Better Shelter is a social enterprise founded by the IKEA Foundation that provides innovative housing solutions for people displaced by armed conflicts and natural disasters. Better Shelter, in partnership with UNHCR and other humanitarian agencies, has developed a sustainable shelter prototype which, today, houses families, clinics and classrooms across the world.

Prior to his product development role at Better Shelter, Karlsson founded and directed the design firm Chen Karlsson, whose innovative designs continue to be sold worldwide.

Better Shelter has received various accolades in the field of design for its prototype shelter concepts that are durable, easy to install and cost-effective. Karlsson has an executive MBA from the Stockholm School of Economics and a master’s degree in industrial design from Konstfack, the University College of Arts, Crafts and Design in Stockholm.

He was a Member of the Academic Body at the Norman Foster Foundation - Re-materializing Housing Workshop, supported by the Holcim Foundation and held in Madrid (November 2021).