Saga Footstool

"A good product builds and expands on tradition but at the same time, it breaks with tradition," say Anderssen & Voll, the Oslo-based design team that is consistently breaking new ground in the international design world. After 10 years of collaboration at the Norway Says design company which they cofounded, Torbjørn Andersen (born 1976) and Espen Voll (born 1965) began their eponymous firm in 2009 and have received repeated recognition for the wide range of their work in furniture, textiles, electronics, lighting and home accessories. Accolades include Norwegian and Scandinavian designers of the year, Wallpaper Award, IF Award and the Torsten and Wanja Söderberg Prize.

The studio's client list includes leading European names Muuto, Wrong for Hay, Foscarini, Kvadrat, Erik Jørgensen and Filip Technologies. However they also value collaborations closer to home, in the finest Norwegian tradition with Jøtul, Gudbrandsdalens Uldvarefabrik, Fjord Fiesta, Røros Tweed and LK Hjelle. "Change and elements of surprise stimulates thought and reflection–even for people who are not very interested in design and even if the change is not radical," they say. "That tiny second of reflection is the window of opportunity where we can communicate with the users and that is what we are looking for."