Alexander Lervik

Alexander Lervik has been working as a product designer for 15 years. His work is characterized by innovation, humor, passion, unruliness and intensity. From his design studio in Södermalm, Stockholm, Lervik has collaborated with some of the foremost Swedish and international producers, including Designhouse Stockholm, Johanson Design, Skandiform, Zero, Saas Instruments in Finland and Italy’s Moroso. Lervik’s design process generally stems from a strong conceptual idea; he saw the benefits of working conceptually right from the moment of graduation from Beckmans College of Design in 1998, presenting his final project. His 10 Stools – 10 Decades exhibition was a great success visited by over one million people; praised, among other things, for its conceptual scope that made it easily accessible to the observer. A strong focus on the conceptual can also be seen in Lervik’s exhibitions Five Playful Chairs (Gallerie Pascale) and Enlightenment (Röhsska Museet). Alexander Lervik’s vision is based on creating products that provide new experiences and impressions for the observer: “I love innovation! My favourite publication is ‘Forskning och framsteg’ and I am inspired to find my own new solutions within the fields I work,” he said. The Brighthandle door handle (2001) that emits coloured light is one example of Lervik’s fascination with innovation. Another example is the Lucy folding table (2013), where the design of the leg enables a safe and flexible solution; when unfolded the leg is locked into place by its own force. Light and, above all, LED lighting fascinate Lervik and he has his own special mission: Finding applications that have not previously been highlighted. “We live in a country where darkness dominates for large parts of the year. I notice that it makes me feel more positive working on projects that centre on light, which is a major reason for my interest. LED technology, with its compact size and economical heat exchange, makes it possible to introduce light in unexpected contexts. This is illustrated in the Lervik 100 project, in which light is a key component,” says Alexander. His creations range from small bicycle lamps to large light works of art, from furniture to architectural assignments, from art glassware to liquor bottles. He feels it is a major business advantage for himself and his clients that he can switch between artistic projects and more commercial assignments: “I am convinced that experimenting within the artistic field makes me a better designer of industrial products. I let my passions serve to fuel my wider work,” concludes Alexander. He is represented at the National Museum in Stockholm, the National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design in Oslo and the Röhsska Museum in Gothenburg.