Perspective from Denmark

There is much to emulate from the examples of Denmark, an advanced welfare state placing special emphasis on the environment. Much of the country's efforts are based on its values. Our efforts to emulate and introduce Denmark's examples cannot be sustained without accurate understanding of their values. Without it, we may easily err by making decisions based on our values and terminating the efforts midway when pressed to make a choice. I will try to illustrate the 'relation between people and objects' from the perspective of Danish values. This I will do based on long-term ethnography of Egmont Højskolen, a Danish folk high school accepting students with severe disability; Krogerup Højskolen, a Danish folk high school accepting students from different countries; and Svanholm, an eco-village where people of all ages, from toddlers to the elderly, live as a community. It will also be based on my visits to local kindergartens, folk schools, old people's facilities, and assistive technology centers in Denmark. Finally, I will make proposals on what Japan will need to do in the future.

Especially in the past 17 years – we have seen an increasingly qualified approach to Design for All in Denmark in terms of methodology, solutions and concept development based on the Scandinavian welfare model, Scandinavian functionalism and Scandinavian cooperation. Scandinavia's common socio-political background has provided a common platform and has led to a change of direction—from a purely social dimension focused on solutions and design for people with disabilities to a design topic that is associated with business potentials, sustainability, innovation and Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR.

The success for any Design for All policy to promote the inclusion of all people—people with disabilities and the growing number of older people—in mainstream society will, amongst other things, depend on the extend to which the policy is followed up by obligations and supported by initiatives and commitment of others—the society, employers, design and architect associations, companies, business, educational institutions, providers of goods, transportation systems, services, etc. As an example both Danish Designers' Association and Danish Architects' Association has a written Design for All Policy. Danish Designers has a very strong commitment and policy on Design for All implemented into their new vision and strategy "The Role of Design in the 21st Century". Other important players in the field are networks and NGOs like the Design for All network and the Danish Disability Organisation.

The above will be explained and illustrated with several specific examples illustrating Design for All processes, concepts and policies e.g. the Copenhagen Metro, educational material, street furniture, products, the new Elephant House, designed by Sir Norman Foster in Copenhagen Zoo etc.  

The lecture will take you through a kaleidoscopic journey through the Danish Design for All world.

The lecture will end with a conclusion and perspectives.