K A J S A A N D N I S S E S T R I N N I N G
T H E D E S I G N C O U P L E B E H I N D S T R I N G . A S Y S T E M
T H A T C A N B E E N D L E S S L Y R E I N V E N T E D
Nisse Strinning was an architect and an inventor. He had
an eye for spotting people’s needs and the imagination to
find solutions to their problems. The hassles of everyday
life that went unnoticed by other designers captivated
Nisse. His wife and partner Kajsa ensured the ideas
were explored, refined, and documented in construction
drawings. Through their career the Strinnings created
things that made life well designed, easier, and more
practical. Their belief that form should always follow
function explains why many of their creations are
considered iconic today.
In 1949 the Bonnier publishing company and their
popular Bonnier Folk Library series announced a
competition to design a bookshelf. The competition rules
stated that the bookshelf should be affordable, easy to
ship and suitable to most Swedish homes. The compe-
tition provided a creative incentive for Kajsa and Nisse;
the String shelf won and became an instant success.
In parallel, the Strinnings continued to develop the idea,
and soon String became a complete system with an array
of functional elements and accessories.
More than seventy years later, String remains one of
Sweden’s biggest selling and most loved designs, as well
as being internationally acclaimed. Today the system
consists of more pieces than ever. It can be configured
to suit living rooms, kitchens, or bathrooms, and is
just as much at home in a mansion as in a studio flat.
Colours and materials are based on a palette, updated
yearly with new options, further increasing the number
of configurations. We’ve recently added the possibility
of using your String System outdoors, all year round.
Because the system’s measurements haven’t chang-
ed since 1949, older elements fit with the brand-new
ones. All the possible combinations make it fun to try
out different ideas. The second-hand market constantly
seems to hunger for the String shelf of any age, colour,
or material.
String is still made in Sweden, adhering to high-quality
standards and sustainability requirements. Nisse and
Kajsa Strinning continued to invent new furniture until
Nisse passed away in 2006. Many of these designs
were a great success, although none of them were as
appreciated as String
String is based on only three parts,
the wall panel, the shelf and the metal fitting.
Ingenious simplicity, born in 1949.
KAJSA & NISSE STRINNING 9
