national design organisations and politicians, the need to organize the design industry through a national professional association has been long discussed. The design industry lacks a strong collective voice for practitioners. It is a broad and multifaceted industry encompassing many disciplines. The labor market is highly competitive and characterized by unfavorable working conditions, compensation levels, and agreements. Many design practitioners face insecure work situations, limited time, and finances, and the community struggles to mobilize on its own.
Sweden’s New Core Industry
Much attention is now being paid to the creative industries, their potential, and the need to strengthen them. On June 12, 2024, the Swedish Parliament adopted a new strategy for companies in cultural and creative industries, valid from 2024 to 2033.
The creative industries form a new core industry for Sweden with great potential and impact on employment, regional development, innovation, export, and green transition. They contribute to cultural, social, environmental, and economic sustainability, both regionally, nationally, and globally. One in ten companies in Sweden operates in the cultural and creative industries, which employ 190,000 people and generate SEK 400 billion in revenue.
Form/Design Center Drives the Establishment of Sveriges Designers Riksorganisation
Form/Design Center is the main meeting place for design, architecture, and crafts in Sweden. We provide a platform for public exhibitions, discussions, and initiatives that promote creative entrepreneurship. In collaboration with public sector, academia, and industry, we champion sustainability, innovation, and creativity with the goal of spreading knowledge and generating new perspectives.
As part of our long-term and strategic efforts to support and strengthen the industry, Form/Design Center has undertaken the development of a national association for professional designers.
With a physical meeting place, high credibility, and active dialogue with a large network of professionals, a strengthened role in politics, and a national network, Form/Design Center is well-positioned to drive the issue, bring practitioners together, and create a model and foundation for building a viable and sustainable national association for professionals.
Form/Design Center has been conducting exploratory and preparatory work on this, drawing lessons and experiences from Swedish organizations such as Sveriges Arkitekter (Sweden Architects), Svenska Tecknare (The association of Swedish illustrators and graphic designers), Konstnärernas Riksorganisation (the Artist’ Association of Sweden), Sveriges Kommunikationsbyråer KOMM! (The Swedish Association of Communication Agencies), Dataspelsbranschen (Swedish Games Industry), and Nordic organizations like Ornamo (Finland), Design Denmark, and Iceland Design and Architecture.
Industry Meeting in February 2024
On February 28, a packed industry meeting was held at Form/Design Center for professional design practitioners, with the aim to discuss needs, opportunities, and conditions for organizing the design industry through a national professional organization. A wide range of groups were represented: practitioners across all design disciplines – both employees and freelancers – industry organizations, design clusters, and representatives from the public sector. Salla Heinanen from Finland’s Ornamo – the largest national association for professional designers in the Nordics – was present and shared insights on their development and current position.
The industry meeting was a co-creative process where we collectively visualized what a national professional organization for designers might look like. Together, we explored why such an organization is needed, what is important for it, and identified key components and directions. A summary of the meeting can be found here.
Current position
With consolidated input and lessons from our exploratory and preparatory work, we have developed a plan for the establishment and conceptualization of a new national organization for professional designers – Sveriges Designers Riksorganisation.