Bauble Pick Your Poison
Susanna Barrett
Susanna Barrett is a Canadian-Swedish graphic designer and Creative Director based in Stockholm. Her work is defined by a balance between strategic thinking and artistic intuition, where clarity and emotion intertwine.
A Design Language of Clarity and Emotion
After studying art and graphic design in Vancouver and completing a master’s program at Yale University in Switzerland, Susanna Barrett spent several years working in New York before settling in Stockholm. Throughout her long career as a designer and Creative Director, Susanna has developed a visual language defined by simplicity, clarity, and a deep sense of materiality. Her designs unite precision and poetry — expressions that feel both contemporary and timeless.
The collaboration with Svenskt Tenn began with Josef Frank’s Poisons pattern, created between 1943 and 1945.
— It sparked the idea for a modern colour palette based on black with strong primary hues, something that felt exciting to bring into Christmas. It also led us to think about Art Deco and the cocktail parties of the 1930s, with lacquer, metal, and geometric forms. We were deeply inspired by the early work at Svenskt Tenn and by designers such as Björn Trägårdh and Nils Fougstedt. Our ambition was to create something that references history yet feels modern — something we’d want in our own homes today.
Festive decorations by Susanna Barrett
Tree topper in hammered brass
Susanna Barrett”The hammered surface of the collection’s brass pieces connects to Svenskt Tenn’s craftsmanship tradition and ties the design to the company’s history.”
Design by Susanna Barrett and Sam Wilde
The colours of the glass beads are drawn from Josef Frank’s Poisons pattern.
The Spirit of Season Unfolds
Drawing inspiration from the simplicity of folding paper, Susanna Barrett explores the theme Unfold in her collection. The tree topper and brass ornaments are gently folded along the centre, creating a dialogue between a two-dimensional surface and a three-dimensional object. The technique allows light to dance across the hammered surfaces, highlighting the graphic circular shapes with a subtle shimmer.
— Simplicity is at the core. It’s about reduction — and then letting something emerge from the simple. It’s a kind of restraint, but also about bringing life into stillness.
The colours of the collection — red, green and blue — are inspired by Josef Frank’s Poisons, where small glass beads, like drops of poison, add a playful yet elegant detail.
— We wanted to create objects that could hang in the tree but also work in other parts of the home — for instance, in a window. Our brass ornaments are versatile, designed to gently let the spirit of Christmas unfold.
Susanna Barrett“The glass baubles are designed with the rituals of the holidays in mind – wrapping gifts, tying ribbons, taking the time to create something beautiful by hand. In my family, it’s tradition to carefully untie the ribbons; you must never cut them, as that would break the bonds of friendship.”
Hand-painted glass baubles designed by Susanna Barrett.
The Ribbons That Tie Us Together
— We wanted to create objects that convey a sense of calm amid all the richness. Something new that complements the more patterned and decorative yet still feels familiar. A quiet reflection on Svenskt Tenn’s early years, when clean lines and simplicity were at the centre.
That idea is beautifully reflected in the hand-painted glass baubles, where stripes dance and swirl like silk ribbons. Simple and understated – a gentle tribute to the ribbons, both real and symbolic, that bind us together during the festive season.
