She finally took the plunge in 2015 to turn her side projects into a full-blown career; she quit her role at the architectural firm to work as a freelancing multi-hyphenate who straddles the fields of photography, set design, and styling. Even within that wide breadth of work, there was one constant: the use of colour, and often in bold and fantastical ways that have since become part of Severin’s signature aesthetic. 

“It was when I let go of my initial plan [of becoming an interior designer] that I really found my own way. [Photography] was a way for me to explore other expressions like maximalism, and not caring about functionality or longevity as in architecture. It was a more direct, fulfilling, and freer process for me; a way of learning about how I wanted to work with spaces.”

Today, the Swedish talent is also the co-founder of Toniton, a Swedish design brand whose products run the gamut of everything from floor tiles, paint hues and carpets to shelving systems, light switches and bathroom taps; all of which sport sprightly tones that can be colour-coordinated to match every inch of your home. Sketches and collages are intrinsic parts of Severin’s creative process, and she does these to the exactitude of having even the specific flowers to be used in vases illustrated in her mood boards and drawings.

“I don’t leave anything to chance. I always start from an analysis [of the concept], creating a mood and colour palette of what I want to achieve and then the specific details, and [then] working these out to the big picture; quite the opposite from what most people [would] recommend.”

Anything that catches her eye, be it “an ugly backstreet” or the rich hues and the bold patterns of the sixties, are fodder for inspiration. Severin highlights the work of French artist Nathalie du Pasquier among her key influences, along with the stylistic and detailed designs of the art deco movement, which originated in the 1920s.

“Colour is never absolute, always relative; it’s what you put next to it that defines it. I’m obsessed with exploring these ever-changing relationships of colour combinations,” she declares.

To wit, it is this sense of “optimism” that she wishes to express in her work through the joyous use of colour. “If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change,” says the designer, citing a quote from American self-help author Wayne Dyer.

Here, she tells us more about her most memorable photographs and projects to date.

Dubbed ‘The Red Wall’ in Spanish, it’s easy to see why many design enthusiasts and photographers have been drawn to the La Muralla Roja complex in Calpe, Spain. The work of Spanish architect Ricardo Bofill, this project features a fun interplay of colour, and mind-bending interlocking stairs and bridges; these design elements have inspired films and dramas including the Korean Netflix series Squid Game.

Severin chose a more pastel treatment to capture the beauty of the structure in the afternoon light. “I was once called a ‘warm minimalist’; it makes me think of this particular photo and moment. It was a delight to just follow the [movement of] the light throughout the day in this space,” she shares.

Read more: 5 Squid Game-Style Staircases Around The World

As part of this commission for Chinese tech brand Oppo, the photographer used the Oppo Reno 2 phone to create this whimsical scene. Shot at a playground in Stockholm, Sweden, and later digitally edited to form this composite photo, the shot plays with perspective by utilising the wide-angle lens of the mobile phone.

Severin conceptualised a set for Toniton that also highlights her approach to spatial design: to play “with layers and a hint of surrealism”. A dose of whimsy is injected into spaces through the exuberant use of colour, in contrast to the clean lines of the furnishings pictured.

It was the photographer’s first encounter with Mexican architect Ricardo Legorreta’s vibrant Greenberg House in Los Angeles. She teamed up with fashion stylist Sarah Baker, who selected outfits from young American clothing label Bright Volumes to create this bold, colour-blocked tableau.

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