About Designers' Saturday
The association Designers' Saturday - who is behind it?
DS originated in New York in the early 70s, as a reaction to large exhibition halls. DS in Oslo has been a biennale since 1986, 2025 will be the 21st in a row. Designers' Saturday is organized as an association and runs a non-profit, service-based business. The exhibitors are our members, their representatives together with volunteer design enthusiasts provide unpaid planning and implementation of the event, together with a hired CEO.
The board
Designers' Saturday is organized as an association. The event is run non-profit, all positions are unpaid and valid for two events, four years. The board and a contracted CEO are responsible for planning and implementation. Members of the board are mainly representatives of the exhibitors, but also designers, interior architects and representatives from the design educations. The board meetings take place approximately monthly, digitally and occasionally in person.
Exhibitor meeting/annual meetings
The exhibitors are the association's members and owners. Members will be invited to exhibitor meetings ahead of Designers' Saturday, and to the annual meetings.
The Council
The Council for Designers' Saturday is responsible for advising the board with long-term strategic planning, looking after DS's position, interests and financial framework conditions.
The council was established in 2018 and consists of:
Loni Barsten, general manager, Vitra Scandinavia.
Claus Als, Country Manager & Partner Norway, Hay.
Morten Steen Kaels, interior architect MNIL.
Jonas Ravlo Stokke, Industrial designer, Jonas Stokke.
Toni Kaupilla, Professor, Dr. Arts, Architect, Designer
Selection Committee
The board defines which tasks and skills are needed to recruit new members, and can propose candidates. Board members are elected for two events; a four-year period. As far as possible, the replacement of approx. half the board in advance of each event, to ensure competence and continuity in the board's work. The selection committee seeks good overall solutions and selects relevant candidates, whom the chairman/CEO meets for an informal interview. The annual meeting confirms the board members.
The election committee consists of:
Ragnhild Bakkland Grytten, project manager Export Design Industry/Norwegian Industry.
Herman Haver-Løseth, general manager, Next Level Design.
Ove Rogne, designer, founder, managing director, Northern.
Contact the election committee:
Ragnhild Bakkland Grytten:
Tel.: 917 51 804
E-mail: ragnhild.grytten@norskdustri.no
Board members and CEO 2023-2025
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![DS Board 2026 Heidi BW 1x1]()
Heidi Lie CEO, Designers' Saturday
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![DS Board 2025 Marianne Pernille Munster BW 1x1]()
Marianne Otterdahl Møller Chairman of the board, Senior Consultant Nourish Global
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![DS Board 2026 Oystein BW 1x1]()
Øystein Austad Design Manager, OFFECCT
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![DS Board 2026 Marlene BW 1x1]()
Marlene Fenger Vedal Team Lead Interior, Senior Interior Architect, MNIL, Snøhetta
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![DS Board 2026 Linda BW 1x1]()
Linda Lien Associate Professor/ Interior Architect MNIL, Kristiania University Collage
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![DS Board 2026 Marius BW 1x1]()
Marius Størseth Communications and digital director, Northern
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![DS Board 2025 Katrine Pernille Munster BW 1x1]()
Katrine Hofstad-Ekornesvåg Head of KAM Norway, Flokk
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![DS Board 2026 Havard BW 1x1]()
Håvard Dybwad Area Sales Manager, Montana
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![DS Board 2026 Knut BW 1x1]()
Knut Herman Otterbech Senior Advisor, Lindbak
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![DS Board 2026 Helle BW 1x1]()
Helle Tjaberg Journalist & content creator, Eget Rom
Sign up for Designers´ Saturday here
