The Anticipation Letters No.10 – On Co-Creation

To co-create concepts makes them come to life. Sensory Richness, Dahl Agenturer.

Sunday thoughts on Co-Creation

Two days ago, this Friday, it was International Colour Day, and as a member of the board of Svenskt Färgcentrum (Swedish Colour Centre Foundation), I co-created the event with Kennet Vrågård from NCS, who also is the chairman, and Catrin Vagnemark, who is chair of the jury of Prisad Färg a colour design competition for students in art, design and architecture, for which we held the award ceremony at the event, generously hosted by Dahl Agenturer.

It was truly a beautiful afternoon and evening. Around 60 colour interested people showed up. Together with Kennet I presented the evenings event. I’m really experienced and adept as a lecturer (I’ve been teaching design for 15+ years) and as a workshop facilitator, but this more of a moderator role was new to me. I was actually a bit nervous, and you could surely tell. But actually it didn’t bother me much. Because it wasn’t really about me. I felt I was part of a community. Something we surely need to appreciate in a time like this.

I had the privilege to lift amazing young talent by awarding the winners of Prisad Färg (se image below). To listen to an inspiring and authentic talk held by two artists whose paths cross mine in their interest for collaborating with nature, with colour, with memory and a personal and authentic perspective. This evening I found myself having conversations with people about colour and self-expression, colour and materiality, colour as a medium, colour and individual perception…Nerdy, but also authentic and engaged. As an introvert I always get this sense of relief when finding real connection.

Here I am together with Kennet Vrågård, NCS, who I co-created this event by Svenskt Färgcentrum, generously hosted at Dahl Agenturer.

A privilege to award three young talents with Prisad Färg 2025. To be part of their journey and support them going forward.

No.1: Fredrik Sahlström, Konstfack
No.2: Laura Astrup Larsen, Konstfack
No.3: Darja Nordberg, Textilhögskolan

This is Samuel T Herring. He is the Singer and Writer of the band Future Islands. I’ve loved this band for a very long time. So much strength and vulnerability at the same time. Like in this song Waking or the classic Spirit.

Yesterday at the event, I was talking to a woman who felt held back by the ideas, perspectives and thoughts of some of the big names from the time she started working as a creative. Not actually something they expressed to her, but limiting thoughts from herself.

I’ve felt that too, I guess most of us have. And at some point I got so tired of it. Especially feeling limited by people and perspectives I didn’t even resonate with?

So as an antidote, I started putting together a list and visuals of people that actually do inspire me. This is a form of collaboration too. To find those who inspires you, letting go of (the thoughts of) those holding you back. Who inspires you?

Une Liste de Cinque
Perspectives on the art of co-creation

1. Go back to the source

   Yes. The same nr 1 as the last letter. To invite collaboration into your work, you need to know very clearly what you’re looking to create. You got to dig deep, distill and be able to communicate that to those you’re collaborating with. You’ve got to let them understand the concept, where it all comes from. Vulnerability, openness, and a passion for what you want to create. Share all that.

2. When paths cross

   To me, there’s almost nothing better than when you perfectly align with someone or something. When ideas, interests, skills, timelines intersect. Be it on the beauty of the temporary, on the importance of using that perfect pen (V-sign), an intersecting interest for process, a shared love for the ocean...In that instant, you also know that you will get new perspectives and that the concept will be more layered.

3. Co-creation gets shit done

   Of course that’s only true if you collaborate with people who are actually devoted to get shit done. To be present and dedicated. But when you do, I bet the chance of you finishing things doubles or more. I don’t have the statistics on that. But I do know that you move from trying to work everything out perfectly in your minds eye, to actually create things, iterating, getting it out there, perfect or not, to do something good. What’s necessary? A shared understanding for the process.

4. Co-create in search for abundance
   We don’t collaborate mainly because we can’t do it ourselves. We collaborate because we want to be part of the abundance, the possibilities that can appear when we start working together. I have this big urge to explore, keep moving forward on this creative endeavor. I think, collaboration and co-creation is not just when we work together on a project, it is also when we share ideas and reflect over a coffee. Or when we’re inspired by something someone else is doing or have done, making us take action on our own projects. When you don’t feel triggered by jealousy, just deeply inspired. The more open I am with what I stand for. The more I feel this. An ongoing co-creation and iteration.

5. Isn’t it all collaboration?
   We are not an island. We are part of nature. I’m very intrigued by the re-learning of how we can co-create with the Earth. When we plant something. When we pick berries or mushrooms, when we create paper from trees. How can we see it more as an ongoing collaboration with nature? To shift from reducing the damage, to starting with the source, re-learning. Maybe it’s all too late. I hope not. But at least I want to keep re-learning this fundamental kind of co-creation. And yes, now we’re back to the source again.

The title image for this letter, is from the preparation of 100 serving containers handpainting them with matcha tea.

Sensory Richness was a curated installation, at Dahl Agenturer, exploring how to create spaces that speaks to all our senses, where both brands and people feel reel and alive and can engage on a deeper level.

An immersive and multisensory event, we served snacks (in such fun collaboration with Linda Dahl), integrated, edible parts of the thematic material boards, inspired by barefoot walks on my favorite cliffs by the sea.

For the opening night, I also held a talk on the theme, and connected afterwards with so many amazing people, who had felt that my thoughts resonated with them.

Have a look at the project here, or book the talk/ws here.

“Synergies, companionships, and a sense of abundance. Let’s co-create what we want to see in the world”

When creating the brand photos for my studio and of myself, I wanted them to reflect my values. So I decided to do something different.

Luckily, I have people around me who can really understand the vision and never skips a beat to jump on the train to make it happen and more. To co-create like that, adding another skill-set, working towards the same goal. I love that.

The photos were taken by Ea Czyz (on the ladder). Here’s to integrating more photos and videos into the projects!

A year ago I got a gift, a book from a dear collaborator turned friend. A beautiful book about Naturens Kolorit, capturing colours from a field trip. This Friday, we finally had the chance to host Johan Löfgren and Johan Tirén for a talk on their work.

You said something about the process of capturing the colour schemes, getting it right according to what you’ve seen, was like “jazz”. Of course you had me there. I understood completely.

Did you know that many modernist and expressive painters listened to jazz, influencing their work?

You can find their books here at Konstig.

Another beautiful co-creation – DREAM LAB – with Anna Vogel, coach, singer, facilitator, podcaster. The workshop in itself is a co-creation, the participants co-create this amazing authentic energy, making space and lifting everyone.

More on this when we’ve decided on the next date, but if you’re interested (and can read Swedish) you can find more info here.

To collaborate well, the how is more important than those who claim only results matter understands. A shared and well facilitated process will enhance the quality and the outcome of the collaborative process.

To collaborate is a bit like playing a board game, you can only play well together if you’re playing the same game, and keep having an open discussion on the interpretation of the rules.

This model is called the Double Diamond, a design thinking model, a simple version from the Design Council. The steps being: Discover – Define – Develop – Deliver.

“It’s not an instruction manual on how to design, it’s an invitation to get involved.”
Tim Browne, Co-Chair at IDEO

I got this in the mailbox yesterday. An editorial photo from ln-cc on Max Mara, with a pony, just like the one I had, a Connemara, with the colour dun. She was called Honey. I had several horses after her. But she was my first own pony, so very special.

Before devoting myself to creativity, art and later design, horses were my life, horse jumping.

Reflecting on it now, I think maybe it’s the collaboration with the horse I miss the most. The companionship and complete dedication to get the collaboration right.

A Sunday Note to self
(to create anticipation)

These letters are a form of collaboration to me.

Maybe we can only really start collaborating well, when we’ve started to find ourselves. When we can connect and show up authentically, the collaborations will start to work, will start to open up possibilities.

I’ve been on that journey for quite some time now and I aim to keep exploring the abundance and possibilities of co-creation.

xxx Charlotte Ryberg
In Pursuit of Beautiful Concepts

Thank you for reading The Anticipation Letters – The new Sunday ritual. A more personal and intuitive letter on design, life, work, philosophy, inspiration, creating anticipation for the week ahead. Words by ENTIÈRE founder Charlotte Ryberg. If you wish to receive it in your inbox each Sunday, subscribe below.