Swedish Design and the MF Stage

Sweden is internationally known for its design work - in fashion, glass, home goods, and so on. Design elements tend towards minimalism and functionality, many times with a hint of quirkiness somewhere in the mix. Abroad, this translates into international success stories like H&M, IKEA, and Orrefors.

With that in mind, let's look at the Melodifestival stage set-up:

  

The initial sketch of the arena stage.

The computer mock-up of the stage.

Viktor Brattström and Frida Arvidsson from M3V Production are responsible for the set design this time around. Victor has been at this since 2007, according to SVT (Swedish Television), so you can say he has a bit of experience with the show. He described the main concept as a framing of the stage. The three pillars in the back are used for this effect. You can also see the LED lights around the pillars and floor. Those are also meant to frame the entire area and bring it together. 

Is this year's stage typical of Swedish design? Is it minimalist, functional, and slightly quirky? I'd like to think so. It is not flashy or garish and it helps to highlight the artist on stage to great effect. Check and check. How about the quirk factor, then? Well, the first time I saw those three pillars in the back, I thought of the fireplace in the movie Beetlejuice. And, if you've ever seen the movie, you know the design in that house was full of quirk. This stage also has a slight 80s feel to it at times, depending on the color used.

A catwalk is also included in the design. You can see a hint of it in the sketch, although it doesn't show the entire area. We'll explore the catwalk factor later on. For now, take a look at this video for a working view of the stage in real time:

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