Creativity as a catalyst: Innovative design, cross-sector collaboration, and valuable digital content

The Creative Denmark Dispatch: June 2024

This month Copenhagen was transformed into a hub of design, creativity and innovation during the 3 DAYS OF DESIGN FESTIVAL, gathering international designers, brands, and design enthusiasts to celebrate the latest trends and innovations with interior design. To me, this year's theme, "Dare to dream", perfectly encapsulates what is necessary to envision a future where we create and innovate while respecting our planet’s scarce resources. We need to dream big, rethink how resources are used and reused, and extend product lifecycles by having a circular mindset, making sustainability the obvious and irresistible choice.

During 3 DAYS OF DESIGN, we heard multiple inspiring talks discussing circular design principles, such as longevity and materiality, how we need to think further in terms of biodiversity and the use of natural materials and innovate to accommodate future needs. Both upcoming designers and established brands presented brilliant, beautiful, and thoughtful designs and we were introduced to re-designed classics, and new innovative ideas incorporated into creative designs, not to mention new types of material. A festival like 3 DAYS OF DESIGN is exactly the type of event that can facilitate a collaborative and inspirational forum and I am truly in awe of all the innovative Danish solutions and products that succeed in challenging the status quo while catering for both people, planet, and profit.

This is also why I am eagerly anticipating the innovative and original solutions that will be submitted for this year's Danish Design Awards, taking place on November 19th. I am particularly excited to see designs that have the potential to shape a better future and drive significant global change, solutions that reevaluate the use and reuse of materials, and designs that solve problems worth solving.

It is of course not only within design where we are seeing inspiring innovations - the transformative power of creativity reaches far beyond the creative industries. It extends across numerous industries, making it essential we continuously collaborate across sectors, industries, and borders to create the sustainable solutions required to succeed in the green transition.

I recently experienced a great example of cross-sector collaboration among various industries such as architecture, the built environment, energy, tech, and food, when I had the pleasure of participating in ‘Folkemødet’ on the Danish Island of Bornholm. This democratic festival brings together thousands of citizens, organisations, associations, parties, and companies to foster dialogue on key societal issues and bridge the gap between citizens and decision-makers. Besides offering a unique opportunity for citizens to meet and discuss with politicians, decision-makers and organisations face-to-face the many interesting debates and talks made it abundantly clear that to advance the green transition and succeed in addressing vital global issues we need to dare to dream and inspire change – together – and to be able to deliver on our common societal challenges, all countries, sectors, industries, and decision-makers must contribute actively to the solutions. 

As always, Creative Denmark is ready to support your creative business or organisation and we welcome international delegations interested in Danish creative competencies and solutions. Don’t hesitate to reach out to one of my colleagues.

Majken Kalhave,

Executive Director, Creative Denmark.

Dare to dream at 3 days of design

Dubbed the ‘second biggest destination for design’, the internationally renowned 3daysofdesign festival in Copenhagen this month showcased the newest trends within interior design.

3 trending themes were:

🟡 Modularity. The possibility to scale products up and down to fit different needs over a lifetime is becoming increasingly essential with a heightened focus on longevity - ensuring products will last over time.

🟡 ‘Co-labs’. Collaboration across disciplines such as architecture, design, fashion, and NGOs aim not only to develop relevant products for the audience but also to create a global impact.

🟡 New material selection, reuse of materials, and circularity. These remain key aspects for Danish Designers. The choice of material increasingly influences the design and product form due to the respect for planetary boundaries and the pros and cons of materials. This will expectedly change the perspective of aesthetics over time.

The importance of transforming the way we perceive the production process and use of design was highlighted by Christian Andresen , Creative Experience Director, FRITZ HANSEN : “We need to design processes, distribution, the way we work with circular business models to explore our total value chain from the time we born new products, how we use them and what happens with them afterwards”.

Explore Danish Interior design and learn more about the Danish creative DNA: https://bit.ly/3z28PU6

Creativity as a driver for quality of life – In Focus article

Danish society is characterized by flat hierarchies, high trust, and a strong commitment to work-life balance, fostering an environment where creativity thrives, and quality of life is elevated. The Danish creative community consistently demonstrates its ability to shape a better future that is beautiful, well-thought-out, and designed for ease of use for everyone, through sustainable, well-designed products and spaces.

🟡 By following the principle 'form follows function,' Danish designers focus on usability and how design seamlessly integrates into daily life while being aesthetically pleasing.

🟡 In the audiovisual industries, a human-centred approach ensures technology meets user needs, creating meaningful solutions for education, community building, and mental health.

🟡 Danish architects transform functional buildings into attractive public spaces, promote sustainability with thoughtful urban design, including bicycle-friendly infrastructure and green spaces, and reduce loneliness through inclusive design that enhances urban liveability.

Danske Arkitektvirksomheder (The Danish Association of Architectural Firms) has provided insights to this In Focus article, showcasing factors that enhance daily happiness and well-being and the vast impact the creative industries play in creating ‘everyday happiness’:

Explore inspiring cases from Dissing+Weitling , JAJA Architects , ERIK arkitekter , Khora Virtual Reality , Levitate , Coloplast , AART , Be My Eyes , and Another Life : https://bit.ly/4aKGezW

Denmark’s commitment to creating valuable digital content

Digital games have significantly entered children's rooms. Therefore, it is essential that the games young people play offer experiences that are challenging and educational instead of digital fast food. 

This was one of the topics at "Issues that Matter – for the Gaming Industry”, an event organised by the Danish Chamber of Commerce ( Dansk Erhverv ) and SYBO . Here, key industry figures emphasised the importance of creating quality digital content. Kari Vinther Nielsen from LEGO GAME ( the LEGO Group ) presented a recent study involving 25,000 kids showcasing how essential play is for well-being and unfolding creativity, advocating for digital games that merge entertainment with education. Mathias Gredal Nørvig from SYBO highlighted the need for content that fosters positivity and avoids the negative aspects of social media.

Denmark is leading the way in ethical gaming, as evidenced by the recent launch of ‘Nimbi GameLab – Denmark's Institute for Game Development’. This is the first time in Europe that an independent institute under a Ministry of Culture has been established to support digital game development and it is an important first step to increasing awareness of the necessity of developing ethical digital games that foster wellbeing, support educational purposes, and are not addictive for users. 

Danish developers are at the forefront of creating digital games that enhance mental health and cognitive skills. These games not only entertain but also help in building communities, reduce loneliness, and promote social diversity and empathy. By integrating inclusivity and diverse character representations, the Danish gaming industry is making strides to foster a more accepting society.

Discover Danish digital games and XR in our vast case catalogue right here: https://bit.ly/creativedenmark_digitalgamesxr

Creating healthy cities through smart urban design

Amid the challenges of rapid urbanisation, creative solutions are necessary for building vibrant, sustainable, and healthy communities. From bicycle-friendly infrastructure to digitised healthcare systems, the city of Copenhagen exemplifies how creativity can drive solutions that enhance both physical and mental well-being.

“Copenhagen stands out as a significant example in the realm of smart urban solutions, showcasing innovative strategies for addressing public health challenges. The city's planners have successfully combined aesthetic, technological, and health-focused elements, creating an environment that promotes a high quality of life,” says Camilla Richter-Friis van Deurs , Former City Architect at The City of Copenhagen and the author of this chapter.

By embracing continuous innovation and data-driven solutions, smart cities present a promising vision for the future, where urban life is redefined and the focus on quality of life is at the centre.

This article is part of a series, highlighting how the Danish creative industries play a crucial role in improving quality of life on a consumer, organisational, and societal level. Chapter 5 explores how creativity drives urban transformation and how technology and design can combat health and inequality, fostering sustainable communities with a high quality of life. Read ‘Innovating urban planning: The role of creative solutions in smart city design’ and find innovative cases like Nordhavn’s 5-minute city, Superkilen, and The Danish Neighborhood Atlas, right here https://bit.ly/creativedenmark_chapter5

Global Fashion Summit: Unlocking the next level of sustainability

“A sustainable fashion industry is not a limitation but an opportunity for an inclusive, creative and prosperous future that nourishes our planet and respects our people.“ Her Majesty the Queen of Denmark stated at Global Fashion Summit 2024. The queen expressed her support for a move towards a regenerative industry, where fashion gives more than it takes ♻️

Fashion holds the power to affect change everywhere. As one of the world’s most dynamic and influential industries, it is becoming increasingly crucial that the fashion industry works proactively and collectively to address critical environmental, social and ethical challenges.

Under the theme ‘Unlocking the Next Level’, this year’s Global Fashion Summit gathered more than 1000 international representatives from brands, retailers, NGOs, policymakers, and innovators. The main focus was on overcoming barriers and implementing solutions for sustainable progress, as well as uniting and forming partnerships to support the transition to a sustainable future for fashion. As highlighted by Federica Marchionni , CEO of Global Fashion Agenda : “We need to unite towards common goals. Whether we differ in geographies, cultures or political mindsets, sustainability can be a unifying bond among all of us.“

Creative Denmark assists international stakeholders and decision-makers in exploring solutions, products, and processes within the Danish creative industries. As a not-for-profit, public-private partnership our primary objective is to connect international demand for innovative solutions with Danish creative companies and competencies. Through our efforts, we strive to raise awareness about the transformative potential of Danish creativity as a driver for sustainability and increased quality of life.

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