DANISH DESIGN

NEW INDUSTRIAL DESIGN
Danish design is not just something that was cool in the last century. A new generation of
Danish designers have made their way to the global stage – especially in industrial design
with the reinvention of everyday products.
GO WASH UP!
At the beginning of the new millennium,
designer Ole Jensen made a soft rubber
washing up bowl in bright colours. It was
met with skepticism, for who wanted to have
a washing up bowl now that everybody had
a dishwasher? Today the washing up bowl is
an icon of modern Danish arts and crafts.
The restaurants in the Museum of Modern
Art (MoMA) in New York even use it as a
champagne cooler!
LEARN MORE ABOUT DANISH DESIGN
www.denmark.dk – The official website of Denmark
www.ddc.dk – Danish Design Centre
www.danishdesigners.com – Association of Danish designers
http://designmuseum.dk/ - Danish Design Museum
©PICTURES
Wonderful Copenhagen, Denmark.dk, espressoplanet.com, archiexpo.com, kulturarv.dk
EMBASSY OF DENMARK
Maltézské náměstí 5
118 00 Prague 1
Tel. +420 257 531 600
Fax +420 257 531 410
prgamb@um.dk
www.tjekkiet.um.dk
www.facebook.com/DKintheCzechRepublic
DANISH DESIGN
FURNITURE AND EVERYDAY PRODUCTS
THE ORIGIN OF DANISH
DESIGN
Danish design is spread all over the world in the shape
of iconic furniture, everyday products and spectacular architecture. Danish design became popular after World War II. In the 50s and 60s, the movement
Danish Modern – centred around minimalistic furniture – put Denmark on the global map.
Leading designers were Poul Henningsen, Arne
Jacobsen and Verner Panton. They made industrial design and furniture that fulfil people’s everyday
needs and that, at the same time, is being beautiful
to look at.
A VERY SPECIAL LIGHT
Poul Henningsen (1864-1967) disliked the cold
glow of neon tubes and made innovative theories about perception and light.
One of his most popular lamps is PH 5 from
1958, which is still a must in many Danish
living rooms. It is made in such a way that the
light never blinds the viewer.
Room 606, Radisson Blu Royal Hotel by
Arne Jacobsen.
THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT CHAIRS…
Danes love chairs. Arne Jacobsen (1902-71) made one of the most famous chairs in the Danish design history called The Egg. He invented this chair for Copenhagen’s first skyscraper,
the Radisson Blu Royal Hotel in Copenhagen, where he designed everything from the façade
to the forks.
Verner Panton (1926-1998) work-ed
together with Arne Jacobsen and later
started his own design and architecture office. He experimented with making chairs in new materials and with no
legs.
In 1960, he made the iconic Panton
Chair: an S-shaped chair made of a single piece of moulded plastic.
SET THE TABLE WITH CLASSICS
Founded in 1775 and originally named the Royal Porcelain Factory, Royal Copenhagen is
a Danish brand associated with pure quality and respect for the traditions of craftsmanship.
You can set the table with an exclusive range of classics but also the modern collection of
hand-painted porcelain. The most famous dinnerware ever is called Flora Danica, created in
1790-1803. King Christian VII. of Denmark ordered it in production as a gift for Catherine
the Great of Russia.
This range of products delivers hand-painted
porcelain in dinnerware, figurines and collectibles. There are various designs and styles to
choose from. The blue fluted design is considered the most characteristic variant.
A GOOD CUP OF COFFEE:
THE PRESS POT
Danish design company Bodum made their own version of the
French coffee press, Bistro, in 1974.
By using a press pot you get more of the coffee’s oils than with a
coffee filter, and this enhances the flavour. Bodum’s simple but
beautiful product was cheaper than other press pots on the market. It was an instant success – even in France – and since then,
Bodum has produced over 60 million press pots.