Southern Sweden’s next generation of design talent has been brought together for a unique exhibition at Dutch Design Week, called What’s Your DNA?. Here, the designers share the stories and inspirations behind their work, revealing the common threads running through this young, local design scene.

What’s Your DNA? is taking place during Dutch Design Week in Eindhoven at Klokgebouw 50 from 21st to 29th October. For opening hours and directions visit the website here.

Glen Baghurst splits his time between his native Sydney, Australia, and the other half in his adopted home of Malmö. He designs and co-produces luxury products and furniture by exploring form, scale and materials – using wood, stone, metal and leather. He travels frequently, picking up inspiration through observing small details in the way different cultures live, both now and in the past.

You’re originally from Australia, how did you end up in Malmö?
I grew up in the Blue Mountains west of Sydney, but I love Malmö’s design history and I did my design internships here with artist and designer Mats Theselius, and with fellow Southern Sweden Creatives designer Jenny Nordberg.

Do you see your work as influenced by Scandinavia in terms of craft and materials?
Some of my design language and appreciation for materials and process came through Mats, but my previous impression of Scandinavian design has changed, because its modern designers are twisting its original values. I do this by maximising scale; minimalism is usually about reduction. I blow things up!

I heard you collect pianos, how does that chime with your own design language?
I collect many things including pianos – they add up to something, but I’m not sure what. The pianos have a very heavy body – they’re solid, massive, awkward and almost extinct. I think my work shows I’m not afraid of weight.