Earlier this year, Savo invited a selection of creatives across different disciplines to reimagine their choice of Savo chair. Now they’ve invited us into their workspaces to see how the chairs they’ve made their own have become part of the way they work.
For Auste Skrupskyte Cullbrand, the founder of creative strategy studio and publisher studio playground, a workspace should strike the perfect balance between focus and inspiration. Together with the Helsinki-based artist and illustrator Antti Kalevi, studio playground turned the cover artwork of Playground Issue 5 into a custom-printed velvet for Savo Soul, materialising the magazine as a chair in Auste’s home studio.
How did the cover of Playground Issue 5 make its way onto the chair?
The starting point was to turn the magazine cover into material for the chair. The fabric is made to order for this chair, based on the Playground Issue 5 cover that Finnish illustrator Antti Kalevi drew for the magazine. That feels very special and unique. A memory for life, a collectable!
What did you want the material and colour to bring to the chair?
We set the palette for Issue 5 ahead of time: earthy tones with a touch of red and bright colours to create energy. We wanted the chair to feel playful and visually engaging. This velvet from Novatex felt best to print on and showcase the new custom print.
Why was Savo Soul the right chair for you?
I needed an all-rounder, but I also wanted to take a more “traditional” looking office chair and show what a material and pattern can do.
What does the ideal working environment look like for you?
I think both a creative but also focused environment. If it’s too messy or too loud, I can’t focus. If it’s too sterile, it’s not inspiring enough – there has to be a middle ground. An organised mess. Colours are also very important to me. I am quite brave about mixing them, especially in a work environment.
At this stage in my life, my happy place is my home studio, which is where Savo Soul lives now.
Has having the chair there changed the way you use the space?
I love having the chair with wheels; it makes sliding through the room so much fun. I also noticed I sometimes turn in circles when thinking, and overall I use the chair more, like leaning back when I’m thinking. Much more active!
The room is full of magazines and books, and there is a printer on the other side, so I can move between things easily and have fun sliding around.
Curated by: Studio playground (Strategy studio and publisher, SE)
With Antti Kalevi (Artist and illustrator, FI)
Textile: Novotex Megan
Custom print
Plastic: Black
Gas lift: Polished
Base: Polished
Wheels: Black