Danespotting: Danish Designer Furniture 2010

While others amused themselves at Tendence in Frankfurt, we headed of to Copenhagen and CODE 10.

We’re not saying that was a mistake; but we’re equally unconvinced that it was the best idea we’ve ever had.

And we’ve had some really poor ideas.

“You’re not getting any younger, Denmark. The world is changing, design is changing, even materials are changing. You can’t stay in here all day dreaming about bent plastic and Arnold Jacobsen.”

“It’s Arne Jacobsen”

Despite the promises in advance that CODE 10 would “… demonstrate new approaches to design form, design thinking and the creative process” all we found was an awful lot of tired and jaded design concepts all either hoping to latch onto popular conceptions of what “Danish Design” is or simply copying what the competitors are doing for fear of losing market share.

What we didn’t find was an awful lot of the promised exhibitors – because they weren’t really exhibiting.

The CODE 10 concept is in principle not that bad.

The Bella Centre in Copenhagen is already home to the Scandinavian Shoe Centre and Copenhagen Fashion House, both locations where agents are given a permanent forum to present collections to trade customers.

The BC Design Centre is a similar concept for the Danish furniture industry; a sort of one-stop-shop for all those trade customers looking for designer furniture.

Nice idea.

CODE 10 took place inside the BC Design Centre.

However, that meant that the majority of the “real” exhibitors at CODE 10 were not the furniture producers themselves, but the Danish agents of the furniture producers.

The Bella Centre in Copenhagen: Not only does it resemble a provincial shopping centre from outside...

Which meant that at CODE 10 there was basically nothing to see and barely a producer or designer to talk to.

And that’s a pretty poor basis for a trade fair.

While the fact that the majority of the agents are based permanently at the BC Design Centre, coupled to the mountains of rubbish and packaging lying visible in the unused rooms, gave the whole event the feel of a cheap provincial shopping centre rather than a dynamic international trade fair.

In short; nice idea, poorly executed.

Fortunately there were a couple of objects worth exploring – both re-issues of Danish design classics and new products from young designers.

The rest were just hanging onto the tailcoats of a myth and fighting to save the last embers of a fire that has long since burnt out.

Over the next few days we will present those gems that we did find; and do our bit to try to rescue the Danish designer furniture industry.

CODE 10: The spirit of Danish designer furniture culture departed early