A series of finely crafted artworks, ranging from colourful abstract sculptures to wooden installations and swings, were on show at this year's Southern Sweden Design Days.

Taking place at venues across Malmö from 23 to 26 May, the annual design festival featured work by national and international artists and designers all operating under this year's overarching theme, care.

"To care is to look after and provide for the needs of others," the festival stated. "From intimate, personal subjects to large-scale contexts, this year's theme may cover a wide spectrum of topics."

Dialogue by Jonatan Appelfeldt and Carl Martinson

Among the exhibitions on show was Dialogue, showcasing wooden sculptures designed by collaborating artists Jonatan Appelfeldt and Carl Martinson and held at the city's Swedish Crafts Centre.

The artists both work primarily with wood but use very different craft techniques, with Appelfeldt creating wood-carved sculptures coated in a textured layer of sand, glue and acrylic paint, and Martinson using veneer glued onto wooden boards to create images.

The resulting exhibition is a playful amalgamation of the duo's contrasting and defined styles.

"We have been working together a lot, but this is the first time we've worked more artistically [together]," the designers told Dezeen.

At the centre of the exhibition, a three-metre-tall sculpture (main image) features a tiered structure, with the artists each creating three layers.

Veneer cut-outs by Martinson form patterns across the sculpture to align with the free-flowing colourful forms by Appelfeldt.

"I want to manipulate the material to make it look like something else," Appelfeldt explained.

A variety of unique wooden sculptures created individually by the artists decorate the rest of the space, while a second room showcases each of the artists' materials and making processes.

Climb, Swing, Balance! by Anna Senno, Michel Cayer and Tamano Carpentry

A set of swings made from pine, oak and ash wood were among the wooden playground equipment featured in an installation by artists Anna Senno and Michel Cayer in collaboration with Tamano Carpentry.

Housed at the festival's main venue Lokstallarna, Climb, Swing, Balance! explored public installations with the potential to encourage "social ease between all ages".

The collection offered a series of finely crafted objects made primarily of wood and finished with metal detailing. Three of the swings are complete with backs to encourage use by people of all ages.

"The whole idea that I had with the swings was to create an emotion of flying," Senno told Dezeen.

"To reconnect with a poetic sense of yourself, to start a movement where the conversation within yourself and to others can be facilitated, and where you swing towards beauty," she added.

Monumental Knit by Research Studio for Knit and Architecture

Meanwhile, colourful textiles made using 3D knitting technology were draped across an installation by Research Studio for Knit and Architecture held at the Form/ Design Center.

Named Monumental Knit, the installation explored the ways in which 3D knitting technology – which is typically used to produce garments in the textile industry – may be used for different purposes.

The installation also featured architectural elements, such as a window adorned by a knitted frame along with a circular space enclosed by sweeping knit curtains.

Elsewhere, the annual event showcased a series of projects highlighting circular design including fashion garments made from airbags and furniture made from "unattractive" materials.

Other recent design fairs include Lisbon by Design, which featured craftworks and collaborative installations made in Portugal exclusively for the fair.

The photography is courtesy of Southern Sweden Design Days.

Southern Sweden Design Days is taking place at venues across Malmö from 23 to 26 May. For more events, exhibitions and talks in architecture and design visit Dezeen Events Guide.