Swedish News

The new (type)face of Sweden. American record giants sue Swede. Women hop on the beer brew wagon. 

  • A new Swedish national typeface is intended to help Swedish organizations communicate more effectively internationally.
  • The new (type)face of Sweden
    Not many countries have a national typeface, but it's not surprising that Sweden — a hotspot for innovation and design — now does. As part of a broader national branding project, the Swedish government has commissioned the design of a new font, named Sweden Sans. Designed by Soderhavet in Stockholm, this new, consistent, recognizable part of Sweden’s brand is intended to help Swedish organizations communicate more effectively internationally on websites, press releases, tourism brochures and more. The typeface looks like one might expect a Scandinavian typeface to look — which is the point. Sweden Sans should be a reflection of the character of the country it’s branding: modern and edgy but humble, easygoing and clean. It’s an embodiment of the Swedish idea of “lagom,” which means not too much and not too little.

  • The typeface Sweden Sans. Designed by Soderhavet in Stockholm, is a new, consistent, recognizable part of Sweden’s brand
  • Women hop on the beer brew wagon
    Women are cheering for their new part in the beer brewing explosion in Sweden (see our story at http://tiny.cc/hssutx), which like the U.S. is developing a passion for craft beers. FemAle, a group of like-minded female beer drinkers who bristled over the preconception that women prefer lighter, different beers from men, has broken through the male dominated beer brewing business. In fact this is Sweden’s first beer made by women — developed at independent micro-brewery Oceanbryggeriet in Gothenburg. FemAle's bottled pale ale, called We Can Do It, launched in November 2014 and just went on sale in stores across Sweden. Its label is a take on America’s Rosie the Riveter creation from WWII, the campaign that went on to become a symbol of women’s power in the workplace. FemAle’s founder, Elin Carlsson, 25, says, “We Can Do It is not a female beer, but a beer brewed by women that anyone can drink. It’s nothing to do with feminism; it’s about equality — we wanted to show we can do it.” The bold, hoppy brew isn’t what’s usually marketed to women, and FemAle has already been approached by other breweries about brewing new beers with them. “Every pub wants to learn how to reach women,” says FemAle brewer Rebecka Singerer. “And Elin has found the way. It’s awesome, we feel so proud.”

  • Craft beer — increasing in popularity in Sweden as well as in the U.S.
  • American record giants sue Swede
    On Feb. 10 three of the world's biggest record labels sued a 25-year-old man from Borås, Sweden for violation of copyright law. The American FBI, in collaboration with Swedish police, mapped his transactions online, leading Universal, Sony and Warner Brothers to suspect him of pirating several musical works to the public in 2011 through 2013. He is also believed to have sold not yet released songs by artists such as Mary J. Blige and Nicki Minaj for DJs across the globe.