About DS Collab

DS Collab connects product- and industrial designers with Norwegian manufacturers to develop new, market-ready products. You apply to specific briefs (see briefs below), and the manufacturers select who they want to collaborate with. The goal is to create commercial concepts – as prototypes or finished products – to be presented in a joint exhibition during Designers’ Saturday 2027.

Manufacturers cover all costs related to the development of prototypes and products. If a project goes into production, a royalty agreement must be established directly between the designer and the manufacturer prior to production.

Application deadline: June 6, 2026 — apply directly to the manufacturers.
NB! You may apply with proposals for multiple manufacturers, but only one proposal may be submitted per manufacturer.

Why participate?

• Be part of a design initiative that aims to increase visibility for Norwegian design
• Connect with leading manufacturers and develop new products
• Exhibit prototypes/finished products in a joint exhibition at DS, September 10–12, 2027 (with strong emphasis on exhibition design)
• Meet Norwegian and international press
• Designers’ Saturday handles joint communication, press material, and shares documented processes on social media
• Participate in a shared kick-off and gatherings for knowledge exchange
• Professional photoshoot of prototypes approx. 3 months before DS (participants receive access to the images)

Want to join DS Collab 2027?

Applications should be sent to the manufacturers’ contact persons by June 6, 2026.
You may apply with proposals for multiple manufacturers, but only one proposal may be submitted per manufacturer.

Submission includes:

• Short introduction of yourself and previous work

Concept:

• Sketches, models, or renderings that describe your concept

Questions? Email: sec@designerssaturday.no

This Year’s Manufacturers

Eskoleia

Eskoleia has a long tradition of producing steel storage solutions with a high degree of functionality and quality.

We are now inviting designers to participate in the development of a steel furniture piece for the office. It must have a fantastic look and feel while maintaining functionality, production efficiency, robustness, and creating value for people. We are looking for an explorative designer who makes decisions based on strong insights.

What types of storage solutions are valued by people in modern, post-COVID office environments?

The product should:

• Incorporate Eskoleia’s focus on quality, functionality, and design.
• Be made from steel, aluminium, sheet metal, or profiles.
• Have a long lifespan and fit within our circular solutions.
• Take a natural place within Eskoleia’s product range.
• Be manufactured and industrialized at the factory in Kongsvinger, with assistance and technical support provided.

Contact:
Kristian Dyve Norum, Head of Product Development
kristian.dyve.norum@eskoleia.no

Hadeland Glassverk Lighting

Hadeland Glassverk is one of Norway’s most historic design and manufacturing companies, with continuous operation since 1762. Through generations, we have developed and refined glass as a material – from functional products to design objects with high aesthetic value.

Hadeland Lighting represents the intersection of craftsmanship, technology, and modern design. Our lamps are developed in the glass workshop at Hadeland, where skilled glassblowers shape each component by hand. This gives every product a unique character and a vivid expression. A significant part of our lighting production also takes place here, in close collaboration between design, material expertise, and craftsmanship.

We operate at the intersection of tradition and innovation, with a clear ambition to develop forward-looking, relevant, and commercially viable design for both Norwegian and international markets.

Brief

Join us in expanding our lighting collection.

We invite designers to develop a portable glass table lamp – a lighting object that does not simply sit in a space, but moves with you and becomes a natural part of everyday life. We are looking for a design that feels like a jewel in the home, while maintaining a clear function and usability.

Glass is our DNA and should be the defining element of the design. We are looking for proposals where the qualities of glass shape the expression – how light is refracted, how the material is experienced, and how form and function are connected. The design should be visually strong, yet simple and feasible, with a clear understanding of production and use.

This product is intended for the consumer market – developed for people who value design, quality, and materials. It should function across different rooms and situations and be easy to move and use wherever light and atmosphere are needed. It should feel intuitive and robust for everyday life.

We are open to different interpretations and encourage you to challenge both us and the brief. At the same time, the design must have clear commercial potential and be able to become a natural part of Hadeland Glassverk’s lighting portfolio.

What we would like to receive

We are looking for a concise and clear presentation that gives us insight into both you and your idea. Briefly introduce yourself, explain what inspired the design, and describe how you see the product being used in a home.

Visualizations are essential – whether sketches, renderings, or models. We encourage you to show the product in context.

The presentation should be clear and concise.

Contact

Stine Birkeland
Marketing Director, Hadeland Glassverk Lighting
stine.birkeland@hadeland-glassverk.no
+47 971 56 158

ygg&lyng

With a love for wild Norwegian nature and a clean, functional design language, ygg&lyng was established in 2009.

The name echoes the landscape it belongs to — Ygg from the world tree Yggdrasil, a symbol of life, and Lyng from the resilient plant that endures wind and weather.

Rooted in tradition and shaped by contemporary living, our collection brings together honest materials, refined forms, and solid craftsmanship. Each piece is made to be lived with — to gather, connect, and stand the test of time.

Designbrief

We invite designers to create furniture and objects that feel at home with us. The products should have a natural presence in a space and withstand both use and time.

We are open to different expressions and categories. At the same time, we are particularly interested in exploring solutions for compact living – products that take up less space and simplify everyday life, without losing substance or comfort.

We value

• honest materials
• function and comfort (multi-use is welcome, but not required)
• foldable or flat-pack solutions (not required)

Materials we have particular expertise in:
Upholstered products, solid oak and pine, ceramics, and metal. We are also open to innovative and sustainable materials and production methods.

Things to consider

The product should fit naturally within our collection.
Compact living is a direction we are curious about, but not a limitation. Strong ideas may also exist outside of this.
The product must be possible for us to further develop, with the aim of having a prototype ready by the DS Collab deadline.

Create something you would want to live with yourself. Developing a new product should feel rewarding – do not let the brief limit you more than necessary.

What we need from you

• Visualizations that clearly show the product
• Preferably 3D files or simple models
• A short presentation

Contact

Elin Louise Sveen
elin@yggoglyng.no
www.yggoglyng.no

Northern

Northern is an Oslo-based company that combines creative expression with traditional craftsmanship, creating a unique balance between delicate finesse and raw contrasts. We unite beauty with functionality and value honest materials and well-considered solutions. Our design philosophy extends beyond our Norwegian heritage and responds to the modern need for relaxed luxury and timeless elegance.

Northern’s lamps are designed to create atmosphere, define spaces, and add warmth — not just light.

Read more at: www.northern.no

Design Brief – Pendant Lamp

Join us in expanding Northern’s collection with a new pendant lamp. We invite talented designers to create a distinctive and eye-catching pendant that brings character, atmosphere, and functional lighting to a space — whether in residential or public environments.

The design should balance simplicity, functionality, and a strong identity, and work equally well as a standalone piece or in groups.

Framework and Guidelines

Product type: Pendant lamp
Maximum diameter: Ø 300 mm
Material: Open choice
Applications: Home, office, restaurant, hotel, and social spaces

The pendant should work equally well above a dining table, kitchen island, or arranged in clusters within larger spaces.

Design Direction

We are looking for a design that prioritizes clarity of form and thoughtful proportions, avoids unnecessary complexity, and is suitable for production. The design should explore the relationship between light, shadow, and materiality in a subtle and refined way.

Materials such as metal, glass, ceramic, and wood align well with Northern’s expression, but we are open to new combinations, techniques, or unexpected processing methods.

Basic Guidelines

• Make us better — challenge both us and yourself.
• Avoid direct overlap with existing pendants in Northern’s portfolio.
• Fill a gap, or redefine a classic typology.
• Do not let the brief limit creativity too much.
• Create something you would personally want to live with over time.
• Feel free to include a short text explaining the inspiration and thinking behind the design.

What We Need From You

• Images showing the product (renders, sketches, or photos of models)
• 3D files and/or a physical model
• Maximum 3-page presentation per product

Contact

Jonas Norheim
Design Director
jonas@northern.no

DS Collab exhibition at Designers' Saturday 2025