String Shelving System 1949–Present

Some things are so closely linked to a specific era that they eventually become timeless. This is the perfect way to describe Nisse and Kajsa Strinning's contribution to Scandinavian design history. But what was the initial spark for the String® shelving system?

Bonnier Publishing noticed that most Swedish homes were not equipped for book storage, which made selling books more difficult. In 1949, the publisher announced a competition, inviting participants to submit a shelf design that had to be affordable, easy to ship, and simple to assemble. String® met all these criteria and was declared the winner that same year. During the 1950s, String® established itself as an extremely popular piece of furniture in Swedish households. The 1950s and 1960s were highly eventful for the brand: the UN headquarters in New York was extensively furnished with the company's products, String received the gold medal at the Milan Triennale, and it was showcased at H55—the exhibition that marked the dawn of the Swedish design movement. Furthermore, the String® system became the best-selling piece of Scandinavian furniture in Germany.

For several years, String® was out of production. Time passed, and it wasn't until 2004 that the brand was revitalized. It was during this period that the String® brand as we know it today began to take shape. The range was carefully refined, and new functions for the shelving system were designed and developed. The updated and modernized system was a resounding success. Virtually overnight, String® once again became an indispensable element of timeless Scandinavian design.

Nisse Strinning, who was still alive during the 2004 revival, was just as creative then as he had been in 1949. He designed a brand-new product called String Pocket—a miniature version of the shelving system for storing smaller items like paperbacks, small plants, and the like. String Pocket became a recipe for success and remains one of our best-selling products to this day. Every day, the Pocket shelf serves as a reminder of Nisse and his ingenious design.

The relaunch of String® was highly acclaimed both by the public and in legal circles. This led to the shelving system being classified as applied art under copyright law in 2009. Consequently, since 2009, String® has been recognized as a work of art that, in addition to its timeless, modern design, offers solutions for almost every storage requirement in homes, public institutions, and offices.

In connection with the relaunch, work processes and methods were carefully reviewed, leading to the introduction of a new sustainability strategy across the entire company. Environment, quality, and social responsibility became core concepts and are integrated into many decision-making processes, such as supplier selection and material sourcing. Our sustainability strategy is continuously reviewed and implemented on a daily basis.

Over time, additional product groups have been added, and the String® portfolio has expanded to include Works™ ..by String Furniture and Museum™ ..by String Furniture. The Works™ range was created by architect Anna von Schewen and industrial designer Björn Dahlström. The idea for Works™ was born from the desire to design meaningful and inspiring workspaces with a high degree of functionality for both home and office use. Museum™ originated from a completely different motivation. The architectural firm TAF—Gabriella Gustafsson and Mattias Ståhlbom—was commissioned by the Swedish National Museum to design a shelf console for the museum's bust exhibits as part of the collaborative artistic project NM&. String Furniture was commissioned to manufacture the console, and the market launch coincided with the grand reopening of the National Museum in 2018.