Designers Laurits Gerbøll & Magnus Thy are a design duo based in Aarhus, Denmark. Meeting at university, the pair focus on producing innovative designs influenced by their Nordic traditions. Their shared curiosity for sustainable design, craftsmanship and experimenting with new materials laid the foundation for their collaboration.
Hans Thyge believes that good design is only possible with collaboration. Working with Icons, Hans developed our new Pop Flip Top Table, a simple functional product with a strong visual identity. Read on to find out more about the collaboration.
Boris Berlin is an award-winning designer based in Copenhagen, Denmark. His first collaboration with Icons of Denmark resulted in the launch of our Ekko sofa – a refined, organically shaped product that fits neatly into architectural spaces with its square profile. We caught up with Boris to find out about his process, how he responded to our brief, and what inspires him to design.
For Dennis Marquart, designer of the Gab Lounge and Spire Coffee Table, the past greatly influences his contemporary design practice bringing forward a Modern aesthetic into his range of products. Having originally trained as a blacksmith, a craft with a long history, he continued his studies at the Copenhagen Design University. Dennis Marquart recently joined Jesper Jensen and Sandra Genth (Icons joint directors) to discuss his design practice and the inspiration that drives him to create.
Being a sustainable business is not just about finding new ways of working or introducing new materials to the market. For Icons we focus on creating long lasting products based on high quality manufacturing that can be adapted to different circumstances or environments, stepping away from the markets need for constant change and ‘fast furniture’.
How can we strive to create a more sustainable future? It’s a question that is constantly being reviewed and attempted to answer around the world. At Icons, this is no different. We are consistently assessing our present and future goals to create a more sustainable business and looking at new ways to improve our own ecological impact.
By setting goals for ourselves, investing in environmentally conscious businesses, experimenting with innovative materials and holistically thinking about the lifecycle of our products, we are able to take significant steps to improve sustainability within our business model.
As we look to the future, our aim should be to co-create environments that prioritise the individual and how they are affected positively as a result. Encouraging not only productivity, but also independent work, collaboration, team bonding, leadership and idea exchange. Within this Insight blog, we delve into four dynamic spaces within workplaces and how they can drive innovation and fresh thought.
Our work with architects and designers has led us to create a collection of sofas that each offer unique features. Each of our sofas are designed to support the needs and behaviours of workplace environments.
Icons of Denmark has been working with 3D models since day one. However, in recent years, we have been working towards improving the 3D resources that we can share with our clients.
Our background working with 3D visualisation is driving us to explore BIM further as the technology evolves: about visualising our products, how they work for real-life projects and how we can implement them within projects.
Read more about our journey with BIM here.
A leading woman in today’s world of Danish design is Rikke Hagen. Renowned for her innovative approach to material-led design, Rikke developed Icons of Denmark’s Bark Lounge chair – one of the few pieces of commercial furniture to be crafted from the bark of a Cork Oak tree.
Click below to read a discussion between Rikke and Sandra Genth (Director, Icons of Denmark) about her processes and how a road trip through Portugal started her journey into creating the Bark Lounge.
Designer of our Sky chair range, Mia Lagerman takes a considered approach to designing furniture for the workplace. Since the launch of the original Sky Wood, the chair has now evolved into 7 different iterations, adapting the product into a thoughtfully designed, clever range of chairs. Sandra Genth, Director at Icons caught up with Mia to chat about how she approached the design of the Sky chair range, its suitability for workplace design, and why an economics degree is the key to success in the design world.
Finding a chair that can support the postures and demands of modern working habits can be daunting, especially within the rapidly evolving workplace. We have put together a useful guide of key considerations, to help you select the right chair to suit how and where you work.
On the launch of the 4T System, Jesper Jensen, Owner of Icons of Denmark spoke with Hee Welling, designer of the 4T System, to chat about how the system evolved and why it will add flexibility of choice to both designers, and users of the system, for workplace environments now and into the future.
2020 was a time like no other for our industry and it invited interesting discussions on the future of the workplace. What was often a niche area of research, blossomed into mainstream discourse. Questions like, “How can we adapt to the new way of working?” or “How do we make the workplace more flexible and inviting for people to return to collaborate?” were crossing people’s minds.
In February at our first attendance of Stockholm Furniture Fair we asked the question ‘How is Work?’. What we didn’t know at the time was that this question would be more important than ever in 2020. So, How has work been for us? Our answer is that with great challenges come innovation, flexibility and perseverance.
In the extended hours we spend seated at work, our choice of chair impacts our comfort, concentration and wellbeing – whether we’re consciously aware or not. From our work with leading workplace interior designers and global clients, we have seen how seating needs to satisfy four elements for any user: flexibility, mobility, longevity and comfort – all in a form that is pleasing to the eye.
Our conclusion is the Crossover chair range.
Often we tend to focus on the aesthetic, but ergonomics are just as crucial in commercial interiors. In a modern workplace, furniture needs to be functional for the user, and upholstery is a vital part of that.
Read more to explore the process of upholstery and why it has a lasting influence on workplace design.
Introducing Olga Hopton, one member of the team behind Plus X, Brighton. Scouting for new buildings, as well as the furniture to go into them, Olga is integral to making the new addition to the Plus X hubs a success, being the Managing Director of the Brighton space. We caught up with her to see what she has planned for the future of Plus X.
Welcoming the Spire coffee table in leather to our collection. Produced using recycled leather, the tabletop provides a softer alternative to stone.
Icons is now ISO 9001 and 14001 certified. We are proud to share this with you as we build a more sustainable, quality-focused future for our business.
When it comes to design, names such as Florence Knoll and Nana Ditzel left their indelible mark on the 20th Century. But what about this generation of designers? For Furniture Friday this week, we take a look at 6 designers shaking up the design world.
In 2018, Icons of Denmark took a major step and part acquired our upholstery production in Denmark. Now into our second year of ownership, Icons of Denmark’s upholstery production has expanded to include a carpentry workshop, together employing 10 people.
We sat down with Icons of Denmark owner Jesper Mollgaard Jensen and spoke to him about trends in the industry, the history behind the company, and what design means for Icons of Denmark.
Eventually, we will be required to return to the office or our usual place of work. As we prepare to transition, businesses will be required to implement new measures to keep employees safe. But what about noise? As the majority of us have adapted to a home working environment, the usual noise stresses and distractions aren’t present or can be better controlled.
We take a look at how improvements to office noise can be made with a few simple changes.
Wellbeing has been part of our everyday vocabulary for quite some time but as we adjust to a new lifestyle of social distancing, our mental health will play an important part in how we get through this difficult time. We caught up with one of our directors Sandra Genth to see what she suggests for getting through the next few months.
For those not used to working from home, you have probably discovered the challenges of creating a suitable home office. These are some of the tips our team have found useful over the last few days as we have learnt to adapt to our new working environment.
Despite its high air pollution, in 2018 the Sustainable Cities Index ranked London as the most sustainable city in the world. For this insight post, we take a look at what the future holds for sustainability through the lens of the London furniture industry.
From the 4 – 8 February, Icons of Denmark exhibited for the first time at Stockholm Furniture & Light Fair. The fair brings together the best of Scandinavian design as well as established international brands with a presence in the Nordic region.
Hee Welling is an award-winning designer based in Copenhagen. His philosophy is expressed in the simple geometries and spirited contours of his products. We sat down with Hee for a chat about the Smile Lounge chair and sustainability in the industry.
Seasons greetings from us all at Icons of Denmark, we hope you’ve had a fantastic end to 2019.
It’s been a rollercoaster year for us – with new products, new production facilities and new markets in Denmark, we’re excited to share these new changes with you.
Last week, Icons took part at designjunction as part of London Design Festival. Kings Cross provided the backdrop for a bold showcase of new, engaging design. 2019 also marked Icons’ 10th anniversary, and it’s been quite the year for the company since last September. Find out more here.
The Sky chair series is created to form a bond between users and their activities – promoting communication, learning, and collaborative work – no matter the setting.
The Crossover chair series marks the meeting point between London and Denmark, between a meeting and task chair, between form and function. Find out more here.
The Arena chair series is an elegant, minimalist expression of comfort; matching form with functionality. Find out more here.
Balancing the industrial strength of stone and steel with a light and elegant form, Spire is a versatile addition to the workplace, a surface for contemplation and discussion.
Environmental product declarations (EPDs) are a set of informational tools designed to help furniture consultants; interior designers and their clients obtain sustainability information on selected products. Learn more here.
Over the last 6 months, Icons have developed a new identity, new products and new designer collaborations. Want to find out more? Come see the elements of work in our recently refurbished showroom in London.
Facit is a collection of wood tables that combine an organic style with enhanced performance; made specifically for the modern work environment.
Workplaces are driven by the need for customisation and comfort, Bank combines both of these desires to create a new furniture concept of banquette-seating.
Through our high-definition Matterport scan, virtually explore our newly refurbished showroom and understand how our collection connects and complements with our space.
From great parties and breathtaking installations through to inspiring talks, explore our highlights from this year’s CDW.
Rikke Hagen is a Danish designer inspired by simple design solutions formalised with new technologies and materials. The Bark Lounge chair is her new sustainable design for Icons of Denmark.
It was our first time exhibiting at Trends and Traditions (Denmark’s largest furniture meet & greet event) and it provided the perfect opportunity to introduce ourselves to the Danish markets.
We had a chat with Mads Sorensen, Sales Director & Partner in Sorensen Leather, a family owned company that has upholstered many famous furniture icons with their beautiful high-quality leather. Read on to learn more about his fascinating world of leather.
The Icons of Denmark 2019 Sample Sale will be held on the 21st, 22nd and 23rd of March at our showroom in Clerkenwell.
See something you like? Contact us for more info.
On a whirlwind Danish road trip, the Icons team spent three days learning the craft of upholstery, furniture carpentry and welding at our workshops near Aarhus.
Working our way through -15 degree black ice certainly made us feel like perilous adventurers but it wasn’t all that bad. Once again the Stockholm Furniture Fair delivered on their promise of showcasing the largest exhibition of Scandinavian design. Sustainability, a new earthy colour palette, dreams becoming reality and the revival of the 1970’s were some key trends we noticed at the fair.
This year we celebrate ten years of business, which seems like the perfect time to show you our transformation.
Today we’re taking a bold new step with a new identity for Icons. this marks the next chapter in our ongoing mission to enrich people’s lives at work.
Operating from Copenhagen, the new Icons team represents the latest addition to our rapidly expanding network. Our return to Denmark marks a homecoming alongside the experiences learnt from our global projects led from London.
Part Two: Spaces of the Future.
With a new tech savvy generation of workers coming in and the rapid integration of smart technology in the workplace, modern offices are changing, fast. But what will office spaces feel and look like in the future? This week for Part two of Designing for the Future, we predict what we think the office space will offer in the future.
Part One: Faces of the Future
The working environment has gone through a major transformation over the last decade with 5 generations now sharing the workplace. How best to cater to these groups? Our three-part series on Designing the Future kick-starts with an introduction into the four generations in the workplace and what it might mean for the future of office design.
For a festive Furniture Friday this week, we take a look at what Christmas is like in Denmark (via our work Christmas party!)
It’s a day of milestones for both online platform, BIMobject and Icons of Denmark. BIMobject is celebrating their 1 Millionth User today and Icons of Denmark have appeared in the top 4 downloads this week.
What kind of environment will work of the future need? How can freedom and structure be given equal space? These are the prominent questions being asked at Cologne’s Orgatec 2018, and we found a wide and varied list of answers. Back after two years, the international trade fair has given us a lot to think about and while it’s fresh in our minds; here are our five main highlights.
As you might expect from the name, the Private Lounge Chair provides a new retreat from the busy working office. Want to find out how?
We’d like to say a wholehearted thanks to everyone who made designjunction 2018 a week to remember.
We had so many refreshing conversations exploring our concept, solutions and where London thinks the future of design is heading.
Ahead of Designjunction 2018, we talk to digital strategists, Majenta Solutions about virtual reality technology and designing the future.
Henrik Lerche and Peter Barreth from Danish Design Supply give us an insight into their furniture workshop in Aarhus, Denmark. Drinking lots of coffee while being curious are some of their top tips to making it as a successful furniture manufacturer.
Elegant and refined verses plush and modular; the Form and EC1 sofas were created for the opposite ends of the interiors market, yet both went through the same rigorous design process with our upholsterers and craftsmen. Want to learn more? Check out our video.
Woodstock is a new table family created by Icons of Denmark to stand alongside our curated collection.
Recent years have seen a significant shift in working practices and the workplaces needed to support them. GRID is increasingly being used as an architectural component to design different working environments within the office. Learn more about GRID and how it is supporting Activity-Based Working (ABW).
We caught up with prolific Danish designer, Hans Thyge to discuss the power of imagination, young designer advice and the beauty of absurdly fast racing boats.
Welcome to the Icons of Denmark 2018/19 Collection. Watch our film Curation & Collaboration to learn about what inspires us and the people behind the scenes.
During Clerkenwell Design Week, Icons of Denmark launched ‘Form’, our new sofa. Inspired by the functionality of Danish Modernism and combined with the sleek metropolitan feel of contemporary London design.
Clerkenwell Design Week 2018 is over and what a week it has been. Thank you to everyone that came by our showroom and we hope you enjoyed it as much as we did!
Icons of Denmark will be hosting a large selection of events throughout Clerkenwell Design Week. With our focus on technology, we will be holding events with both Sketchup and Majenta Solutions who are each leaders of architectural software solutions.
The Icons of Denmark team returned from the 2018 instalment of the Stockholm Furniture & Lighting Fair with much excitement and enthusiasm for the new year in furniture. Emerging trends, new products, new experimental materials and a reinvention of the classic were some of the highlights from our visit.
From the 21-24 September, Icons of Denmark exhibited at Desigjunction. For the second year in a row the fair took over the area of Granary Square, King’s Cross. Icons of Denmark exhibited in Cubitt House with our new curated collection of Danish furniture as well as our new conference table series, ‘Woodstock’, launched under our own label.
Icons of Denmark in collaboration with renowned Danish design studio Hans Thyge & Co will be showcasing our brand new series of tables named ‘Woodstock’ at Designjunction, King’s Cross 2017. Produced specifically for the contract market, the conference tables are designed to be multi-purpose, functional surfaces with the ability to be used in any professional environment. Remaining true to classic and contemporary Danish design principles Icons of Denmark are introducing a unique product to the market.
Clerkenwell Design Week 2017 is over, and we are left with the memories of three days full of happy visitors, amazing weather, interesting talks, and a great welcome of our product launches and revamped showroom.
Thank you to everyone who stopped by and made Clerkenwell Design Week 2017 one to remember.
