About

Photo: Ragnar Hartvig

Kristine Bjaadal is an Oslo-based Norwegian designer, working with both object design, exhibition design and project management.

Her object design work spans from product design for commercial clients to handmade small scale production of crafts objects, often combining the functional with the sculptural. In her work she focuses on everyday life; her practice is driven by the desire to turn daily routines into rituals that can be appreciated. Her works have a poetic quality where use of materials and design united give associations to sculpture as well as to their intended use.

As an exhibition designer she has worked with various clients within the design industry; Designers’ Saturday, Lagvis, Norwegian Presence, Oslo Design Fair and Bokhari. She also works with project management and exhibition production within the same field; clients include VOLUM 00, Minus Furniture, Lagvis, Norwegian Presence and Norway Designs.

Bjaadal started her studies at art schools in Copenhagen, Oslo and Stavanger, studying fine arts and photography. She holds a Master’s degree in design from Oslo National Academy of the Arts, and have as well been a designer in residence, tutor and examiner there. She has also studied various subject within Cultural Managemen at OsloMet. Since she set up her studio in 2010, Bjaadal has exhibited internationally and her work has drawn widespread attention in the design press. In 2013, 2016, 2017, 2021 and 2024 she was given an artist’s grant from Arts Council Norway.

Bjaadal is the studio manager of Studio Prindsen – a shared creative studio space in an historical building in the very centre of Oslo. Studio Prindsen houses creatives like Hallgeir Homstvedt, Rolodex, Aino, Sara Polmar, Christina Ledang/C.L.E.A.N., Atle Tveit and Allan Hagerup.

Member of Klubben and The Norwegian Association for Arts and Crafts (NK).

 

EXCERPT CV:

EXHIBITIONS, GRANTS, AWARDS (excerpt):

2024: Statens Kunstnerstipend, diverse (Artist grants from Arts Council Norway).

2021: Bo Bedre Design Awards. Nominated for: Accessory of the year for Kanvas.

2021: Statens Kunstnerstipend, diverse (Artist grants from Arts Council Norway).

2020: Ta deg tid / Take your time. Exhibition at Nordenfjeldske Kunstindustrimuseum 13. June 2020 – 31. January 2021

2019: Design Diplomacy. Exhibition at Erottaja 2 during Helsinki Design Week, September.

2018: New Norwegian Design. Exhibition at The Thief, September – November.

2017: Bo Bedre Design Awards. Nominated for: Reader’s favorite for Hegne.

2017: Statens Kunstnerstipend, diverse (Artist grants from Arts Council Norway).

2017: Norway Designs NÅ, Vol. 1 – Sum. Exhibition with Klubben and NK at Norway Designs. Oslo, October

2017: Unika Auction 2017. Exhibition by art action house Blomqvist, Klubben and Designer’s Saturday. Oslo, September.

2017: Det lokales logikk. Exhibition at Nordenfjeldske Kunstindustrimuseum, curated by Solveig Lønmo. Trondheim, April – June.

2017: A Colour Composition – New Norwegian Design. Exhibition at Norwegian Embassy in Stockholm. February.

2017: Norwegian Structure. Exhibition at Königlich Norwegische Botschaft in Berlin. February – April.

2016: The Logic of the Local. Norwegian and Polish Contemporary Design. Exhibition at International Culture Centre i Krakow. Curated by Solveig Lønmo (Nordenfjeldske Kunstindustrimuseum). December 2016 – March 2017.

2016: Norway Designs NÅ, Vol. 3 – Seksten. Exhibition with Klubben and NK (Norwegian Association for Arts and Crafts) at Norway Designs, Oslo. October.

2016: Bo Bedre Design Awards. Nominated for: Crafts object of the year for Sfera I.

2016: Norwegian Structure. Exhibition in Ventura Lambrate, Milan, April, and in Oslo Design Fair, September.

2016: New Nordic. Fashion. Food. Design. Exhibition at Königlich Norwegische Botschaft in Berlin. Curated by Matthias Wagner K. (Museum Angewandte Kunst, Frankfurt).

2016: Statens Kunstnerstipend (Artist grants from Arts Council Norway).

2016: Icons of Norway. Exhibition in Skandium’s Brompton Road store, London. February.

2016: Oslo Design Fair. 100% Norway. Exhibition. January.

2015: Norway Designs NÅ, vol. 2 – Skala. Exhibition with Klubben and NK (Norwegian Association for Arts and Crafts) at Norway Designs, Oslo. October.

2015: 100% Norway. Exhibition at Tent London. September 24 – 27.

2015: Norwegian Presence. Exhibition with Klubben, Norwegian Crafts and Norwegian Icons. Fuorisalone, Milan, and in Gifts & Interiors fair, Lillestrøm (NO).

2015: Gifts & Interiors fair, Lillestrøm (NO). Exhibition with Klubben.

2014: Norwegian Icons – Past – Present – Future. Exhibition with Klubben and Norwegian Icons at IFFT/Interior Lifestyle Living, Tokyo.

2014: Norway Designs NÅ, Vol. 1 – Verdi. Exhibition with Klubben and NK at Norway Designs, Oslo.

2014: Samtidsarkeologi. Exhibition at Kollekted by, Oslo.

2014: Insidenorway. Exhibition at ICFF, New York.

2014: Gifts & Interiors fair, Lillestrøm (NO). Exhibition with Klubben and NK.

2013: Nature of Norwegian Design. Exhibition at Designsupermarket festival, Prague.

2013: Interception – relational aesthetics. Exhibition at DogA, Oslo.

2013: 100% Norway. Exhibition at Dray Walk Gallery, London Design Festival.

2013: MoOD Innovation Platform. Exhibition at MoOD, Brussels.

2013: On Time. Exhibition with Klubben at Now! Le off, Paris Design Week.

2013: Bordet fanger. Exhibition at Designers Saturday, Oslo.

2013: Nominated for Newcomer of the Year in Bo Bedre Design Awards.

2013: The List of the Thief Vol. 2; Letters on Food. Exhibition at The Thief, Oslo

2013: Insidenorway. Exhibition at Dwell on Design, Los Angeles.

2013: On Time. Exhibition with Klubben at DogA, Oslo.

2013: Insidenorway. Exhibition at ICFF, New York.

2013: State of Things. Exhibition with  Klubben in Stockholm Furniture Fair

2013: Statens Kunstnerstipend (Artist grants from Arts Council Norway).

2012: Food Work. Exhibition in Tokyo Designtide.

2012: Tingenes Tilstand. Exhibition in gallery TM51, Oslo.

2012: Please Wait. Exhibition in Grafill.

2011: The Exceptional Everyday. Exhibition, Corcoran Collage of Art + Design, Washington D.C.

2011: To Declare. Exhibition during Helsinki Design Week.

2011: Norway Now. Exhibition during Stockholm Design Week.

2010: Blueprint Awards. 100% Design London. Winner: Best use of materials.  

2010: 100% Norway at London Design Festival.

2010: MomentumDesign. Exhibition in Moss, Norway.

2010: Stockholm Furniture Fair. Solo exhibition in Greenhouse.

 

COLLECTIONS:

2016: Nordenfjeldske Kunstindustrimuseum

 

EDUCATION:

2025: OsloMet. Arts management.

2024: OsloMet. Project management.

2024: OsloMet. Organisation and management of arts and culture.

2006-2009: Oslo National Academy of the Arts. Master in Design.

2003-2006: Oslo National Academy of the Arts. Bachelor in Interior Architecture and Furniture Design.

2000-2003: Art schools; fine arts and photography. Copenhagen, Oslo and Stavanger.

 

RESIDENCIES:

2012: Residency Ceramic department, Oslo Academy of the Arts.. September – October.

2010: Högskolan i Borås, Smart Textiles Technology lab. August.

2009-2010: Designer in residence, Oslo Academy of the Arts.

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