The Muuto Design Contest is now open to submissions, with the Danish brand seeking design proposals that bring a new perspective to outdoor accessories and smaller furniture. This year’s theme explores how design can blur the boundaries between inside and outside – physically, emotionally, and sensorially. Muuto is especially interested in ideas that rethink outdoor spaces and explore the transition between indoor and outdoor living.
Designing for Outdoor Spaces
Muuto is looking for designs grounded in nature – responding to natural surroundings, light, materiality, and tactility. The proposal should relate to outdoor or transitional spaces such as terraces, balconies, gardens, courtyards, or semi-covered environments, while introducing new perspectives that challenge traditional notions and improve everyday living. The brand seeks to create a harmonious blend of form, function, materiality, and tactility.
Muuto defines Scandinavian design as functional, well-crafted pieces with an enduring aesthetic and honest expression. According to the brand, good design should be inviting, intuitively attractive, and spark curiosity.
Past Winner: A Piece of Seating
The winner of this year’s Muuto Design Contest 002 is Seoul-based designer Kihyun Kim’s project, A Piece of Seating (APS). The gently curving stool, executed in bent plywood and in many colors, can be a standalone piece or can be combined to create a shared experience of sitting. Kim sees the stool’s design through the lens of the Korean concept of Jeong – a form of shared warmth or connection between people.
Kim says, “Being selected as the winner of the Muuto Design Contest is a meaningful moment for me. It’s both recognition and encouragement – especially as someone working across disciplines and teaching the next generation of designers.” The award is a significant milestone for Kim, and it will likely have a lasting impact on their career.
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Muuto seeks products that stand out through innovation and offer a tactile experience, creating stronger connections between object and user. They want designs that feel intuitive, bringing calm, comfort, and balance while encouraging touch. Consider how your design impacts the senses – how materials, shapes, colors, and space affect emotions and well-being.
Submission Guidelines
The first prize winner will see their piece potentially go into production and receive €5,000 in prize money; two runners-up will receive €2,500 each. The submission deadline is 12 October 2026. Designers can submit their entries through the official website. It is essential to review the submission guidelines carefully to ensure that all requirements are met.
Designers will interpret the theme and push the boundaries of outdoor design in various ways. With a focus on nature, materiality, and tactility, the submissions are likely to showcase a range of innovative and functional pieces. The contest will be a great opportunity for designers to showcase their skills and creativity.
Additional information can be found on the official Muuto website, which provides a detailed overview of the contest rules and requirements. The website is a valuable resource for designers who want to learn more about the contest and submission guidelines. For those interested in learning more about the contest, visit the Muuto website or related design topics.
