Sven Ivar Dysthe

Sven Ivar Dysthe was a Norwegian designer especially known for his furniture. He trained as an apprentice with a reputable carpenter in Trondheim before moving to London to study at the Royal College of Art. It was while studying in his final year that Dysthe was asked to create a luxurious wooden chest for the college to present to Queen Elizabeth II in honour of her coronation. After graduating in 1954 Dysthe worked for Danish designers Peter Hvidt and Orla Mølgaard Nielsen, where he gained valuable insights into Scandinavian design.

In 1958, Sven Ivar Dysthe returned to Oslo to set up his own design studio. Sven's wife Trinelise was an Interior Architecture student and the two of them shared a passion for interior design, often working together to design new pieces. Dysthe has received a number of national and international awards including a Gold Medal award at the Ljubljana Biennale for his Laminette chair and the Norwegian Classic Award for Design Excellence. His pieces are characterised by their elegant, modern design, and are minimal in material use.

“I look at everyday objects and I always ask, can this be improved? That’s when the solutions come.” - Sven Ivar Dysthe