Sofia Valborg Smedröd is a furniture designer and upholsterer whose work combines craftsmanship, bold artistic expression, and a deep curiosity for sustainable materials. A graduate of the Bachelor’s Programme in Wood-Oriented Furniture Design at HDK-Valand, Campus Steneby, Sofia brings together traditional upholstery knowledge and contemporary furniture design to create playful, thought-provoking objects that challenge conventional interior aesthetics.
Before beginning her bachelor’s studies, Sofia completed two years of upholstery training at Stenebyskolan. In 2023, she earned her Gesällbrev (Journeyman Certificate) in Upholstery, a formal qualification demonstrating professional competence in the craft. Originally drawn to upholstery through a love of sewing, her education gradually expanded her interest from textile work to furniture as a whole. This led her to pursue furniture design, where she could combine craftsmanship, artistic exploration, and the ability to develop ideas from sketch to finished upholstered object.
Humour, colour, and individuality play a central role in Sofia’s design practice. She believes interiors should be engaging and memorable rather than predictable, creating furniture and environments that invite curiosity, conversation, and even a degree of discomfort or surprise. Inspired by the vibrant visual language of the 1970s, particularly the work of Verner Panton, Sofia embraces bold colours and expressive forms. Her degree project, Creature Comfort, drew inspiration from Panton’s immersive Visiona II installation from 1970, translating psychedelic colour palettes and abstract functional forms into a contemporary piece of upholstered furniture.
Sustainability is another important aspect of her work. Throughout her studies, Sofia explored the potential of underutilized Swedish wool. Despite Sweden importing large quantities of wool annually, much of the wool produced domestically remains unused. Through her projects, she investigates how traditional craft knowledge can contribute to more sustainable furniture production and encourage the use of local resources. For Creature Comfort, she replaced conventional plastic foam with wool-based comfort materials and incorporated buckwheat hulls sourced from a farm in Värmland, demonstrating how natural materials can be applied in furniture forms typically associated with synthetic components.
Sofia’s creative process is intuitive and often driven by spontaneous ideas. Concepts may arrive unexpectedly and quickly move into prototyping and production. Her designs often balance literal references with abstraction, encouraging viewers to engage with the work through their own interpretations. This approach was exemplified in Creature Comfort, which originated from a sketch of a mouth with a tongue and fangs, later evolving into an abstract chair form featuring a tongue-shaped cushion.
Functionality remains important in Sofia’s work, but it is always informed by her expertise in upholstery and comfort. Her journeyman training provides her with a detailed understanding of ergonomics, comfort systems, and the technical aspects of upholstered furniture—knowledge she integrates throughout her design process. Rather than designing for universal appeal, Sofia seeks to create distinctive furniture with strong personalities. She believes that meaningful design should take risks, challenge expectations, and contribute to homes filled with character, colour, and individuality.
