Insights

Retail Consumer Experience

Circalle Team — Fri, 28 Aug 2026 11:59:46 GMT

The retail landscape has undergone a radical transformation. Shopping centres, once purely commercial destinations, are now evolving into multi-sensory, social environments, places where people go not just to shop, but to connect, unwind, and recharge. Today, the retail consumer experience is no longer just about products or prices. It’s about enhancing the customer experience and creating places that people want to be in.

From shopping to socialising: The changing role of retail experiences

Centres have evolved from transactional hubs to experiential destinations. Besides heading to the centres to do daily errands, they are being more and more designed as holistic environments, where retail, leisure, entertainment, and even sustainability awareness are combined into one unified in-store experience (Champion et al., 2024).

Today, shared public areas, relaxing zones with greenery, and more seating space draw people in. Visitors come for more than just shopping experiences; they want to socialise, browse, rest, and feel good in a space that meets their emotional and psychological needs.

Recent centre design trends emphasise livability, safety, flexibility, and sustainability (Çavka, 2023). Designers must now be aware of including comfort, wayfinding, and social interaction when designing to enhance customer experiences. The result? Retail centres are becoming less about consumption and more about community and atmosphere.

Shopping experiences: What visitors expect

Today’s consumers expect more than just convenience. They seek shopping experiences that feel effortless, emotionally rewarding, and safe. Their satisfaction with the entire shopping experience depends on factors such as ambience, accessibility, security, and the attitude of service personnel. In fact, a study has revealed that ambience was ranked as the most important factor influencing whether people return to the retail space (Misra & Verma, 2023).

Besides environmental influences and practicalities, shoppers are also driven by emotional needs. They want to be able to relax, to explore, to engage. Many go to shopping centres for fun, window shopping, or simply spending time with others. That is why the quality of the space, besides its offerings, has become a key factor in a centre's success and in enhancing customer-focused experiences.

Customer-focused experiences: How to engage consumers

So, how can retail spaces better meet these growing expectations for great customer experiences?

Environments that blend accessibility, emotional engagement, and functional design show the most potential in meeting expectations for great customer experiences. Research shows that aspects like spatial flow, natural lighting, inviting materials for a tactile feel, and interactive zones help enhance customer experiences and positively influence how visitors think and behave (Nasim & Shamshir, 2018; Sachdeva & Goel, 2015).

Good design encourages people to linger, engage, and return. That means shopping centre managers need to focus on areas that are easy to navigate and pleasant to spend time in. Comfortable seating areas, clear visual pathways, and cosy nooks shape a better in-store experience for visitors and invite them to rest or to mingle. The more immersive and human the environment, the stronger the emotional connection to the space and also the brand behind it.

Biophilic design: A natural influence on retail experience

One of the most effective ways to enhance the retail consumer experience is through biophilic design. Biophilic design brings nature back into commercial spaces and, in this way, reconnects people with nature through architecture and interior design.

Studies have shown that green features in shopping centres, such as living walls, planters, natural materials, and flowing forms, improve retail customer experience, mental well-being, and visitors’ loyalty (Ortegón-Cortázar & Royo-Vela, 2023). Exposure to greenery can reduce stress, have a positive influence on mood, and even increase the likelihood that visitors return, often for longer stays (Champion et al., 2024; Tran et al., 2022).

By incorporating nature into retail environments, we can help turn everyday commercial settings into destinations where people want to be and return to.

The future of retail consumer experience

As retail spaces continue to evolve, the future of retail puts even more emphasis on designing customer experience, not just efficiency, but also emotionally. During the last years, consumers have already been seeking multi-purpose destinations where they can do all: shop, socialise, eat, work, and relax. The trends show that this shift will continue to be even more important when designing customer experiences in order to differentiate one’s brand, engage visitors and enhance customer experiences.

Also in the next few years, designers will increasingly embrace hybrid use spaces, freeform architecture, integration of greenery, and multisensory customer-focused experiences. Shopping centre design will put emphasis on the atmosphere and create a storytelling approach for places of meaning, not just for display. As Sachdeva & Goel (2015) noted, “Success at retail is less about what is being sold—and more about how it’s being sold.”

Hence, the most successful retail spaces will be those that feel good to be in, comfortable, engaging, and connected to the natural world.

Sources:

Çavka, H. B. (2023). An Investigation of Shopping Mall Design Requirements. Engineering Proceedings, 53(1), 42. https://doi.org/10.3390/IOCBD2023-16329

Champion, O. E., Sekene Anthony, B., & Okon, U. (2024). Evaluating the integration of innovative green spaces in shopping malls and its effects.

Misra, P. K., & Verma, A. (2023). Consumer Satisfaction in shopping mall: A Sociological study in context of shopping mall attributes. South Asian Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 4(5), 1-20.

Nasim, S., & Shamshir, M. (2018). Consumer behavior towards shopping malls: A systematic narrative review. Journal of Business Studies, 14(1), 81-95.

Ortegón-Cortázar, L., & Royo-Vela, M. (2023). The Effects of the Biophilic Atmosphere on Hedonic Value, Utilitarian Value, and Customer Loyalty. Sustainability, 15(23), 16435. https://doi.org/10.3390/su152316435

Sachdeva, I., & Goel, S. (2015). Retail store environment and customer experience: a paradigm. Journal of Fashion Marketing and Management, 19(3), 290-298.

Tran, I., Sabol, O., & Mote, J. (2022). The relationship between greenspace exposure and psychopathology symptoms: A systematic review. Biological Psychiatry Global Open Science, 2(3), 206–222. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bpsgos.2022.01.004

Airport Passenger Experience

Circalle Team — Fri, 28 Aug 2026 11:53:31 GMT

Airports today are no longer mere points of departure and arrival. They have become destinations themselves. As the first and last impression of a passenger journey, they shape how we feel about the travel experience and the adventures that are part of it. While the focus used to only lie on efficiency, modern airports are transforming into immersive environments where architecture, services, and atmosphere work together to improve the airport passenger experience. The design of airport spaces can influence everything from passengers’ stress levels to their loyalty and their willingness to spread a good word about their airport journey.

From efficiency to airport experience

While the traditional goal of an airport is to support flow and efficient transitions between check-in, security, and boarding, today’s terminals do far more than that. Nevertheless, a study at Melbourne Airport revealed that the ease of navigation and wayfinding still play an important role in how satisfied travellers feel (Jiang & Zhang, 2016). But intuitive layouts and guiding passengers through the space itself are just the beginning to improve airport passenger experiences.

Nowadays, airports function as public realms, where shopping centres, restaurants, and luxury lounges come together, and people spend extended periods of time. This shift calls for more than operational design; it requires human-centred environments that balance efficiency with emotions.

Creating a sense of place in the airport journey

A growing number of airports are embracing local culture and identity through spatial storytelling. Whether through interior design, artwork, cultural motifs, or materials, creating a sense of place helps form emotional bonds with passengers. Studies have shown that embedding cultural cues in the design fosters cognitive connections between travellers and their destinations (Isyana, 2023).

Creating this sense of place can also influence their behaviour. When a terminal reflects the values or heritage of its region, it contributes to stronger memories of the place, happier travellers, and even a stronger intent to return to the destination itself and thereby also to the airport.

Commercial influences in the passenger experience

From duty-free shops to food courts, commercial areas have become central to the airport experience. This is especially important as commercial revenue makes up around 50% of the total revenue of an airport (Graham, 2009).

Hence, the design of these spaces, from lighting to their layout, has received more and more attention over the last few years. These spaces shape passengers’ moods and, accordingly, they behave differently. Specifically, the atmosphere created through human-centred design directly affects how passengers behave in these areas and what their personal airport journey looks and feels like. Passengers who feel relaxed and emotionally engaged are more likely to spend time in retail zones and make purchases.

How does biophilic design influence the passenger experience?

Airports are inherently high-stress environments. Long queues, security checks and protocols, potential delays, and crowds can all contribute to elevated anxiety levels and worsen the passenger journey. But recent research highlights how biophilic design, greenery, and eco-conscious architecture can significantly reduce this type of stress.

Studies in Malaysian and Saudi airports (Ariff et al., 2025; Abdel-Gayed et al., 2023) show that biophilic design, including indoor greenery, natural light, and zones designed for relaxation, can improve both well-being and brand engagement in an airport passenger experience. This way, these spaces inspired by nature are more than an airport’s effort to become more sustainable; they create a calming atmosphere, restore cognitive function, and humanise an environment that is otherwise characterised by technological features.

Not only does biophilic design improve the airport passenger experience, but travellers actually prefer a design that is inspired by nature in an airport setting. Studies show that roofs with curvature, transparent ceilings for real sunlight, warm-toned materials such as wood, greenery, and soft, ambient lighting are consistently associated with lower stress levels and a heightened sense of comfort (Hasanzade et al., 2022; Van Oel & Berkhof, 2013). Passengers are naturally drawn to these open, calming, and intuitive spaces. They make them feel they are in control and at ease, even with the complexity of travelling involved.

The physical servicescape, including interior layout, lighting, and seating, puts emphasis on the importance of connecting design with emotions to improve the airport passenger experience, resulting in influencing how travellers behave and how loyal they become (Park & Ryu, 2019). In airports where every touchpoint counts, aesthetics and atmosphere become strategic tools for improving both the airport experience and passenger journey.

Importance of social connections during the passenger journey

Even though people tend to travel alone, airports can be social spaces. Lugosi (2011) introduces the idea of “hospitable actions”, which relates to creating moments of shared human expression, even in busy transit hubs. Purposeful seating arrangements, waiting zones, and informal meeting spots can be designed to invite social interaction between strangers. This way, purposeful design can create moments of warmth and connection in otherwise impersonal airport passenger journeys.

Losekoot (2015) describes this as the airport becoming a third space, which is not home, not work, but a public environment where people have the opportunity to create memories, have small encounters with one another, and even share an airport experience together. It’s these subtle moments focused on human interaction that make a terminal memorable.

Providing the option for interaction is important. Well-designed furniture and its placement give passengers a choice. They can decide whether they want to interact with others or whether they want to step back, recharge, and find calm within the bustle. This balance—between moments of connection and spaces for calm creates warmth and humanity in what can otherwise feel like an impersonal airport journey.

Turning an airport experience into a return visit

The impact of good design goes far beyond a single visit. Passenger satisfaction is strongly linked to word of mouth, their trust in the brand, and their intentions of returning (Isyana, 2023). This makes the entire airport experience a strategic component in a destination’s reputation, and a key differentiator in competitive global travel markets.

In that sense, airports aren’t just gateways; they’re environments that shape the reputation of a destination and the brand itself. And like any immersive brand experience, airport passenger experiences should be coherent, comfortable, and emotionally engaging.

Concluding thoughts: Improving the airport passenger experience

A well-designed airport doesn’t just help passengers get from A to B; the airport journey leaves a long-lasting impression. It reflects local identity, supports well-being, creates opportunity for social interaction, and encourages positive behaviours. In today’s travel economy, that means that travellers become happier, more loyal, and more connected.

We believe that airport spaces should be more than efficient; they should be purposeful, inclusive, and inspired by people. By combining durability, comfort, and flexibility, we help design terminals that welcome everyone any time.

Sources:

Abdel-Gayed, A. H., Hassan, T. H., Abdou, A. H., Abdelmoaty, M. A., Saleh, M. I., & Salem, A. E. (2023). Travelers’ subjective well-being as an environmental practice: do airport buildings’ eco-design, brand engagement, and brand experience matter?. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(2), 938.

Ariff, A. A. A., Shahril, M. I. S. M., Samadi, Z., & Mohamad, E. (2025). The Importance of Green De-Stress Relief Spaces in Malaysian Airports: Enhancing Traveller Well-Being and Environmental Sustainability. In Sustainable Green Infrastructure: Materials and Technologies (pp. 155-174). Singapore: Springer Nature Singapore.

Graham, A. (2009). How important are commercial revenues to today’s airports? Journal of Air Transport Management, 15(3), 106–111.

Hasanzade, M. P., van Oel, C. J., & Pazhouhanfar, M. (2022). Passengers’ preferences for architectural design characteristics in the design of airport terminals. Architectural Engineering and Design Management, 19(6), 586–601.

Isyana, Z. (2023). The Factors Of The Airport Experience That Affect Passenger Satisfaction And Behavioral Intentions At Yogyakarta International Airport. Cakrawala Repositori IMWI, 6(3), 682-699.

Jiang, H., & Zhang, Y. (2016). An assessment of passenger experience at Melbourne Airport. Journal of Air Transport Management, 54, 88-92.

Losekoot, E. (2015). Factors influencing the airport customer experience: A case study of Auckland International Airport’s customers. Auckland University of Technology.

Lugosi, P. (2011). From food, work and organization to the study of hospitality and organization: Reconsidering the special issue of Human Relations, 61:7 (2008). Hospitality & Society, 1(1), 85–89. doi:10.1386/hosp.1.1.85_7

Park, J.-W., & Ryu, Y. K. (2019). Investigating the Effects of Airport Servicescape on Airport Users’ Behavioral Intentions: A Case Study of Incheon International Airport Terminal 2 (T2). Sustainability, 11(15), 4171.

Van Oel, C. J., & Van den Berkhof, F. D. (2013). Consumer preferences in the design of airport passenger areas. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 36, 280-290.

Seating shapes how stations are experienced

Circalle Team — Fri, 28 Aug 2026 11:43:06 GMT

The next generation of train stations will be judged less by the speed of the trains and more by what happens before passengers board them.

How a curve changes a station

A station is built from hard lines, platforms, columns, signage, and the architecture of getting somewhere. What sits inside that structure can soften it, direct it, and quietly determine how people feel moving through it.

A shape that takes on the architecture

Stations rarely repeat themselves. Each one carries its own geometry, curved concourses, irregular columns, platforms that taper or widen without warning. A modular solution built around curvature doesn't impose a fixed footprint onto that geometry; it follows it. The same solution can trace the radius of a concourse, wrap a column, or step around a structural constraint that would otherwise interrupt the flow of people through the space.
This is what it means for seating to become part of a space. The curve isn't decorative; it's how the solution reads the architecture and adapts to it, so the seating appears to have grown from the room rather than been placed into it.

Sundsvall Central station

Shaping how people move

A curved line does something a row of fixed seats cannot: it directs the eye and the body without a sign or a barrier. Positioned along a concourse, it can draw passengers toward retail, food service, or a platform entrance simply by the direction it leans. Positioned around a column or a structural edge, it can absorb a dead zone and turn it into usable space.
The same logic shapes attention. A curve angled toward a shopfront gives a seated passenger a clear sightline into it, increasing visibility into retail spaces. The form is doing the directing; no signage is required.

Holding stillness inside motion

A station is built for rushed movement, yet the moment someone sits, the room slows around them. Wood holds warmth and offers tactility in an otherwise sterile and functional environment. The curve completes that effect: no hard edge, no straight line interrupting the configuration.

Stockholm Central station

Density that follows the curve

Because the solution is modular and seamless, curvature doesn't cost capacity. Removing the gaps between individual seats increases the number of seats per metre of floor, even as the line bends around a column or follows an uneven concourse wall. A curved configuration near a food and beverage area can hold tabletops within the same footprint, giving passengers somewhere to sit when the cafés are full, within sightline of the departure boards, and measurably increasing takeaway sales in at least one case.

One identity, many shapes

Because the same modular logic adapts to different architectures, a single product series can give an entire rail network a consistent identity, the same material, the same line, the same way of meeting a space, while still resolving differently in every station it appears in.

Supplier spotlight: Meet QTech

Circalle Team — Fri, 28 Aug 2026 11:38:04 GMT

The collaboration between Circalle and Qtech formally began in June 2025, when Qtech began manufacturing the Nova C series. Based in Anderstorp in southern Sweden and operating within a strong regional manufacturing cluster with a broad network of local suppliers, Qtech approaches sustainability as a fundamental responsibility rather than a side initiative. This perspective forms a natural foundation for our partnership, which is defined by transparency, shared values, and a long-term commitment to quality and continuous improvement. In this interview, Linnea Enmark, Sustainability Manager at Qtech, shares her insights into how these ambitions are translated into practice.

What does sustainability mean to you at Qtech Group, and how does it influence your day-to-day operations?

For Qtech Group, sustainability means taking responsibility for the long-term environmental, social, and economic impact of our decisions. It guides our daily work, from optimising resources and reducing waste to collaborating responsibly with employees, suppliers, and partners to create lasting value.

How do you balance high-precision engineering with your environmental and social commitments?

With our expertise, we are committed to proactively suggesting improvements that combine high-precision engineering with sustainability.

We value customers like Circalle, who are receptive to these ideas, exploring how our processes can use less material, reduce production or assembly errors, and lower the risk of defects. This approach helps minimise waste and rework, reduce environmental impact, protect people, and improve overall efficiency and product quality.

Are there any specific steps you’ve taken to minimise waste or optimise resource efficiency in production?

We reuse packaging materials, repurpose scrap materials for prototypes or fixtures, and regularly service and maintain tools and machines to extend their lifespan. Additionally, we sort materials carefully to improve recycling and make production more efficient.

How do you work with your suppliers and partners to ensure sustainability throughout your value chain?

Through open dialogue and continuous improvement. We work with a supplier code of conduct, supplier assessments, and on-site visits to follow up on the results of these assessments. These activities are aligned with the requirements in our code of conduct, and when needed, we initiate improvements together with our suppliers.

Around 80% of your partners are local. How does working closely with local suppliers support your sustainability ambitions, from environmental impact to social responsibility and collaboration?

Working closely with local suppliers supports our sustainability ambitions in several ways. It reduces transport-related emissions, strengthens regional collaboration, and allows for more frequent communication and follow-ups.

Can you share an example of a recent technological or process-related improvement that has reduced your environmental footprint?

As part of taking over a production process previously handled by a supplier, we have introduced roll forming instead of bending as an integral part of the production concept. Roll forming is a more efficient process compared to the bending method previously used. Roll forming enables shorter cycle times per product and provides a more stable and consistent result compared to step bending. It also requires fewer resources, as press braking is an energy-intensive process due to the repeated movement of the press beam. In addition, the shorter processing time and reduced manual handling result in less physical strain on operators, contributing to improved ergonomics and employee well-being.

How do you maintain a culture of continuous improvement in quality and environmental management?

We maintain a culture of continuous improvement in quality and environmental management primarily through our dedicated and engaged employees, whose commitment drives ongoing development. Additionally, our certification according to ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 provides a structured framework that supports and motivates continuous progress in both quality and environmental practices.

You are also gold-rated by EcoVadis. How does that evaluation support or guide your sustainability work, and what areas have you chosen to focus on as a result?

The EcoVadis Gold rating provides external validation of our sustainability efforts and helps us identify both strengths and areas for improvement. It serves as a valuable benchmark and guides our focus areas, particularly in supplier management, environmental performance, and structured sustainability governance.

How do you support the well-being, safety, and development of your employees?

We strive to create a workplace where people feel safe, engaged, and valued. Our employees are our most important asset. We are currently in the process of achieving ISO 45001 certification, an international standard for occupational health and safety management systems. This certification supports a structured and proactive approach to work environment management.

What are your main sustainability goals for the coming years?

Over the next year, we will track upcoming legal requirements, adjust our processes as needed, and establish clearer sustainability targets. Employee well-being, environmental responsibility, and sustainable practices are already embedded in our production and supply chain and will continue to be further integrated and developed in the coming years.

Wellbeing in shared healthcare spaces

Circalle Team — Fri, 28 Aug 2026 11:27:44 GMT

In healthcare environments, design shapes more than appearance; it shapes how waiting feels. A look at the materials and modular logic behind calmer, quieter shared spaces.

Spaces that carry weight

Healthcare spaces are shared spaces. Yet, they carry weight that other shared spaces don't: uncertainty, waiting, recovery. No design can shape what each person feels there. But it can shape how these feelings are allowed to be experienced.

What the research shows

Research increasingly supports this with measurable outcomes. Studies on the relationship between environment and health outcomes point to a consistent finding: intentional spatial design affects both patient recovery and staff wellbeing.

Healthcare Ascent & Leaf Lamp

A shift in the waiting area

As a result, waiting areas have been changing. Healthcare spaces are becoming less clinical and more considered in how people experience them. The shift reflects a broader move toward patient-focused design, one where comfort and orientation are designed in from the start, not added after.
Good design can hold a particular stillness in places where people wait. Tactile materials, natural light, sound that settles rather than carries. The room makes the waiting easier and adds a sense of belonging for the people inhabiting it.

Our approach to shared healthcare spaces

Our approach to shared healthcare spaces draws on natural materials, forms, and proportions as a way of softening environments that can otherwise feel sterile. Wood adds tactility and warmth. Curved, modular seating breaks up the rigidity of corridor-style waiting, allowing groups, couples, and individuals to find their own distance from one another without losing sight of staff or signage.
Dwell time in healthcare settings varies significantly, from minutes for some to hours for others. Modular configurations respond to that directly: seating can open into longer runs for waiting rooms with higher turnover, or break into smaller clusters near recovery and consultation areas, where privacy and a slower pace matter more.

Ascent receives Red Dot Award for Product Design

Circalle Team — Fri, 28 Aug 2026 11:22:25 GMT

Ascent has been awarded the Red Dot Award for Product Design 2021, recognising the series for its design quality and functional performance in shared spaces.

Rethinking the beam seater

Beam seating has long followed the same logic: straight rows, fixed orientation, a place to sit and little else. Ascent was developed to challenge that. Built from curved, three-dimensional modules, the piece moves away from rigid rows toward configurations that follow the structure of a building and guide how people move through it.
The result is a beam seating concept that adapts to large-scale interiors and waiting areas rather than the other way around. Configurations can be reshaped as a space evolves, creating up to 30–40% more usable area than conventional straight-beam systems.

Material logic

Ascent uses CIRCAL, a low-carbon aluminium containing at least 75% post-consumer recycled material, developed with Norsk Hydro. Wood components are sourced from certified forests. Every part is designed to be separated for maintenance, refurbishment, and eventual material recovery.

Kauppakeskus Goodman, shopping mall

A quiet kind of complexity

Curved where it could have stayed straight. Warm where steel alone would have been cold. Ascent holds its geometry the way water holds a shoreline, shaped by movement, not resistance. What looks playful from a distance reveals, on closer use, a product built for the long demands of shared space: stackable, reconfigurable, easy to maintain, ready for what the space asks of it next.

Red Dot recognition

The Red Dot jury evaluates entries on aesthetic quality and functional performance. Ascent's award places it among a small group of products recognised for resolving both at once. The series is featured in the Red Dot online exhibition from 21 June 2021, alongside this year's other laureates.

Product Launch Ascent

Circalle Team — Fri, 28 Aug 2026 11:08:53 GMT

Ascent’s sculptural aesthetic is drawn from shifting landscapes over time. This modular beam seating piece is shaped to guide movement and create rest points across large-scale shared spaces.

A line drawn from the landscape

Ascent's rising back has the quality of something carved, a sculptural form inspired by natural landscapes shifting over time. The shape moves the way a coastline does: continuous, deliberate, with no straight edge breaking its rhythm. Each curve catches light differently as it turns, offering a unique spatial experience in a space.

A new shape for shared spaces

Most seating in transit halls, terminal spaces, and waiting areas follows the same logic it did decades ago: straight rows, fixed angles, one-way use. Ascent works differently. Built from curved, configurable modules, it follows the structure of a building rather than working against it, guiding movement, opening sightlines, and creating rest points where the space calls for them.
Ascent forms 30–40% more usable space than conventional beam seating of the same footprint, without adding floor area.

Kauppakeskus Goodman, shopping mall

Built from circular materials

Ascent uses CIRCAL aluminium for its beams, developed with Hydro and certified to contain at least 75% post-consumer recycled content. Certified wood, fully recycled ocean plastic, and steel with more than 90% recycled content complete the product. Circular thinking extends to the product, designed for long use, simple maintenance, and easy reconfiguration, so it adapts when the needs of a space change.

One product range, many configurations

Transition modules allow Ascent to be planned in two and three dimensions, curving around columns, following a concourse, or wrapping a waiting zone into a quieter shape. Tables, armrests, hidden power, and charging points integrate directly into the structure. Each module is stackable and easy to maintain, built for the volume of daily public use.

Where it holds its shape

There is a warmth in the wood that adds a sense of calm to the space it inhabits. Ascent's curve holds that warmth inside its shape, turning a sculptural form into a quiet presence. The grain catches the light the way the curve catches the room: softly, with a sense of natural belonging to each space.

Nova C Double Back is recognised as a work of applied art

Circalle Team — Fri, 28 Aug 2026 10:00:26 GMT

Malmö, Sweden, January 2026 — The Advisory Board of the Swedish Form Association has concluded that Nova C Double Back qualifies as a work of applied art, protected under the Swedish Copyright Act (Opinion No. 338, dated 3 November 2025).

The opinion strengthens the legal basis for enforcing design rights in Sweden and supports originality claims across other EU Member States.

What this recognition means

This expert opinion provides a strong legal foundation for enforcing Circalle’s design rights in Sweden and is persuasive evidence of the Nova C Double Back’s originality in other EU Member States.

Unauthorised reproduction, manufacture, or distribution of the Nova C Double Back may infringe copyright in Sweden and could give rise to civil remedies, including injunctions, seizure, recall, or destruction of infringing goods and claims for damages or an account of profits. A business that knowingly produces, sells or resells unauthorised copies faces increased legal risk; an innocent business purchaser may still be subject to civil remedies (which courts may mitigate in cases of good faith).

Circalle recommends that customers, specifiers, and procurement authorities rely on authorised channels and genuine products when selecting seating for regulated or public installations (for example, airports and transport hubs), as unauthorised copies may not carry warranties, spare parts, manufacturer support, or the required safety and certification standards.

About Circalle

Circalle is the new name of Green Furniture Concept, taking effect in September 2026. The Malmö-based design company, founded in 2007, creates circular solutions for shared environments, combining its product portfolio with design expertise to shape functional and coherent spatial experiences. The company works as a design partner to architects, developers and operators worldwide, shaping spaces where people gather, connect and thrive through decades of everyday life.