Snowcrash (1997-2003) started as an exhibition made by a group of young Finnish architects and designers. They broke with the conventional image of Finnish design by using lightweight materials such as nylon fabric and integrating their furniture with high-tech features. Their exhibition during Salone del Mobile in Milan, 1997, made international headlines and Snowcrash was unanimously hailed as the re-inventors of Scandinavian design. Shortly after – Snowcrash was bought by the Swedish company Proventus Design based in Stockholm – which turned it into an international design company.

In the 1990s, Finland and Sweden moved out of a deep recession to become the driving forces behind information technology and wireless communication companies enabled Finns and Swedes to become some of the most connected people on the planet. Unburdened by heritage, Snowcrash thrived in this environment and invented concepts for furniture which contributed to a new typology in office interiors.

Despite the immense success in the media, Snowcrash had to be put on ice after only four years and without any coherent documentation, Snowcrash gradually turned into a folk tale within the international design community. That is until now, when an exhibition and book have been made, which tells the whole story, for the very first time.

Since 2019, Ilkka Suppanen, Finnish architect/designer and one of the founding members of Snowcrash – together with independent Swedish curator Gustaf Kjellin – have been working with Nationalmuseum in Stockholm, Sweden’s museum of art and design, to make the first ever exhibition about Snowcrash. Original designs have been found and collected from private persons and institutions. 37 different objects will be shown along with never before seen videos and images that bring the Snowcrash story to a wide audience.

The exhibition Snowcrash 1997-2003 will open in the spring of 2021 and be open until February 13th, 2022.

Nationalmuseum