8
Design Society Denmark | Always more than icons
ALWAYS MORE THAN ICONS TRACING THE DNA OF DANISH DESIGN
Design Society Denmark | Always more than icons
1965-1975
1975-1985
Design for the home
Design for a cooler era
The 1950s and 60s were a time of great recognition for Danish furniture design worldwide, where it was known under the collective term Danish Modern. In the span of just a few years, Denmark became a leading design nation, and this era is often referred to as the Golden Age of Danish design.
As a result of the general economic slowdown in the late 1970s, attention turned once again to internal issues, and industrial designers no longer engaged in major societal issues. The systema tisation that had swept through the public sector in the preceding decade now entered the home. The design that characterised products for the home was 100% industrial – everything was moulded or cast in a cool, high-tech look, pure industrial aesthetics with shiny surfaces and visible technical features.
Design for society Around 1970, the designer’s main task of design for the home expanded to include the workplace, the care sector, and the public space. Designers were involved in expanding and improving, for example, transportation and communication systems, and for the care sector they developed furniture, equipment and technical aids.
1975
1967
1969
1977
1970
1975
1985–1995
1995–2005
Design as method
Design as a concept
Design for life
Around 1990, Danish designers began to take a real interest in ecology and sustainability, and with a growing sense of responsibility and environmental issues, designers began to take up ethical concerns.
The eco-trend and the emphasis on sustainable design continued into the new millennium, and companies were facing growing demands from consumers to provide ethically viable products and production without pollution.
Increasingly, companies began to involve designers as problem-solvers to develop smart solutions based on user needs. To facilitate the design process new user-driven innovation methods were developed, and a wide range of innovative solutions were launched in the fields of assistive aids, medical equipment etc. The advance of computer technology led to increasing complexity, especially in the communication sector. The internet provided new commercial channels and communication platforms.
A romantic view of nature developed in response to our need to slow down and adopt a holistic perspective. Associations were made to authentic and original qualities, and many products appeared as one-offs, although they were in fact examples of industrial and functionally determined design.
Today, our sense of respon sibility toward the planet is greater than ever. The notion of a product’s life cycle “from cradle to grave” has been expanded to the notion “from cradle to cradle” in an at tempt to reach a stage where product waste is reused as future raw materials or prod ucts. Recycling has become upcycling. New materials and production methods emerge as a result of current sustain ability requirements and the conditions they impose on designers and manufacturers.
1978
1986
1980
1988
1995
1988
1996
Plantangent Switches and sockets.
In recent years, the concept of design has expanded considerably and now goes far beyond product and furni ture design. New important concepts involve immaterial design, service design, experi ence design, co-creation design, among many others. Design can no longer be put on a simple formula but po tentially includes all aspects of life. A common feature of all types of design is that it must improve life – either through concrete improve ments or through experiences and emotions.
1997
Company: Lauritz Knudsen.
Denmark has been widely recognized as a design nation in the 20th century. But what are the origins of Danish Design? There is a DNA-string that runs through the different products and solutions that have emerged from Denmark. The present selection of solutions, all recipients of the Danish Design Award, represents some of the persistent themes and varying currents in Danish design.
Designer: Henning Adreasen. 1977 Kompan playground equipment. Company: Kompan. Designer: 1967
1972
Tom Lindhardt.
Cylinda Line pitcher set. Company:
1982
1978
Stelton. Designer: Arne Jacobsen.
1986 Basta Click bicycle lock. Company
1990
and design: Basta Låsefabrik.
The rich diversity of the Danish Design Awards, founded in 1965, ranges from dental equipment to windows, from playground furniture to windmills. The many original solutions confirm that Danish design was about more than beauty from the very beginning. Though always aesthetic, Danish design is and always has been engaged in developing solutions that solve problems for people.
Bates refuse system. Bates Ventil
GN Telemativ. Designer: Henning
1988
Furniture castor. Company: Scan
Andreasen.
Danwin 23/24 windmill. Company:
1996
Danwin. Designer: Jørn Blinkenberg
DigiFocus hearing aid. Oticon
Willadsen & Bjørn Rønne.
Design Christian Bjørn Design
Castor. Designer: Jørgen Rasmus1980
sen. 1970
1973
Gerni 313. High-pressure cleaner. Company: Nilfisk-Gerni. Designer: Christian Bjørn og Eskild Tjalve.
Beolit 600 radio. Company: Bang & Olufsen. Designer: Jakob Jensen.
1983/1984
1988
1992
1997
Mini-el electric car. Company:
Pictoform guidelines for the blind.
El-trans af 1989. Designer Ray Innes.
GHform ApS. Design Knud Holscher
1982 Odontoson 3 dentist equipment.
1990
Hank Porcelain. Company: Royal
Company: Odontosyringe. Design-
NovoLetTM easy insulin pen.
2000
Copenhagen. Designer: Erik Mag-
er: David Lewis & Lennart Goof.
Company: Pharma-plast A/S &
Green Light. Technical Traf-
Novo Nordisk A/S. Designer: Steve 1974
1983/1984
2003
Industrial Design.
1972
nussen.
2000
Bjørn Design A/S.
1969
McGugan.
fic Solution A/S. Design Harrit & 1994
Sørensen A/S.
1973
Leitech Thread control gauge.
Velux window. Company and
Company: Leitech Components.
1992
2003
designer: Team velux & Kann Ras-
Designer: Arne Nielsen.
Wavin Ultra Inspection Chamber.
SQFlex Water pump. Grundfos
Company: Nordisk Wavin.
Management A/S. Design Niels
Designer: Lars Baungaard.
Due Jensen.
Copier 626 Rex Rotary 4000.
1994
2007
Company and designer: Eskofort
Mogens Holm-Rasmussen electric
Training pavilion.
A/S & Contex components &
sports wheelchair. Company and
Design Hans Lyngsgård.
Business machines.
design: Mogens Holm-Rasmussen.
mussen Industry.
See winners of the Danish Design Award at www.ddc.dk
1995 Sække CO A/S. Design Christian
F78 Telephone. Company:
Danish design may seem to have undergone a remarkable trans formation – from the internationally acclaimed “Danish modern” furniture classics from the 1950s and 60s to today’s broader concept of design. And certainly, there has been a development in design thinking towards highlighting the importance of social concerns and sustainability. However, a firm focus on people and society was always a strong feature of Danish design.
9
1974
2007