From a nation famous for stylish solutions and globally recognized brands -- some sound
lessons in how good design is best woven into the fabric of society.
Denmark was partner country at the 2012 Inno Design Tech Expo in Hong Kong...
The country's pavilion featured everything from furniture to fashion, opening with a visit by Danish royalty.
"Actually, this is part of a broader concept of what we call, Design Society Denmark."
But illustrating the essence of Danish design were some small products making a big impact on daily life.
What we have here are hearing aids from Oticon. They have developed to be hearing aids as
jewellery. So you put it on, and you can't see it so you don't have that stigma of
being outside because you can't hear or whatever.
A totally other product is the Yellowone Needle Cap, which is actually produced, designed
for third-world countries which have a problem with needles lying around being used and therefore
very dangerous. With this top, you can put it on a can and
put all the needles inside of it, all the needles in the can.
Up here, we have a new way of seeing a cane. This one is in new bright colours, a new rubber
bottom that won't slide -- a new handle with rubber as well so it won't slide when
you put it on the wall." It illustrates that when you involve a designer
in your development of a product, or a solution or a new way of tackling things, the designers
what is going on here." A lot of people are coming together, they
are looking for new things, methods, new ways of discussing and tackling what is design
-- innovation. New contacts liaisons for the future. For us, it's important to be
here because a lot of the Danish companies and designers they see Hong Kong as their
hub into China and their hub into other Asian countries.
Such opportunities are being explored even by student designers.
An exchange project involving design schools in Denmark and Hong Kong focused on compact
living... giving rise to ideas like this 'nomadic' stool.
Made from recycled bottles -- it's light and easy to carry, or to hang on the wall
when not in use. I got inspired by the makeup of a Cantonese
opera, it looks like a butterfly -- looks like the shape -- see how I could maybe fold
the furniture -- become more compact. "Before the internet, we actually couldn't
do this maybe. And now we can sit back and home in Denmark and design something for Hong
Kong from Denmark and vice versa. Because now we can just exchange information and for
example -- they made something for us from the harbour -- and we made furniture for
their apartments in Hong Kong." The eighth edition of Hong Kong's Inno Design
Tech Expo welcomes countries from around the world including South Korea. Design Korea's
debut pavilion features products like the world's first wall-mounted drum washing
machine -- perfect for small living spaces. Or hour about the big design idea behind this
robot that features a touch screen and a friendly fact -- that's being put to use offering
a more interactive way to share information. 'Hello, my name is Furo!'"
Underscoring the growing importance of design for local SMEs -- the event was opened by
Hong Kong Chief Executive CY Leung. Organised by the Trade Development Council,
Hong Kong Design Centre and Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks -- the show takes place
alongside the World SME Expo which together drew nearly 700 exhibitors seeking business
opportunities through innovation and creativity. And as designers increasingly interact with
users... they are responding to growing concerns about social and environmental issues facing
society. Hong Kong design hub PMQ has been an incubator
for ideas like this modular system for use in organic farming.
We really care about the context, we care about the social and environmental issues
in Hong Kong, framework that our projects are set around.
So as a designer, we have also become farmers. And so I've also become a beekeeper. I also
practice rooftop farming. So as a designer, it's important to engage these elements
and be inspired by the process, and let that come into our designs naturally."