MacroDesignWith Denmark
2
MacroDesign with Denmark
By Uday Dandavate
January 31
st
, 2011
Denmark is going to establish an
Innovationcenter
in Asia to facilitatecloser cooperation between Asia and Denmark forstrategic innovation anddesign. Recently I had the opportunity to meet witha senior consultantfrom the Danish Chamber of Commerce, who is also a lobbyist forthe
Innovationcenter.
Webrainstormedabout what might be a sharedplatform for strategic collaboration between Asia and Denmark. Thisconversation, combined with myrecent involvement with various projectsinDenmark, has helped me gain a freshperspective on Denmarks uniquepotential as a partner country in the global arena.Danish Design is known worldwide for simple, functional furniture. Theeffects of the industrial revolution reached Denmark relatively late.Denmark was able to develop its own design language that is, even today,inspired by high-quality craftsmanship. Arne Jacobsen, a well-knownfurniture designer,created the iconic Ant Chair in 1951. Another iconicrepresentation of Danish design is the SydneyOpera House, designed byDanish architectJørnUtzon. LEGO is another example of Denmarks lastingimprint on the world. Often I cite examples of LEGO to illustrate the pointthat a design process is complete only when it takes on its own form in theimagination of the enduser. Good design, I believe, is one that providesusers the flexibility to perceive it, use it, change it, and experience it ontheir own terms, rather than one that imposes how the designer wants the
3
users to experience it. Generic LEGO blocks offerthat flexibility. LEGO blocksmorph into a variety of forms and scenarios within the imagination of millions of children and adults around the world. Bang &Olufsen is anotherexample of Danish simplicity raised to a level of high design.Danish design reflects Danish values, social relationships, and thepsychology of an average Dane. One cannot understand the value of innovation and design in Denmark without understanding Danish peopleand their culture.
The 2010 Legatum Prosperity Index, which produces rankings of countriesbased upon factors that will help drive economic growth and producehappy citizens over the long term, has ranked Denmark second globally.Relatively, the United States, a global super power, ranks 10
th
on theProsperity Index. Ireland and Iceland come in at 11
th
and 12
th
respectively,even before the United Kingdoms position at number 13.Understanding how Danes manage their happiness and sense of wellbeingcan help struggling countries bring prosperity to their citizensusingeconomic tools and measurements.Danes have a deep and active involvement in political decisions, and a veryresponsible social and civil attitude. At 90 percent, Denmarks voting rate ishighest in the world. They subscribe to the ideal of the welfare state, whichfollows the principle that each member of society has equal rights andaccess to social support and social benefits. According to Limbistraine.com:
Danish cultural features and values are connected in anetwork built on relations of interdependence. The
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MacroDesign with Denmark
Ideas for making success of the "InnovationCenter" being set up by Denmark in Asia.
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