3D DESIGN / ART / CHILD CULTURE / PEDAGOGY (b. 1987, based in Gothenburg, Sweden)
An ongoing concept for her work is the term open-ended play, which treats free play as an ongoing process and mindset rather than a fixed activity with a defined beginning or end. Through thoughtful use of materials, form, color, and experimentation, she develops spaces, objects, and processes that invite curiosity, imagination, and co-creation. She approaches design as an open and intuitive process, rather than a finalized product.
Over the past decade, Lisa has developed projects for libraries, cultural centres, museums, hotels, parks, schools, and festivals. Her work ranges from interactive exhibitions and spatial designs to workshops and artifacts. These have been presented both in Sweden and internationally, including the Barbican Art Centre in London, Hong Kong Design Week, Röhsska Museum in Gothenburg, Gothenburg Film Festival, Brockley Bounce Festival, and Milton Keynes Art Centre. She holds a BA in Product and Furniture Design from Kingston University, London, and an MFA in Child Culture Design from HDK-Valand, Gothenburg.
EDUCATION
MFA Child Culture Design, HDK – School of Design and Crafts, Gothenburg, Sweden (2013–2015)
Atelierista, Art Pedagogy for Preschool Teaching, HDK – Gothenburg, Sweden (2015–2016)
BA Product and Furniture Design, Kingston University, London, UK (2009–2012)
Foundation in Art & Design, Kingston University, London, UK (2008–2009)
Upper Secondary School, Växjö Art & Design School, Sweden (2003–2006)
SELECTED WORK
PUBLIC ART & DESIGN PROJECT
FORMLEK – Röhsska Museum, Gothenburg, Sweden (2024–2025)Commissioned public art and play project exploring form, material, and children’s interaction.
- ASECS Pilot Study – Jönköping, Sweden (2025)
Research-based project testing methods for participatory play and cultural engagement.
- Örnsköldsvik Public Art Competition – Örnsköldsvik, Sweden (2024)
Concept design commission (skissuppdrag för konstnärlig gestaltning) for a children’s and youth public art project.
- MKAC – Milton Keynes Arts Centre – UK (2019–2020)
Artist residency and exhibtion developing participatory installations around play, community and material exploration.
Collaboration with artist India Harvey.
- Bygglekplatsen & POP UP bygglek – Gothenburg, Sweden (2015–ongoing)
A public play and construction space inviting children to experiment with large-scale building and creativity.
- Squish Space – Barbican Centre, London, UK (2019–2023)
An interactive learning and play environment for families with children under five, combining art, design, and pedagogy.
Collaboration with artist India Harvey.
- REBUS – Gothenburg, Sweden (2016, 2019)
Participatory design projects with children as co-creators of outdoor preschool environments.
- Littleredstuga – Gothia Towers – Gothenburg, Sweden (2014)
Interior design for a children’s lounge in a family-focused hotel environment.
LIBRARY COMMISIONS - ARTISTIC & INTERIOR
- Barken library, Söderbärke (2015)Renovation of the children’s library department.
- Werner Aspengren library, Smedjebacken (2020)
Artistic design and interiors for the children’s and youth library.
- Köping city library (2021)
Concept development for public art and interiors.
- Nyköping city library (2021)
Sketch commission for library development.
- Kungsbacka city library (2022)
Artistic design and interiors for the children’s library.
- Hyltebruk children’s library (2023–2024)
Artistic design and interiors for the children’s and youth department.
COLLABORATIONS
- Art Educator Project with Jelena Rundqvist – Mölndal Municipality, Sweden (2023)Collaboration integrating art into preschool pedagogy through co-creative processes.
- Camden Arts Centre - London, UK (2017)
Collaboration with artist India Harvey
- Play-Campference SCV Adventure Play, California, USA (2017)
Research trip and participation in international play-focused gathering.
WORKSHOPS
- PRISMA Film Festival – Gothenburg, Sweden (2019, 2023)
Children’s creative workshops.
- Lilla Film Festival – Gothenburg, Sweden (2015–2018)
Annual creative workshops for children.
- Brockley Bounce Festival – London, UK (2022–2023)
Play space and sculpture for a community festival.
Collaboration with artist India Harvey.
- Dunderklubben – Gothenburg, Sweden (2023)
Children’s creative workshop.
- Rydals Museum – Rydal, Sweden (2019)
Creative workshop for children.
- Allas Ateljé – Gothenburg, Sweden (2019)
Children’s art workshops.
- Children’s Cultural Festival – Gothenburg, Sweden (2015–2016)
Creative building workshops for children and families.
- Röhsska Museum – Gothenburg, Sweden (2015–2019)
Design workshops for children.
- Frölunda Cultural Centre – Gothenburg, Sweden (2016–2017)
Site-specific art projects including land art and willow structures.- Museum of Gothenburg – Gothenburg, Sweden (2017)
Exhibition and summer workshops.
Exhibition and summer workshops.
SET DESIGN
- Cirkus Unik – Gothenburg, Sweden (2018)
Design and production of stage environments for the children’s circus performances The City and Busningstid.
TEACHING & LECTURES
- Wide Open School – Taoyuan Museum of Fine Arts, Taipei, Taiwan (2025)
Lecture and presentation on play and design.
- Tutor – Central Saint Martins, London, UK (2015–2019)
Summer courses in interior design for 16-18.
- Artist talk/lecture “Form for fun” - Rööhska museum, Gothenburg, Sweden (2020)Lecture and presenation about my Lisa Marie Bengtsson practice
- Guest Tutor – Kingston University, London, UK (2017–2018)
Foundation course teaching and mentoring.
- Workshop and education for Library & School Staff – Falun, Sweden (2021)
Educational workshop on participatory processes.
INTERNSHIP
Littleredstuga (2013)
Barber Osgerby (2012)
Pascal Anson (2011)
[RE]-Design (2009)
FaddaSantos (2009)
Saatchi & Saatchi (2008)
GRANTS
Formvisare, Svensk Form Väst (2018)
PRESS BACK THEN
HDK in Hongkong
Dezeen
Svenska Dagbladet
Canal+ France
We-heart
Pinterest
©
Lisa Marie Bengtsson 2025