From waste to wonder

2nd Source Studio is the winner of the Formland Design Award Spring 2026, recognising design concepts distinguished by innovation, functionality, sustainability and strong aesthetic quality. The award is decided by a professional jury evaluating relevance, function, design, sustainability and innovation and honors not only individual products, but the overall concept and vision behind them.

The Story Collection began where most design processes end… with waste.

A Danish kitchen countertop manufacturer routinely set aside solid oak and stone plates that didn’t fit into production. For many, these offcuts were simply surplus. For us, they became the starting point of a new design direction.

Instead of sketching towards a predetermined form, we allowed the material to guide the process. The oak’s thickness, dimensions and natural character shaped the geometry, resulting in a language defined by balance, repetition and calm tactility. This shift from controlling the material to collaborating with it became central to the collection.

The jury recognised the complete collection crafted from solid reclaimed wood, surplus industrial stone and discarded textiles. Together, the materials are transformed into furniture with a quiet, architectural expression and high aesthetic quality, functioning both as everyday objects and as a clear statement on responsible material use and Nordic modernism.

Each piece carries an understated presence. Soft transitions invite touch, while the construction reveals rather than hides the material’s history. Because the offcuts come in consistent quality and dimensions, the collection can be produced efficiently without introducing new raw materials. The Story Collection is not only made from surplus, it is designed to work with it.

At 2nd Source Studio, sustainability is not an add-on, but a form-giving principle. With our work, we hope to inspire the industry and fellow designers to challenge the status quo and contribute to a more conscious, long-lasting design culture where responsibility and beauty share the same source.