That headline is a quote from Roland Gill, member of
the board and one of Zero’s two founders. He became
acquainted with the other founder, Andris Nolendorfs,
during his time as a designer at Orrefors Glasbruk’s
department for light fixtures in Flygsfors, where Andris
was the site manager. At the glassworks they became
acquainted with designer duo Börge Lindau & Bo
Lindekrantz whose task was to create new products,
including some new ideas about light fixtures made
of perforated metal that, for obvious reasons, Orrefors
was not interested in. However, Roland and Andris saw
the potential and thought it was so exciting they started
Zero in 1978. From nothing, right in the centre of Nybro.
Konkav was the very first model manufactured by Zero in 1978.
It was made of perforated metal sheet and designed by Lindau
& Lindekrantz.
“THE FOUNDERS THOUGHT
ZERO WAS AN APPROPRIATE
NAME, SINCE WE WERE
STARTING FROM NOTHING.”
Until the mid-1980s, Lindau & Lindekrantz were the only
Zero designers. Thereafter a long and prolific collaboration
also began with Per Sundstedt, designer and lighting
consultant, whose products live on today. In 1990, Zero’s
operations moved to premises in Pukeberg glassworks,
which led to an interest in the possibilities of glass. For
a decade, a large part of the product range was made
with that material.
2004 began a new era and a series of new collaborations
with renowned designers of the younger generation,
including Thomas Bernstrand, Mattias Ståhlbom, Monica
Förster and Front. Today, the majority of the product range
is designed from 2004 onwards. With these products,
Zero increased its focus on the export market and
consequently exports rose from10% of sales to 40% at
present. Zero is owned and managed by Roland Gill’s
sons: Per and Thomas. Their respective children, the third
generation of Gills interested in lighting, are also active
in the company. The future looks bright for Zero!
KONKAV
