Design icon: String Pocket
Building the foundation for what we now know as Scandinavian design, Nisse Strinning was the Swedish architect that led designers of the mid-century and created the iconic String shelving system, followed by its equally praised predecessor, the String Pocket.
Refined and timeless, the String Pocket is a compact and unpretentious storage solution that is instantly recognisable to the eye of any design lover. Get creative and combine a combination of playful colours and configurations to create a completely unique shelving system that fulfils all of your storage needs.
Join us as we discover more about this innovative product and the history of how it came to be.
The Pocket
The String Pocket was created by Strinning in 2005, as a simple and more compact extension to the String shelving family. A successful reinvention of the brand after many years out of production, the String pocket was named accordingly due to its convenient and handy size.
In contrast to the previous shelving design, the String Pocket was a complete package rather than the previous customisable configuration.
Despite being smaller in size, the String Pocket offers the same versatility and creative options as the modular shelving system. Injecting a more modern and playful sense into the classic design, Strinning created a colour palette of fun and bright colours to suit the 21st-century home.
Alternatively, the array of natural wood finishes provides a more organic and neutral aesthetic to any home.
The man behind the icon
String shelving remains an iconic piece of Scandinavian design to this day, praised widely by design lovers around the world; the origin story and history of this timeless product demonstrate Stinning’s innovative and genius thinking.
Entering a competition launched by Bonnier’s public library in 1949, Nisse and his wife Kasja Stinning’s creation of the original String design was a creative yet simple solution to a common storage issue faced by many Swedish homes. Very few stylish bookshelf options were available and as a result, libraries struggled to sell their books to consumers. Beating 194 contestants Nisse and Kasja’s entry was selected as the deserving winner, meeting the desired criteria of an affordable, easily shipped and easily assembled shelving system.
Soon becoming widely popular in many Swedish homes, String grew tremendously in the 1950s and 1960s, earning a portfolio of awards and credentials until eventually being named the best-selling Scandinavian furniture piece in Germany.
In 2004, String Furniture was established in hope of reviving the String shelving product itself, as production had been non-existent for many years. Leaving behind a lasting legacy, Nisse Strinning created the String Pocket in 2005 as a brand-new product and final contribution to the brand before he sadly died the following year.
Launching in 2005, the String Pocket was a convenient and miniature alternative to the iconic String shelving system and became an instant success. Proving Strinning was as creative in the end as he was when he created the original String design, the String Pocket remains one of the brand’s best-sellers to this day.
A modern classic
Today, the more recent interpretation of the String Pocket was launched in 2020 by Anna von Schewen and Björn Dahlström. Not straying far from the original design, the pair designed the brand-new version with a matching winning concept.
Almost identical to the iconic design by Strinning, the new String Pocket featured a few minor but innovative additions. This included an industrial metal design, the option to add accessories such as rods and hooks, as well as exciting and vibrant neon colour options.
Don’t forget to tag us in your posts on Instagram @nest_co_uk: We would love to see the many different variations you have created for your own String shelving configurations in your homes, the possibilities are endless!
