Danish Design Research

Design researchers in Denmark have established a strong collaboration with the private sector, especially through research and development projects, co-financed by companies and the Danish state. The creative and innovative forces involved with research and education, give companies a valuable base for the development and production of design solutions that will benefit citizens and help promote commercial potential. This relates to the development of end-products for consumers as well as business to business-components. 

Read about the project: Regulating Daylight in the Public Space

In the experience economy, which is a growth area in Denmark, design is a powerful driving force. The growth of the experience economy is fueled by a rich cultural life and the tradition for aesthetics and design. Design research facilitates this development through research into culture, interaction and visualisation in companies, learning environments and the cultural scene.

Read about the project: User Experience and Aesthetics in Web Design

Organisation
In organisational terms, Denmark's strong design traditions have led to the creation of both the Danish Design Centre, which is partially funded by the Ministry of Economic and Business Affairs in Denmark, this seeks to promote design in business and culture. The Danish Centre for Design Research under the Ministry of Culture, provides national coordination of design research and contributes to strengthening the design research environment. A tangible expression of the national and municipal awareness of design in the public space is the emphasis on aesthetics in the development of urban environments, with lighting and paving as obvious examples.

Aesthetics and Form
A number of research projects revolve around experiments with form and with the potential of materials. Some projects for example, study new materials that have not previously been applied in a given context. Other projects address new industrial processing or production techniques, or aim to develop the aesthetics of a particular field. These experiments challenge and develop the aesthetic tradition, thus helping to keep the tradition alive. 

Read about the project: Chair Tectonics


Equality
Danish society is characterised by a high degree of equality in economical, social and cultural terms. In the field of design, this is evident in the emphasis that Danish design products place on the simplicity of expression and functional approach that appeal to a majority of the population. The value of social equality is also reflected in the fact that many research projects aim to create a knowledge base for the production of public goods that benefit society as a whole or specific groups of citizens, such as people with disabilities or other groups with special needs that the welfare society has a responsibility to assist.

This inclusive approach is evident partly in the application of user-centred methods and partly in the research goals, which include the production of knowledge that provides enterprises with a sound basis for developing user-friendly products and services. 

Read about the project: User-Driven Guideline for Industry


Democracy
The application of a user-centred approach in design research is a natural extension of Denmark's democratic history and political process, which also means that citizens and relevant interest groups are invited to comment on proposed new legislation before any political decisions are made. This high degree of legitimacy in the political system affects the field of design in the form of projects that put users and, thus, user-friendliness first.

One effect of the user focus in research is the emphasis on participatory design research in Denmark and in the Nordic countries in general; for example, participatory methods are applied in the development of office spaces that promote cooperation in the workplace. In computer and interface research too, Denmark has made international contributions to the development of methods for measuring and improving users' interaction with computers and artefacts with digital user interfaces. The user focus is applied as a method for understanding the users' needs and taste norms and their design experience. This method can help enterprises improve the design process, for example in relation to design for a multicultural world.

Interdisciplinary Approach
The interdisciplinary approach to problem-solving is an essential element in Danish design research. The interdisciplinary approach is one of the pillars of the education system, integrated into the educational methodology from the first grade. This makes both the research and the educational community well-prepared for cross-fertilisation between various disciplinary profiles in developmental contexts. Both designers and design researchers use knowledge and methods from anthropology, business economics, sociology, psychology and engineering. This leads to invaluable analytic strengths, in relation to mapping consumer needs and behaviour.

Sustainability
Danish design researchers take a holistic approach and focus on entire product lifecycles. This holistic approach includes an environmentally appropriate choice of materials, recycling, and waste management as well as considerations concerning responsible production methods and user behaviour. Here, design research incorporates the latest technological advances, for example in relation to sustainable energy solutions.

Read about the project: Design-Anthropological Innovation Model

Lifelong Learning
Denmark's strong awareness of the value of lifelong learning is evident in design, as designers strive to enhance their skills through a lifetime of practical work as well as additional formal training. The high level of education benefits the private sector in general and knowledge-based enterprises in particular.
The notion of lifelong learning promotes the dialectic relationship between Danish design research and design practice. The Danish design education programmes are based on research and close relations with the private sector. Companies incorporate knowledge from research institutions and take part in students' and researchers' research and development projects. Thus, education, research and business mutually nourish and sustain each other.

Further information
Please visit the website of the Danish Centre for Design Research at www.dcdr.dk/uk for further information on Danish design research.

The centre also publishes a monthly webzine, Mind design, which features articles and interviews about current Danish and international design research. Mind Design aims to present design research and research findings from researcher to researcher as well as from researchers to design practitioners in general. The webzine is free of charge. Please see www.dcdr.dk/uk/minddesign.