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ROBERT GUSTAFSSON – THE KING OF COMEDY BIG DANISH AND NORWEGIAN EDUCATION SPECIAL VISUAL CREATIVES – THE BEST NORDIC AGENCIES MEW – BACK ON THE ALTERNATIVE MUSIC SCENE
PROMOTING BRAND SCANDINAVIA
ISSUE 70 NOVEMBER 2014
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Enabling real
achievement Mannaz is an international frontrunner in customised executive and project leadership development. Adopting innovative and efficient learning methods, we empower people development and business success. With offices in Copenhagen, London and Hong Kong and an international network of over 375 associated facilitators we have global reach.
You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter M Knowledge and learn more at www.mannaz.com/intl
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Scan Magazine | Contents
Contents COVER FEATURE 8
8 42
46
Robert Gustafsson – the king of comedy Whether he is prancing across the stage in a kilt and white stilettos as the slightly eccentric character Greger Hawkwind, cutting his thumb recording a fictional gardening show or jumping out of windows in the suit of a centenarian, Robert Gustafsson sure knows how to make people laugh. Speaking with Scan Magazine he opens up about his less-than-clownish personal life, the thrill of being back on Stockholm’s theatre stage and dreams of the future.
BUSINESS 95
DESIGN 14
Danish jewellers embracing their Nordic heritage For more than 30 years Pilgrim has been loved for its bohemian designs, always adding that extra bit of sparkle and personality to every outfit. Reflecting its creators’ deeply embedded values of spontaneity and authenticity, the Danish label is truly of the moment.
SPECIAL FEATURES 19
Mischievous Christmas creatures to smarter ticketing “Tomte”, “tonttu” or “nisse” – he’s the mythological creature from Scandinavian folklore who keeps people on their toes by getting up to a fair bit of mischief. Closely related to Father Christmas he is, however, a loved part of the Scandinavian holiday season, and there is no better place to learn more about him than at Mørkøv’s Nisseland. Looking for a day out, nisse-related or not? Check out how Billetto can help, on p 21!
22
Visual creatives: The best Nordic Agencies From the multi-talented Designit to the bold KIND Norway and the wise Klok, our featured visual designers represent the very top of their fields. Spanning everything from product design to service design and moving image, these creatives are both inspirational and forward-thinking – something you can read all about in this month’s (proudly Nordic) special theme.
Danish and Norwegian education special We all know that education is an invaluable asset, and our featured educational institutions take this statement to the next level. In addition to offering top-of-the-range courses, they boast brand new facilities and a broad range of extracurricular experiences – such as unforgettable trips abroad. Let these Danish and Norwegian schools inspire you to aim high and make your education the experience of a lifetime.
Volvo – launching a new generation Volvo’s unveiling of the all-new XC90 has not passed us by, and the launch proved a great opportunity to catch up with the world-famous car manufacturer and discuss everything from safety to Swedish design. Add our business calendar and beautiful conference locations, and this section is not to be missed.
CULTURE 103 Mew and Roy Andersson – making Scandinavia proud What would a proudly Scandinavian magazine be without interviews with the region’s greatest creative talents? Exactly. We caught up with Roy Andersson to learn about his new Golden Lionawarded film A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence, and met with Mew to discuss their much-anticipated return to the Nordic music scene.
SPECIAL THEMES 48 86
11
REGULARS & COLUMNS 11 96
We Love This | 12 Fashion Diary | 86 Restaurants of the Month | 90 Attractions of the Month Conferences of the Month | 102 Humour
Issue 70 | November 2014 | 3
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Scan Magazine | Editor’s Note
Dear Reader, In her first editor’s column for Scan Magazine, Linnea Dunne, my predecessor, wrote: “The loss of an exceptionally talented editor is a double-edged sword, at least if you’re asked to take over from her.” I could have written it myself. Different takeover, but the feeling of having enormous shoes to fill is very much present. Under Linnea’s editorship Scan Magazine has covered everything from parliamentary elections to gallery openings, always staying current and true to its purpose: showing off the very best that Scandinavia has to offer. Backed by my predecessor’s skills and talent it has done dauntingly well – as such, taking over the helm is nothing short of an honour. Having grown up in Sweden and Norway, with all the duality that implies (Swedish crisp bread with Norwegian brown cheese is heaven!), I can only say that editing a magazine devoted to the greatness of Scandinavia is a dream come true. A topical extension of that dream was having a chat with this month’s cover star, the comedic genius Robert Gustafsson. Whether playing a gardener, fireman or speedway rider – or a rebellious hundred-year-old, for that matter – this multi-talent always succeeds at making people laugh, while simultaneously keeping a very, well, Scandinavian cool. So why does Gustafsson not like being ‘the funniest man in Sweden’? Turn to p8 to find out.
Speaking of cool, there are few better words to describe this month’s visual design theme. From the wildly successful strategic design company Designit, who have taught us that there are more important purposes for design than just making things pretty (read about how they cut the waiting time for cancer patients at University Hospital in Oslo from three months to three days on pp24-25), to the colourful designers at Hahmo, there is plenty to learn from these passionate minds. Learning and passion go hand in hand, something we discovered time and time again when working on this month’s education theme. Rounding up the best schools in Denmark and Norway, we present institutions that shape knowledge, creativity and perhaps more importantly, the personalities of the future. Add to this an interview with Venice Film Festival Golden Lionwinner Roy Andersson, a Q&A with Volvo and a culture calendar bursting with events, and your November is pretty much set. As for me, I look forward to filling those shoes – now, and for many issues to come.
Julie Lindén Editor
Scan Magazine
Contributors
Helena Whitmore
Issue 70 | November 2014
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Scan Magazine | Contributors
This month’s featured contributors Ann Bille Simonsen is a Copenhagenborn freelance journalist, who has been living in London for the past two years. She first came to London in 2000 but had a decade-long intermission while traveling, studying and working in her native Denmark. Holding an MA in Media Studies and Literature, she has a keen interest in media and a soft spot for culture, a combination she has managed to implement in her work life by working with documentaries and culture programmes at broadcaster DR, and with PR at the Danish art gallery Skagens Museum. Exploring the culture of London is a favourite activity of hers – be it checking out the many museums or the British pub culture.
Maya Acharya is a freelance writer and illustrator with a penchant for languages, writing and photography. She's also a little obsessed with American diners. A confusingly but happily un-rooted Nepalese-Ukrainian Norwegian, Maya has studied in New York, Cardiff and Amsterdam. She hails from the town of Tromsø, north of the Arctic Circle, home to the world's northernmost brewery. Currently, she is living a life of history and gelato abundance in Rome, where she also contributes to Romeing, a monthly culture magazine for Italophiles. When not writing for Scan Magazine, she likes to watch old horror flicks and cook glorious vegan food. She also has her own website for illustration at mayaacharya.com.
Stine Wannebo is a final year student at the University of Kent’s acclaimed journalism programme. During her time at university this native Norwegian has worked in everything from television to page design, but writing colourful features is definitely what she enjoys the most. She aspires to work for National Geographic but until then she is more than happy to take the opportunities life sends her way. The 22-year-old has helped out at the local paper in Kent, the Medway Messenger, tried her hands at handling the PR for Norway’s only theatre play performed in a mine, and regularly contributes content to Scan Magazine and at times even its beloved sister magazine, Discover Benelux.
Josefine Older Steffensen is a Danish freelance writer, currently based in Bristol, where she is studying geography in the final year of her degree. Realising her programme wasn’t decked with lectures (read: only five a week) she thought she might try something new, and being fiercely proud of her Danish roots, she thought Scan Magazine would be a great opportunity to reconnect with Denmark, after spending half her life in the UK. It was good her sister joined in too! When she’s not busy studying for her degree or writing, Josefine cooks (and a lot too – portion sizes aren’t her forte!) and shares the recipes on her food blog.
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路
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Scan Magazine | Cover Feature | Robert Gustafsson
In Kom igen Charlie! Robert Gustafsson plays the boring Charlie, a man so irreparably shy that he will do anything to avoid social interaction – which he eventually does by pretending not to know the language used by those around him. “Charlie is a new experience for me, because the main portion of the acting happens through listening, which is really difficult to do,” says Gustafsson, pictured here (left) with co-stars Suzanne Reuter (middle) and Susanne Thorson (right).
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Scan Magazine | Cover Feature | Robert Gustafsson
Robert Gustafsson The king of comedy He has been making Sweden laugh for more than 30 years, creating characters comedy lovers of all ages have come to adore. Whether in the suit of Bertil the disastrous but charming gardener, Greger Hawkwind the kilt-and-stiletto-sporting fireman or the hundred-year-old man who very famously climbed out of a window, Robert Gustafsson’s comic brilliance shines brighter than ever – most recently returned to Stockholm’s theatre stage. Scan Magazine talks to the actor and comedian about being “the funniest man in Sweden”, that blockbuster film, and being a somewhat misunderstood introvert By Julie Lindén | Main photo: Mats Bäcker
“I never really liked that epithet, to be honest,” the humble actor says when talking to Scan Magazine before an evening show of Kom igen Charlie! (Come on Charlie!, an adaptation of The Foreigner), his recent comeback to the stage of Stockholm’s Oscar’s Theatre. “I did a show quite a few years back, after which a journalist wrote in the paper that I was ‘the funniest man in Sweden’. I didn’t think I’d done a good job at all. Since then it’s stayed with me, but I’m still quite baffled by it. I don’t know, it’s almost like saying that you’re the ‘world’s best sauce’ – it’s all subjective, you know?” Creating comedy – from slapstick to bleeding thumbs Looking at Gustafsson’s extensive career, however, it’s difficult to avoid superlatives. Having started out as a children’s TV actor and variety show performer, he became part of Killinggänget, a Swedish comedy group started in 1991. Gustafsson rose to fame through simple but intelligent humour, not excluding downright
by Bertil Svensson, the host of a Swedish 1980s gardening programme who became famous by cutting his thumb while recording, but who proceeded with the taping quite unaffectedly. “That’s a physical kind of humour, which has more to do with luck than skill. That’s what happened to Bertil – I mean cutting your thumb and having blood rush down your hand isn’t funny at all, but somehow it worked, in its own context. It’s something I wouldn’t have known without trying it out.”
slapstick comedy, famously parodying more characters than any of his co-actors in the group. Diversity quickly turned out to be one of his biggest strengths, skilfully illustrated by further appearances on the theatre stage and TV shows like Parlamentet (a Swedish version of the British If I ruled the World). Add a line-up of no less than 16 appearances as various eccentrics and celebrities on the loved-byall sing-along show Allsång på Skansen, and Gustafsson’s knack for creating hilarious characters appears unquestionable.
While famous for creating a great number of personages from scratch, Gustafsson is perhaps equally noted for his spot-on imitations of celebrities. A sports gala provided a perfect opportunity to joke about with the now retired Swedish speedway rider Tony Rickardsson, who despite his many international championship wins, had yet to receive a Swedish Sports Award.
“I think the whole process of creating a new character, for me, begins by observing nearby environments and taking inspiration from people I see – preferably somewhere like the grocery shop on the corner. It’s also important to look at situations that aren’t necessarily funny to begin with,” he says, using Bertil, the TV gardener who constantly ends up hurting himself, as an example. The hapless but equally unruffled character was inspired
“It was a time when motorsports felt very overlooked in Sweden. I thought about how he must have felt, sitting there at award show after award show, having won all these gold medals and championships without ever winning one single sports prize back home in Sweden. I made him out to be very bitter about this loss in the parody, which he wasn’t at all in real life,” Gustafsson laughs. “Doing imitations or parodies feels a bit like stealing, in that
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Scan Magazine | Cover Feature | Robert Gustafsson
It’s difficult touching on the subject of particular characters without asking about Gustafsson’s interpretation of Allan Karlsson, the hundred-year-old man who not only climbed out the window, but also crushed box office records for the highestgrossing Swedish film of all times. While Gustafsson says he instantly knew he wanted to play Allan, the film’s enormous international success came as somewhat of a surprise.
“I was immediately attracted to the idea of playing someone that much older than myself," says Gustafsson of his role as Allan Karlsson in the international box office hit The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared. Photo: Buena Vista
way, because you’re adopting somebody else’s success.” Rainman, Charlie – and a hundred-year-old rebel Stealing or not, it seems to be working. Having acquired international fame as Allan Karlsson in the film adaptation of Jonas Jonasson’s novel The HundredYear-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared, Gustafsson is back on the revered stage of Stockholm’s Oscar’s Theatre in this autumn’s production of Kom igen Charlie!. This theatre is a place that connotes fond memories and admiration. “It’s the classic theatre stage, and that context – the velvet curtains and classic interiors – makes the whole experience quite special. There’s also that direct connection with your audience, which I like. It doesn’t ever go flat, or get boring,” he says caringly. In the production Gustafsson plays the boring and somewhat depressed Charlie, a man so irreparably shy that he will do anything to avoid social interaction. When he is left by his friend (played by Claes Månsson) at a guesthouse, Charlie therefore avoids conversation by pretending, on his friend’s request, not to understand the language.
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“It’s funny – I can’t help but notice a pattern,” Gustafsson laughs. “I’ve played Raymond in Rainman, who had a social handicap that I had to familiarise myself with, and then this hundred-year-old antisocial character comes along, whose only friends, initially, are alcohol and dynamite. Then we have Charlie, who is shy to the point where it holds all his communicative powers back.” He pauses for a second. “Charlie is a new experience, because the main portion of the acting happens through listening, which is really difficult to do. Maybe a sign that I haven’t had that many supporting parts,” he says jokingly. The misunderstood introvert His CV does, quite correctly, feature more main roles than supporting ones. While his on-stage performances don’t allude to any kind of inhibition, Gustafsson does not come across as the least bit brash. Does the description “shy” fit him at all? “No, I’d say that’s a misunderstanding. I’m an introvert. I listen rather than speak. I’m a contemplative person who likes to think a lot. It’s a subconscious thing, and it’s quite closely linked to how I build characters and do impersonations – I observe people, how they act and what’s particular about them,” he explains.
“I never thought it would do as well as it did. The book grew in popularity while we were filming, so in that manner the two works emerged together,” he says, musing: “I was immediately attracted to the idea of playing someone that much older than myself. I also had to portray him between the ages of his early twenties and the age of 100, which was a real challenge.” Gustafsson confirms that he would be interested in following up the success with a sequel. “Interest creates interest. We’ve talked about it, and there’s definitely some material there to work with. We’d like Jonas [Jonasson] to be part of the project again, of course.” Giving back As for the future on the whole, the 49year-old actor, who will turn 50 in December, remains characteristically humble. Through a recent pledge to give back to the acting community, he will this autumn hand out an award to young entertainers and actors in his home locality of Skövde, to encourage young people to take to the theatre stage. “It may sound like a cliché, but it’s time to give young people the same chance I had when starting my acting career. That’s what matters to me today,” he says. As for future craziness on his own part, one thing in particular comes to mind: “I’d love to play a fairy-tale king. That’s a dream I have yet to fulfil.” For the king of comedy, we’re sure the dream will come true.
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Scan Magazine | Design | We Love This
We love this... We love cosying up in our favourite chair with a warm throw and a good cuppa these days – and these lovely design pieces will positively accentuate our snug and comfy mood. By Julie S. Guldbrandsen | Press photos
Embrace the colder days and snuggle up in this luxurious zigzag plaid by Elvang. The soft material – 100 per cent baby alpaca wool – contrasts beautifully with the geometrical print. Approx. £159. elvang.net
The upholstered chair ‘Eyes Wood’ is classic, modern and comfortable – what’s not to love? £487. www.erik-joergensen.com
‘Nendo’ is the name of a new transformable lamp by Wastberg. Turn it into a pendant, desk lamp or floor stand by rearranging the components. Three shapes available: a cone, a sphere and a cylinder. £464. www.wastberg.com
We can always find space for another art print, and Anne Nowak makes some really gorgeous creations that do not break the bank, such as this Palm Trees print. Size 42 x 60 cm. Numbered and signed. £79. annenowak.bigcartel.com
Put a witty spin on your tea or coffee ritual with these cute and quirky cups by MeyerLavigne. £16. www.meyerlavigne.bigcartel.com
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Scan Magazine | Design | Fashion Diary
Fashion Diary... Some call it the dullest month of the year, but we disagree. Make November a fashion statement and wrap up in colourful items that show true personality. H&M leads the way – followed by distinctive pieces from designers we have come to love. By Julie Lindén | Press photos
This brushed felt coat from Day Birger et Mikkelsen will not only make you stand out in the dark – it will boost your mood as well. Dare to be different this autumn, and embrace all colours in the spectrum! £330. www.day.dk. Photo: Net-a-Porter
This year Finnish label FINSK celebrates its 10th anniversary creating edgy shoes from locally sourced materials. These angular pumps are both bold and wearable – showing just why we love the clever Finnish design. £665. www.farfetch.com
Combining ethnic prints with sheer chiffon, this dress is as bold as it is comfortable. Wear over black tights and a long-sleeved top to stay warm all winter, while keeping your stylish cool. Dress from H&M’s Studio AW 14 collection. £34.99. www.hm.com
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ACNE, oh ACNE. Will we ever tire? Not as long as we can keep our heads warm with classics like this navy beanie. £100. www.acnestudios.com Photo: Net-a-Porter
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Pilgrim jewellery is truly of the moment, and presents a design that reflect its creators’ deeply embedded values of spontaneity, intimacy and authenticity. Delivering six yearly collections of high quality, on-trend handmade jewellery, timepieces and sunglasses, Pilgrim has become a favourite with young fashion fans all over the world.
Denmark’s bohemian jewellers embrace their Nordic roots For more than 30 years Pilgrim Jewellery has been known and loved for its colourful, bohemian designs, and the people behind the successful Danish brand are not resting on their laurels. Pilgrim’s design has been continuously developed and refined, and today the brand is paying homage to its roots with a Scandi-cool look oozing Nordic elegance and simplicity. By Signe Hansen | Photos: Pilgrim
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Delivering six yearly collections of high quality, on-trend handmade jewellery, timepieces and sunglasses, Pilgrim has become a favourite with young fashion fans all over the world. The company, which began with small jewellery stands at various music festivals in the 1980s,
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Scan Magazine | Design Profile | Pilgrim
today distributes its jewellery in 50 countries. The design’s essential authenticity, spontaneity and desire to seek new ways are at the root of the brand’s success, and in the last couple of years these three characteristics have led to a new aesthetic expression. “Particularly noteworthy is that our new designs reflect a lot of Nordic inspiration and poetry, and that’s something that comes straight from our heart. It is important for us to highlight our values and origin through our brand DNA,” explains Head of PR and Marketing Katrine Seiffert Tiemroth, adding: “Our journey towards a simpler expression and more Scandinavian design has clearly helped Pilgrim position itself on the international fashion scene in a way that is important to us.” Pilgrim’s homage to its roots is evident in collections redolent of minimalism and Nordic poetry. However, you will still find the brand’s earlier signature in the new collections. More than just accessories Pilgrim’s new Scandinavian design DNA emerges through a light and easily ac-
cessible design in line with the trends of the catwalk. Crafted in materials such as wood, crystals, stones and metals, the designs do, true to Pilgrim’s profile, deliver the highest possible value for money. “Today jewellery is much more than just accessories. Jewellery is used to express our individual style and identity, especially for those aged 18 to 34, who constitute the majority of our customers. Creating a bit of a spectacle and attention is what it is all about; whether you go for a rock-chic jeans and t-shirt look or ladylike pencil skirt ensemble, it is the jewellery that will make you stand out from the crowd and highlight who you are,” stresses Tiemroth. Ever since its beginning, Pilgrim has been known to do just that, and for three decades the brand’s bohemian, ethnically inspired, high quality jewellery has made it many a girl’s best friend. Making people feel good The story of Pilgrim’s success began in 1983, when the two Danish friends Annemette Markvad and Thomas Adamsen transformed their unique empathy and innovative energy into jewellery design,
which they sold at music festivals. “Thomas and I started Pilgrim very much from the heart. We have always had two key aims: to create beautiful jewellery that makes you feel beautiful, and to create a workplace where everyone enjoys coming to work and where words like ‘respect’, ‘responsibility’ and ‘trust’ are cherished concepts put into practice,” says Markvad, who – besides being the founder and owner of the brand – is head of design, designing the company’s collections together with jewellery designers Birte Markvad and Charlotte Tess Dam. Then as now, Pilgrim jewellery was truly of the moment, and presented a design that reflected its creators’ deeply embedded values of spontaneity, intimacy and authenticity. Tiemroth says: “The ideology behind Pilgrim’s design has always been the same. It has always been a desire to create jewellery that made its wearers and the world around them more beautiful – and that made the person who wore them feel good. Pilgrim is a company that cares about its customers, employees, suppliers and the rest of the world. It is our belief that operating from the heart, and with social responsibility, is an important part of running a business.” The company’s values are also reflected in Pilgrim’s choice of collaboration partners, guided by a Code of Conduct, the aim of which is to ensure that suppliers all over the world comply with Pilgrim’s principles. Another result of Pilgrim’s dedication to improving the world is its commitment to charity work. Among other projects, Pilgrim has an on-going collaboration with MSF/Doctors Without Borders, and in 2007 the Pilgrim Foundation was formed to help children and youths in developing countries.
“We have always had two key aims: to create beautiful jewellery that makes you feel beautiful, and to create a workplace where everyone enjoys coming to work,” says Annemette Markvad, co-founder of Pilgrim.
“Today jewellery is much more than just accessories. Jewellery is used to express our individual style and identity,” says Head of PR and Marketing for Pilgrim, Katrine Seiffert Tiemroth.
For more information, please visit: www.pilgrim.dk
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Scan Magazine | Design Profile | ViSSEVASSE
LEFT: ViSSEVASSE’s nostalgic posters capture and evoke the emotions and memories connected to many Danish scenes and landmarks. RIGHT: ViSSEVASSE’s collection, which is being continuously expanded, also includes a selection of stylish retro kitchen motifs as well as images of well-known international landmarks.
Memories in soft colours and clean lines Recalling your childhood home, rejoicing in the beauty of your local neighbourhood or dreaming of a distant holiday destination. When thousands, including numerous design editors, have taken ViSSEVASSE’s nostalgic poster art into their hearts and homes, it is because the motifs are likely to call forward at least one of the three emotions above. By Signe Hansen | Photos: ViSSEVASSE
Inspired by the characteristic poster art of the 1930s, the soft colours and clean lines of ViSSEVASSE are easily recognisable. But, even though the graphic drawings created by ViSSEVASSE’s designer and founder Dorthe Mathiesen add both style and warmth to their surroundings, it is Mathiesen’s ability to capture the feel of a place that is at the essence of the posters’ appeal. “Sitting on a bridge in Copenhagen with a cold drink on summer day, a family holiday in the forests of Sweden or a romantic weekend in New York – I aim for my motifs to awaken the feelings
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and memories connected to a specific place,” explains the designer. The icons that define a place From the very first poster Mathiesen created, it was obvious that her designs struck a chord with a lot of people. Though the poster, which depicts Langebro, one of Copenhagen’s iconic central bridges, was created without this intention, it became the first in a string of many equally striking motifs. “My first poster was created in connection with a fair for upcoming designers, which I was
Designer Dorthe Mathiesen’s first poster of Copenhagen’s Langebro bridge caught the eye of many who saw the bridge as a symbol of their part of the city.
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Scan Magazine | Design Profile | ViSSEVASSE
responsible for organising. On a bit of a whim I thought it might be fun to have a stall of my own,” explains the 43-year-old, who has a career within fashion and design as well as graphic illustration behind her, and adds: “I thought it would be cool to create something that had a connection to the area and a feeling of familiarity to it, and cycling past Langebro my eyes fell upon the perfect motif. I created the Langebro poster – and it was received very well.” Experiencing a great interest in her posters, Mathiesen began developing a series of motifs that, similarly to Langebro, captured the essence of an area. The work involved a great deal of research. As part of this the designer cycled around asking people what they thought characterised their part of the city. Her research, memories and photographs are what form the foundation for her works.
In April 2013, the mother-of-three created her own brand, ViSSEVASSE. Today her posters, which include motifs from all over the world as well as a series of retro kitchen motifs, are sold through the company’s own website as well as 70 other outlets. Trendy design or pure nostalgia Unlike many other design brands, ViSSEVASSE’s customer base is very diverse. Featured in numerous design and lifestyle magazines, the posters are, of course, popular with young and design-savvy women, but a lot of men and elderly people also find their way to the web shop. “It goes without saying that there are many young and trendy design enthusiasts among our customers, but we also have a lot of elderly people calling because they don’t have a credit card but want to buy the posters,” Mathiesen says and adds: “Often people buy several posters: one
from the area where they grew up, one from the area where they studied and perhaps one that reminds them of a special holiday. The motifs bring back memories, and it’s the emotions they bring out that speak to people. Often it’s a very strong feeling of community – for instance, people from Vesterbro always buy a motif from Vesterbro even if they think there is another motif that’s more beautiful.” Not long after the launch of ViSSEVASSE, the owner decided to focus all her time on her new business, which she soon relocated from her home to a bigger site. But although the business is expanding quickly, and Mathiesen is focusing on her designs and new developments, she has not left the business side of things to strangers. Her boyfriend Karsten Noel manages accounting and administration while their three daughters, their cousin, and Mathiesen’s sister help out with the packaging, sending of the posters, marketing and sales. For more information, new designs and ideas please follow ViSSEVASSE on Instagram or Facebook, or visit: www.vissevasse.biz The web shop delivers worldwide.
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Scan Magazine | Feature | PicPac
The shirt makes the man Packing and unpacking your shirts when travelling just became easier. With Christmas and end-of-the-year functions around the corner, what better way to ensure your clothes remain immaculate when travelling than with PicPac’s new smart packing solution, the SHIRT PAC?
By Maria Lanza Knudsen | Photos: PicPac
The SHIRT PAC is the latest addition to PicPac’s range of smartly designed packing concepts to make travelling easier and your wardrobe faultless. It joins the other packing concepts including the SHU PAC (for shoes) and ZIP PAC (for clothing) and
will be available from 5 November in PicPac’s webshop. “I designed the range of products to improve the time-consuming process of packing and unpacking in a snap,” Anne
Gunnæs, PicPac’s Founder and Managing Director, says. “The SHIRT PAC is an obvious addition to the range to ensure shirts – both men’s and women’s – remain wrinkle-free and easy to pack, wherever you might be going.” The SHIRT PAC fits easily into your carryon bag and accommodates three to four shirts, with a separate compartment for ties and one to keep your cufflinks safe. In addition, the product comes with a builtin shirt board to help fold your shirts correctly. Once shirts are folded, the SHIRT PAC is secured with a buckle to keep it tight, light and efficient. When packing for your next trip, be a smart traveller who saves time and energy by employing smart solutions – and say goodbye to those pesky wrinkles this festive season!
The SHIRT PAC is the latest addition to PicPac’s range of smartly designed packing concepts.
The ZIP PAC is one of PicPac’s concepts designed to facilitate a flawless wardrobe.
For more information, please visit: www.picpac.no
Hot and cold in Jotunheimen, Norway Discover our ice world, relax in our wellness, taste our norwegian local food. At Hindsæter Mountain Hotel. www.hindseter.no
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Scan Magazine | Culture Feature | Nisseland
Swedes call him “tomte”, Finns “tonttu” and Norwegians and Danes “nisse”. Whichever the name, the mythological Scandinavian creature is loved by everyone.
Fairytales, mischief and Christmassy cosiness Step into Nisseland and enter the world of the “nisse” – a mystic, playful creature synonymous with the winter solstice and Nordic Christmas. By Thomas Bech Hansen | Photos: Nisseland
He wears woolly red clothes, has a mischievous streak, and likes his porridge with a spoonful of butter. No, this is not the description of a suspect, although the nisse can be elusive. This is a mythological creature from Scandinavian folklore, which Swedes call “tomte”, Finns “tonttu” and Norwegians and Danes “nisse”. World’s largest collection Where to find this enigma? The Danish town of Mørkøv, an hour’s drive from Copenhagen, is a great place to begin. Here, spanning 2,000 square metres, Nisseland exhibits the world’s largest collection of mechanical nisse figures, along with other characters, for instance from Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy-tales. “It has become our life’s work,” says co-owner John Roger, who has made nisse figures with his wife, Nette Philipsen, since 1983.
With Christmas around the corner, Nisseland is currently experiencing its busiest time of year. “Our Christmas panoramas include extremely detailed nisse figures and historically accurate settings. We use authentic objects to show how a bookbinder or cobbler’s workshop would look in old times,” says Roger of the display, which represents places where the nisse, according to the legend, would tease humans by hiding tools or overspicing porridge.
Famous figures Over the years, Roger and Philipsen have made nisse figures for shops around Denmark, Gothenburg’s Liseberg amusement park and the Tivoli in Copenhagen, and they have also managed to build a fan base in Japan. These days, however, full focus is on Nisseland in Mørkøv. “We are always improving. I craft the mechanics and the heads, Nette is in charge of decorations and she sews all the clothes. Sometimes we call in extra help to make props, like barns,” explains Roger. When asked whether a certain wool-clad fella interferes, however, he remains mysteriously silent.
Trolls, pirates and Hans Christian Andersen Nisseland also features trolls, pirates and life-sized characters from some of Hans Christian Andersen’s most beloved fairy
Apart from the impressive winter landscapes of old-world, dimly lit cosiness, Philipsen’s version of a Danish yuletide pastry must not be missed. “My wife serves up Denmark’s best æbleskiver,” adds Roger. In fact, the Danish Santa Claus Guild has awarded Nisseland first place in its prestigious æbleskiver ratings.
tales, including The Emperor's New Clothes,
The Tinderbox, The Princess and the Pea and many more.
For more information, please visit: www.nisseland.dk
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Scan Magazine | Feature | Billetto
Working as an interactive community, members of Billetto are able, and encouraged, to browse and search for events in their region of choice and connect with likeminded spirits.
Billetto: Changing the face of ticketing Forget tedious encounters with ticket suppliers, hidden fees and exhausting navigation. Forget staying in on a Saturday night because you don’t know what’s going on. In fact, go ahead and forget everything you thought you knew about buying and selling tickets online. There’s a new kid in town. By Astrid Eriksson | Photos: Billetto
Billetto is the new ticketing service that is taking Europe by storm through smart technology, young talent and fresh minds. With a new HQ in East London, the not-sosmall start-up is ready to provide enough easily accessed events to last you a lifetime. “Going to events is fun,” Peter BrüningsHansen, Partner and Managing Director at Billetto UK, says. “We feel that booking, planning and locating the events should be equally enjoyable and hassle-free.” Starting out small-scale in Denmark in 2010, Billetto quickly turned into a largescale operation with over 15,000 event organisers hosting more than 35,000 events, including everything from small pop-ups to large festivals and branded events for
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the likes of Nike, Vice and Redbull. Today, Billetto is live in the UK and the Scandinavian countries, with more markets joining soon. “We really are thrilled with the outcome,” Brünings-Hansen says as we sip coffee in Billetto’s trendy East London office. “The internationalisation of the company has been received very well and we are able to encourage and empower thousands of independent organisers to connect with a broader audience, as well as introducing our users to new kinds of events and experiences to share with their friends and loved ones.” Billetto is truly a one of a kind platform for events. Working as an interactive community, members are able, and encour-
aged, to browse and search for events in their region of choice, share their event timeline with others, check out guest lists and connect with likeminded spirits. “Through our mobile app, it is easier than ever to look up local concerts, food popups and happenings. There are so many apps pushing content to their users, but instead we aim to inspire audiences, quite similar to what Spotify is doing in the music space.” He continues: “Our community provides a collective experience where artists and audiences can connect without using intermediaries that are both costly and tiresome to deal with. It’s a non-intrusive, ad-free way to experience your city, do what makes you happy and connect with a cultural, social and active way of life.”
For more information, please visit: billetto.co.uk Email: hello@billetto.co.uk Twitter: @billettoUK
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TA S T E S O F A U T U M N 2 0 1 4 LEMON
”Toast” bleak roe, Jerusalem artichoke
CORIANDER WA S A B I CHILLI
”Tataki” scallop, oyster, soured onion
”Garden Rolls” tuna, mint
”Coupe” prawn, avocado, tomato
TA R R A G O N GINGER
”Cocotte” forest mushrooms, farm egg
“Crouton” wagyu, rooster liver, brioche
CINNA MON
”Boqueria” pata negra, fig, star anise
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
PA R S L E Y
”Farci” turbot, pig’s trotters, onion
8
TRUFFLE
”Paupiette” cod from Lofoten, pointed cabbage
9
PIMENTO
”A la parrilla” pulpo, garlic, pata frie
A NCHOV Y
“Viennese Café” veal tenderloin, shelling peas, capers
SHEEP’S CHEESE TEA
”Pâte Fraîche” lamb shank, tomato, green olives
”L’Orange” duck breast, pumpkin, hazelnut
LIQUORICE SESAME
”Morcilla” venison, celeriac, prunes
”Korean BBQ” veal cheek, bok choy, soya
LEMONGR ASS
”Brûlée” mango
10 11 12 13 14 15
16
VA N I L L A
”Lollipop” cloudberries
17
AL MOND
”Vargtass” lingonberries, madeleine cake
18
C ARDA MOM COFFEE
”French Toast” brioche, apple
”Cappuccino” plums, mascarpone
19 20
One taste 135 SEK, three tastes 400 SEK, five tastes 500 SEK, seven tastes 600 SEK Use the cod e ”SCAN” when making your reser vation and you will re c eive a complim entar y pre - dinner drink (valid until 20th D e c 2014)
WA R M W E L C O M E !
Melker Andersson
Danyel Couet
O p e n i n g h o u r s: M o n d a y – S a t u rd a y f ro m 5 p m. A d d re s s: O x to rg s g a ta n 14 - S to c k h o l m R e s e r va t i o n s: + 4 6 8 2 2 0 9 52, re s e r v a t i o n @ re s ta u ra n g e nt m.c o m, w w w.re s ta u ra n g e nt m.c o m
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N DE E: E M S E W TH TIVE S - S L IA EA IE EC L CR ENC P S UA IC AG S I V RD O TN S E EB H T
shows that the design and branding industry in Sweden is growing at about five per cent per year. The agency revenue in the same period was SEK 650m, and total investment (including implementation) was about SEK 13bn. The category is predicted to overtake much of the traditional advertising investment over the next ten years to come. Combining the strong innovation among Swedish start-ups with the growing awareness for visual communication, Sweden can get closer to its high business aim: to double the nation’s exports by 2020. Let’s visualise that!
Comviq. Photo: Kurppa Hosk, Frog Studios
Visual Communication – Sweden's next export?
Absolut Unique-Group. Photo: Jens Mortensen, CameraLink
At the moment the automation of our society works at a furious pace. New products and services that facilitate our lives come to life every day. Innovations that also have the ability to succeed globally. One part in the making concerns visual communication. Colours, signs, symbols, pictures and instructions have to work in every part of the world. By Patrick Smith, Concept Developer and member of the International Committee at KOMM
A story recounts how one of Steve Jobs’s close colleagues lent a brand new iPad to a six-year-old in a far-off country. Without any previous computer experience, it took the child only a couple of minutes to swipe it open and go for the fun games. To succeed in an emerging global market, high demands follow for all new companies. The most important part is naturally the innovation in itself and how it’s designed. Another is the overall identity, mostly shown through visual communication: to create attraction and emotion that places the brand in its right setting. In times of economic fluctuations, where communication in many cases has been limited to hard sales, choosing to work
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continuously on a brand identity can create a stronger loyalty – more far-sighted than differentiation through price.
NK kids. Photo: Lowe Brindfors fotografer
Successful brands in visual communication and other design categories work with a much broader palette than company logos. Design is not about a goodlooking surface. It’s an on-going process where business concept, attitude, emotion, affiliation and position are neatly trimmed to stimulate awareness and attitude for the brand among its devotees. Within KOMM (The Swedish Association of Communication Agencies), the number of members in the design field doubled between 2011 and 2014. The IRM (Institute for Advertising and Media Statistics)
Jessica Bjurström, CEO of The Swedish Association of Communication Agencies – KOMM. Photo: Annika af Klercker
For more information, please visit: komm.se
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Participants at Design EntrepreneurSHIP.
Design for everyday and life Design can help address and respond to global challenges such as health issues, climate change and industrial transformation. Design can boost innovation, create growth and profit. How? By putting the user at the centre of the development process. That is what design is all about. By Robin Edman, Chief Executive, SVID | Photos: SVID
Increased global competition and a shift from mass to flexible production of advanced goods and services, create a demand for balancing traditional product-oriented technology and research-driven development with design-driven innovation.
co-creators. The result of the design process can be everyday products, but also more flexible, customised and complex solutions that are needed to face global challenges.
which aims to dramatically improve the user experience overall of the health and social services, influencing the processes, outcome, personnel and economic results. The second is the Design and Destination Programme, which focuses on how design can help to create and develop attractive regions, places and environments where people want to live, work and visit.
SVID Responding to user needs Design is all about observing, listening to and involving users throughout the whole development process. By interacting with users there is a greater probability of achieving a successful service or product, since the final result will respond to actual user needs and will be user-friendly, competitive and relevant to the user. Attractive offerings create growth, profits and jobs.
SVID, the Swedish Industrial Design Foundation, was founded in 1989 and has since been working to develop and deepen an understanding of design in business, the public sector and society at large. We gather and disseminate knowledge about design as a force for development and run networks to further spread the competitive advantages of design and its ability to change people’s lives.
Design enables users, be they citizens, patients, politicians or customers, to be
SVID runs two national programmes: the first is the Design and Health Programme,
Robin Edman, Chief Executive, SVID.
For more information, please visit: svid.se
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Designit Creating the product-service experience of the future Designit began as an idea. A couple of design students in Aarhus, Denmark, wanted to place humans at the centre of the design process. In 1991 ‘user experience’, ‘strategic design’, and ‘co-creation’ were not the industry buzz words they are today, but ten international offices, an enviable client list, and a closet full of awards later, the idea seems to be catching on. Now they design product-service experiences that transform businesses, helping clients such as Audi, Novo Nordisk, Vodafone, IKEA, and The European Union place users at the centre of their work. By Julie Lindén | Photos: Designit
“Back then design was mainly about form and defining how products should look— even though we wanted our clients to move away from that mindset”, founding partner Mikal Hallstrup says of Designit’s beginning. “Everything changed with the digital revolution, and later on, the mobile revolution. Businesses suddenly understood that a different take was necessary and that design went beyond making things look nice — instead, they needed to strategically figure out what to make next”. Skyping from Designit’s Tokyo office, where he is repre-
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senting Designit at the Smart City Week International Conference and conducting a workshop with WIRED Magazine, Hallstrup points out that the Japanese capital perfectly illustrates the new understanding of design. “We’re in a city where technology is everywhere you look. Yet the Japanese are also changing their focus from newer and fancier technology to applying technology in more meaningful ways. At the conference we’re not just talking about smarter cities, but rather how to live truly smart lives in them. Our focus is on people and how in-
novation needs to be done: not for the lab— but for the living room.” Linking Designit’s global reach to its Scandinavian roots, Hallstrup is adamant that a simple, collaborative and user-oriented approach is the key to the firm’s worldwide success. “Our perspective puts user needs first, no matter who they are or where they are. We’ve found this approach works pretty well all over the world. Designit is multi-cultural, but we can’t run from our Scandinavian heritage: we involve stakeholders in everything we do – client to end-user – and create simple, participatory design for everyone”. Meaningful solutions that change lives It is the collaboration with people, and optimising their experience of everyday products and services – visible to the eye or not – that permeates the spirit of Designit. Spanning the fields of digital, prod-
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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Visual Creatives - The Best Nordic Agencies
uct, service and experience design, the company’s portfolio of projects is seemingly endless, but few examples demonstrate their commitment to optimal user experiences such as that of Oslo University Hospital. Utilising service design methods, Designit were, through this collaboration, able to reduce the waiting time for breast cancer patients from three months to three days. The result was better informed and less worried patients, better workflows, and most of all, earlier diagnosis and treatment. “Our team sat down with everyone,” says Hallstrup, referring to the hospital staff members and patients Designit worked with to understand the breast cancer clinic’s workflow and service challenges. “They helped us completely re-think the patient journey in the diagnosis process, and gain surprising insights into the bottlenecks that were making the already painful process of potentially being diagnosed with breast cancer even more difficult.” He explains that institutions and companies often forget about end-users, assuming they know the needs and expectations regarding their product or service, “In this case designing a better patient experience was not about applying
more technology, but about redesigning workflow. In the end, we didn’t achieve this by designing something beautiful, per se – we did it by designing something meaningful. As some staff members put it, we went from organizing patients around the hospital to organizing the hospital around the patient,” he says. The ultimate retail experience While beauty is not always essential, a combination of usefulness and aesthetics can have a big impact, says Hallstrup, who explains that while many of Designit’s cases look different, they are all results of the same methodology. “Whether we’re talking about a patient or a customer, the aim is to always deliver a sublime user experience.” He paints a picture of Audi City, a compact, urban cyberstore that lets people experience their dream car with digital technology in a radically new retail space. “In this way,” Hallstrup says, “many brands are starting to lift their products and services into the digital age. We know that we’ve turned digital, that’s no secret, so now it’s about bringing everything together across contact points, in unified product-service experiences.”
As for the future, Hallstrup is enthusiastic about the innumerable opportunities linked to strategic design firms. And, he points out, some of the most exciting opportunities involve combining products, services and spaces into completely new customer experiences. “In a time when technology basically allows for anything we can imagine, companies are not fully realising how much can be done. For instance – what will we do with all the time left over when we get, say, self-driving cars? There’s a huge space to be filled with new product-service experiences.” Responding to what drives his passion for design, the answer is as clear as his vision: “At Designit we literally help create a better future for everyone, everyday. I can’t think of a bigger motivation.”
The core of every client relationship with Designit is collaboration. They invite any company to tackle any problem with them. Get in touch for a workshop!
Say hello and explore Designit’s process and portfolio at www.designit.com
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Hothouse Studios has created Stoneham from scratch, developing name, logotype, clothing design, communications, and in this case, even the fair stand for the ISPO fair.
All aboard: Maximal synergy is the future of business development A unique fusion of design and communication is propelling companies to success across Europe. The company behind the concept “maximal synergy” is Hothouse Studios, an innovative Swedish design and communications bureau whose success depends on a merging of expertise, immaculate groundwork and a philosophy that leaves nothing to chance. By Bella Qvist | Photos: Hothouse Studios
Three years ago Kersti Liss Nadjalin, Johan Andersson and Tomas Enander were working in two separate businesses; Liss Nadjalin was a product design consultant whilst Andersson and Enander ran a communications bureau. At the time marketing budgets were mostly spent on
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advertisement bureaus developing campaigns completely independently of its client’s activities, often resulting in a disconnection between the image being portrayed and the products being sold. Businesses were admittedly starting to see the value of working with integrated communication, synching all platforms to communicate a cohesive message, and yet campaigns often lacked solid grounding within the companies running them.
The heart of Hothouse Studios is the team consisting of Kersti Liss Nadjalin, Johan Andersson, Ulrika Nymark and Tomas Enander.
Liss Nadjalin, Andersson and Enander met – and they had an epiphany. “We realised that our clients often required the other person’s services,” says Ander-
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sson. “Kersti’s clients would spend money on product development and then they wouldn’t know how to launch on the market. Our clients would invest in communication but wouldn’t always have a product that met the expectations.” The next step in business development, they believed, should be to create advertisement campaigns alongside the products. This would guarantee that the product being sold, which ultimately is a company’s strongest communicator, also related back to the brand’s core values. They decided to combine their skillsets, and in 2011 they set up communications and design bureau Hothouse Studios. Instantly, they were able to offer a speedy, cost-effective and allencompassing service. Maximal synergy Hothouse’s concept has proved hugely successful in the past three years, and as a result the company has two offices: one in Stockholm and one in Örebro, as well as an impressive portfolio – not to mention a unique concept. “Maximal synergy, as we somewhat jokingly call it, is the combination of our working fields; it is our core,” Liss Nadjalin says. “The power and energy that comes out of a collaboration between product design and communication: that our clients benefit from.”
know our customers, in particular their brand,” Liss Nadjalin explains. No decisions are made on a whim; instead they are based on an understanding of the client’s core values and business as a whole. “We always start out by establishing a brand platform. Here the reasons for the venture are set out before moving onto more practical steps and long-term strategies,” says Liss Nadjalin, outlining Hothouse’s business model. “We listen to the client very carefully and then we interpret what they are saying,” says Andersson. “We read between the lines and put their message into words in a way that they would never have been able to do themselves.” “Your reason for being is the customer’s reason for buying” is the third leg of Hothouse’s philosophy, and it evolves around the firm’s interest in communicating ‘why’ a company does something instead of ‘what’ or ‘how’. “That is what the consumer cares about. If we manage to convey a brand’s ‘why’ then we automatically create emotional bonds that will make people buy those products.”
All aboard Despite good intentions, things can go very wrong in any business if clear direction is lacking. This is why analysis is so important to Hothouse; they get to know their client but keep an outsider’s perspective. “Many haven’t ever worked out their brand platform or said, once and for all, ‘this is our vision’. It always exists in the business culture, but it may not have been highlighted,” Andersson says. “If we can help clients by putting all employees in the same boat and getting everyone to understand that ‘we are going this way’, then you get a completely different effect,” he explains. “We never see it as our task to tell people what to do,” says Liss Nadjalin, “but our services can create the momentum that propels you forward.” Something tells us she is right – and we’re on board with that.
For more information, please visit: www.hhstudios.se
By understanding that product design is not a separate process to be followed up by marketing, but instead that both processes should be tackled simultaneously and that they should be based on a brand or business strategy, Hothouse manages a highly efficient operation. Thanks to this approach, products are launched more quickly, clients make greater savings and the collaboration between departments greatly benefit businesses both in the short and long term. No chance, ask why The concept of maximal synergy, together with a pronounced dislike of leaving things to chance (so much so that they say they hate it) and a desire to comprehend a client’s reasoning, forms Hothouse’s philosophy. “It is to do with the fact that we are very keen on analysis and getting to
ABOVE LEFT: Hothouse created this visual communications idea for high-end protective gear brand Brage. TOP RIGHT: Hothouse created this concept design for an international cognitive robotics project at the University of Örebro. RIGHT ABOVE: Hothouse’s 3D visualisation for energy display Aware Clock.
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The wireless earbuds Jabra Sport Pulse are an all-in-one training solution, packed with advanced technology.
The Howl motto: demonstrate or die The Stockholm-based design studio takes a holistic approach and puts user experience in focus. They explore a bold motto for innovation and plunge into the creative process pushing things forward. By Ellinor Thunberg | Photos: Howl Studio
Design innovations at Howl always start with the user. The creative process runs in loops of testing and understanding needs, before demonstrating that the solution actually works by building prototypes. That is when things get really interesting. “You gain a user perspective and get a relation to the product. It comes alive in a new way,” says Filip Sauer, CEO and cofounder.
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A recent project for the Danish electronics brand Jabra involved several test rounds – and in this case actual jogging – resulting in a new pair of earphones called Jabra Sport Pulse. “New technology and miniaturisation made it possible to pack a wireless earphone device with advanced technology, like a biometric heartbeat sensor. The challenge was to bring it all together in such a small device and at the same time create something wearable,” Sauer says.
Filip Sauer, co-founder and CEO at Howl.
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Art from the start Sauer co-founded Howl in 2007, after spending time in his father’s art and silversmith studio, which early on made him realise that he wanted to do something creative. He first tried his hand at sculpting, but soon turned to industrial and interaction design. ”I realised quite quickly that I needed something to relate to, aside from myself. I felt that there are no limits in design, and that seemed like a lot of fun,” he says. The philosophy was clear from the start: the Howl team wants to be personal and straightforward – with an approach that sees the whole picture. Sauer believes this is the foundation for any good product and a strong long-term brand. The agency is small, but growing, currently with eleven employees in the capital and three at the Malmö office that opened in 2011. Keeping it simple When defining Scandinavian design, Sauer admits that the term is a bit stereotyped. The Howl philosophy breaks it down and describes it as “human-centred and pure-thinking, with simple and clear design features”. “The product has a purpose that you need to uphold. Then you can add brand characteristics and try to create a distinctive product – perhaps by simplifying instead of adding something,” he says.
The new wireless earphones Jabra Sport Pulse, designed by Howl.
The Trabec mountain bike helmet, created in collaboration with POC Sports in 2011, is an example of this. Here, Howl met an action sports industry quite used to bombastic designs. “It would be like putting a Formula One car on your head – very speedy, but with ventilations. What we created is more calm, protective and cool,” Sauer says.
”They have everything we need to create a product from scratch: software, hardware and mechanics. We will copy the way of working together in Malmö and bring it here too,” he says, and continues: “We want to make real innovations, so we need to build products and see them at an early stage, even where electronics or programming are involved.”
Keeping it simple is not always easy. Product developers might feel obliged to add new functions, even though they might not actually be needed. When developing a new interface for Asko Cylinda dishwashers, Howl reminded themselves that the basic purpose is what matters the most. ”I want to put dishes in the washer and get them clean. And that’s that,” Sauer says, explaining that there is no true need for a state-of-the-art touch screen when all you really need is a button or two. ”Dare to simplify and create something clear and easy on the eye,” he says summing up the classic Scandinavian design approach.
Smart in a whole new way
Future innovations Howl Studio is expanding, but the focus stays on design and innovation. The Malmö studio shares an office with friends at the product creation agency Frankly Development. The collaboration will intensify at the turn of the year, when five new Frankly team members are recruited to Stockholm.
Products that learn who you are and what you do are really interesting where the future is concerned, according to Sauer. This could mean connecting sensors to hardware or services, like a music player knowing what kind of music you like at a certain hour or location. “Apps are already available for logging what we eat, our exercise and our weight. What’s the next step? What should we do with all this data? Things are really starting to happen, and this is just the beginning,” he says, adding: “We are currently working on a few smart device projects to be launched next year. It will be really interesting to see how they are received by consumers.”
For more information, please visit: www.howlstudio.se
The Trabec mountain bike helmet, developed in collaboration with POC.
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Idesign has developed office chairs for Kinnarps since 1997
Designing the ultimate experience Idesign's clever and user-friendly products have been praised not only for their comfort and elegance, but also for their environmental focus. By Malin Norman | Photos: Idesign
With its foundation in industrial design, the Stockholm-based agency is integrating appearance, functionality and innovation into its transportation and office furniture solutions. Owner Johan Larsvall explains: "It is a conscious choice for us to work with this type of project. We can help create a better and more comfortable experience for users, and at the same time highlight the importance of using environmentally friendly materials." Welcoming more travelers Arlanda Express high-speed trains are one of Idesign's most prominent assignments, introducing a new way of approaching train seats by using the production technique of
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office chairs whilst also providing high comfort and safety for passengers. In addition to designing both the interior and exterior of the trains, the creativity-lead agency Idesign was also responsible for strategy, conceptualisation and finalisation. Providing the ultimate experience to welcome travelers on the 20 minute journey between Stockholm's central station and Arlanda airport, the Arlanda Express Trains of the Future has received numerous awards, including the world's largest design competition’s Red Dot Design Award in 2011 for product design of the year. "We want to attract more people to use public transport by providing a more com-
fortable and enjoyable experience for the travelers," explains Larsvall. Other recent projects in the transport sector include concepts for more sustainable and attractive trams in Lund, MalmĂś and Helsingborg, as well as creative development of Stockholm's commuter train X60 for Alstom. Designing the exterior and interior of the new Stockholm Metro in collaboration with Bombardier is another exciting upcoming challenge. Adapting design for end users Regardless of the scope and type of task, working in close collaboration with solution-based industrial design is the common touch point, and focus remains steadily on meeting the end user's physical and emotional needs. Larsvall emphasises the requirement for a flexible design process, and that products need to be simple to use but also elegant. Idesign
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has its own prototype workshop and 3D printer and products are tested throughout the design process. "It all goes hand in hand – aesthetics, functionality and innovation. When we can combine these elements in our products, we are happy." Ever since the agency was founded by industrial designer Larsvall in 1997, Idesign has maintained its long-term relationship with Kinnarps, which during the many years of partnership has grown to become one of Europe's biggest manufacturers of furniture and interiors for office and public spaces. Working with one of the giants in this field, the size of projects is significant – especially with one of the office chair models being produced in an impressive two million copies. However, the close partnership still allows for creative freedom and trust in the design process.
ABOVE: Kinnarps office chair Monroe
Helping firemen and outdoors enthusiasts In addition to its successful transportation and furniture solutions, Idesign has also developed creative yet functional professional products, such as Interspiro's communication system for firemen. The team designed the communication equipment to be mounted on the masks, and the inventive solution, incorporating visual strength, robustness and flexibility, won the Good Design Award in 2012. Other creative examples in the range of products include award-winning aluminium staircase Fred a stair and baby stroller Kronan. The sustainability focus also shows in Idesign's work for outdoors equipment company Lundhags, with products such as the environmentally friendly ice claws, which has received the Swedish Excellent Design award. , "It is fantastic for us to be able to work with products we feel passionate about, and which our clients are proud to use," explains Larsvall. "The variety of projects brings great advantage in terms of new knowledge and inspiration for the team, and our clients also get incredibly motivated when they come to our office and see the broad range of what we do."
Interspiro communication system for firefighters
Idesign's award-winning train seat for Arlanda Express
About Idesign Founded in 1997 by Johan Larsvall Based in Stockholm, with a nationwide network of experts Specialises in transportation design, furniture and outdoors products Clients include Alstom, Bombardier, Kinnarps, Lundhags, Interspiro and others
For more information, please visit: www.idesign.se Ice claws with cork grips, developed for Lundhags
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The Stockholm-based school Forsbergs is a popular choice for design, advertising and copywriting students. ABOVE: Student presentation showcasing lamp designs.
Swedish design school and home away from home Forsbergs is one of the most popular choices for professional training in graphic design and copywriting in Sweden. This spring they open up for distance learning in English. It has been more than 20 years since the start, and the wheel has come full circle.
Founders Pia Forsberg and Pelle Lindberg worked in the industry, in graphic design and art direction respectively, and were also teaching the course. Forsberg herself was a renowned designer of book covers, having created more than 2,000 covers during the ’80s and ’90s. Today, all lecturers at the school work in their respective field while teaching, creating unique student projects, as well as sharing experience and insights into the industry. Students collaborate across both full-time pathways, in an environment close to the everyday life at an advertising agency.
By Ellinor Thunberg | Photos: Forsbergs Skola
It all started with distance learning courses in graphic design when the Stockholm-based school Forsbergs launched in 1991. “We started small, with a correspondence course, and at that time it was actual letters that you sent back and forth,” says co-founder and principal Pia Forsberg. Insights and experience At that time, there were not many downright advertising schools around. But the graphic design students soon asked for more. The first full-time students at Forsberg’s two-year programme started in
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1993 and five years later the course was accompanied by a copywriting course of the same length.
Sought-after graduates Principal and co-founder Pia Forsberg.
Graduates from Forsbergs are popular with employers and, according to statis-
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tics, most full-time students find a relevant job within a year. Great industry connections, six weeks of work placement and a humane work environment might have something do to with that. ”You get to try a lot of different things during two years – and you are allowed to fail. It is safe to try different things and that leads to flexibility. I also believe the students work well under pressure, because the working pace here is rather high,” she says, but also emphasises the importance of having fun. “I believe all creativity is linked to joy and fun. You try something and enjoy it, and you continue until you cannot get any further,” she says. A home away from home The small school, located in the Stockholm borough of Södermalm, only has 70 full-time students, divided across copywriting and design courses. This means that 35 new students enrol on a full-time basis every autumn. A normal day at
school starts with lectures, followed by briefing and tutorials. After that, students are welcome to stay longer to work on projects. ”During their two years here this becomes almost like a second home for the students. They can spend time together and work late if they wish, because they have their own keys and can come and go as they please, around the clock. It’s like a mix of a workplace and a home. There is not that much of a school vibe on the premises,” says Forsberg. Design all day Forsberg’s job as a designer and illustrator might have been replaced by her role as principal at the school, but her days are still filled with all things design. ”I am surrounded by design matters every day. I talk to students and I run a distance course, so I am still right in the middle of that world. When it comes to my own creativity I also work as an artist,” she says.
TOP: Student workshop in projection mapping. ABOVE: The graduate show is an annual highlight.
Being one of the founders, she knows the ins and outs of the school and admits to doing everything from watering plants to talking to large international organisations – whatever is needed during the day. “I help out here and there. I can easily get an overview and get to know both students and teachers,” she says, adding that there is plenty of freedom in her role. The main advantage according to Forsberg is the small size of the school and that everyone gets to know each other. But after 23 years she also points out the importance of not getting stuck in the same old routine. ”It is exciting that at a workplace like this one should be constantly developing. We also have an ambition to improve every day – we should be better today than we were yesterday,” she says. For more information, please visit: www.forsbergsskola.se
TOP: The graduate show displays students’ creativity. ABOVE: Inspiration flows freely at Forsbergs.
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Motherland aims for a design that is so good it makes customers want to twist and turn it to discover everything. This one for Lord Calvert fulfils that requirement!
Big ideas and subtle changes: key to brand success Bold, thorough and quirky – the creations of award-winning Swedish brand agency Motherland are as impressive as they are individual. Scan Magazine speaks to innovators and big thinkers Urban Karlstam and Hans Knutsson about the methods that make their company so successful. By Bella Qvist | Photos: Motherland
Life used to be pretty simple for most brand owners. They would come up with a product, launch it with a decent looking design and then market it with as much money as possible until people bought it. That was, generally speaking, what marketing looked like in 2005, when Urban Karlstam and Hans Knutsson joined forces and set up Motherland. “We didn’t want to become just another advertising agency, we wanted something more: to be an international player and
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work across the globe with bigger branding issues – not just advertising. So we launched as a brand and design agency,” says Karlstam, CEO and partner in the company. “It was a little unusual at the time,” he says. “When customers asked for a campaign we could answer ‘you shouldn’t run a campaign, you should change your product design – or improve communications with your staff’.” That honest approach remains intact today – and it has clearly paid off, as clients
span twenty countries on almost all continents. “Now, almost ten years on, customers are asking for the combination of services that we offer,” says Karlstam, adding that marketing is much less straightforward today. “The fragmented media landscape means that the product itself must work much harder. You can’t market it to success in the same way that you did before.” Luckily for their clients, overcoming those difficulties is what Motherland does best. It’s their “core”, as Knutsson puts it. Big impact from small steps One of Motherland’s first presentations featured a picture that read “the world is an unfinished project”, something that Karlstam says describes Motherland’s
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view of how brands should work today. “You constantly have to feed your brand with new ideas,” he explains, emphasising that small, subtle changes are key. “That way the end consumer always perceives the client’s product as fresh.” The approach is famously adapted by global brands like Coca Cola and Kellogg’s. Consumers feel that the brand has always looked the same, when in fact many small changes have kept it up to date. The Motherland team, who recently gave Finnish Mirka’s bulldog logo a successful facelift, knows how to make that happen. “We have come up with a unique model to calculate a design’s lifespan,” says Karlstam. “We call it Design Lifetime Value.”
French label, but put a caravan in front of the obligatory castle. The traditional statement of ‘Mis en Bouteille au Chateau’ was swapped for ‘Miss me when I’m gone’. “It feels very French but with that tonguein-cheek Australian twist,” Karlstam says. “It creates this somewhat unholy alliance between modern quirkiness and the traditionally conservative wine world.” It’s clever, but then Motherland’s expertise in wine and spirits extends beyond the packaging. Knutsson is, in fact, a former wine journalist. “We have a very good idea of what is hot and what is not,” he says. Strategic intelligence
Looking at a design’s history, sales predictions and retention costs as well as the cost of changing it, DLV creates a predicted lifespan and revenue forecast. “This way the client can compare possible scenarios of keeping and updating their design.”
Short- and long-term trends are important to Motherland, and they carefully analyse client markets, combining macro and micro economy with industry knowledge. “We have the somewhat irrational belief that the price of Spanish government bonds can, for example, affect our clients elsewhere,” says Karlstam.
Great design is not enough Self-proclaimed number guys, the team at Motherland analyse efforts internally, too. “All our designs are measured against four parameters – we call them C2E2.” The formula stands for confident, creative, excellent and experimental, meaning that it should enable the user to experiment with it further down the line. “It needs to knock out the competition,” says Knutsson. Once on the shelf, a product’s every detail counts. “We want to achieve what we describe as the ‘fiddle factor’. It should be so good that when a customer grabs it they should want to twist and turn it like a violin or a fiddle because they keep discovering new things,” says Karlstam. “You should see the love that has gone into the design,” agrees Knutsson. “Quirkiness is important too,” Karlstam points out, adding that they recently created a quirky design for Australian winery, Quarisa Wines. Launching a wine called Caravan, the winery wanted to pay homage to Bordeaux. For this purpose, Motherland’s designers created a classic-looking
This holistic approach is not only appreciated by clients needing more than just a demographic analysis, but it is clear that it applies to everything Motherland does. Looking back, a lot has changed since first establishing the business, but Karlstam and Knutsson have achieved their vision; they have become something more – and something tells us they’re not done yet. “The world is evolving and so are we,” Karlstam concludes.
FROM TOP DOWN: Motherland’s expertise in wine and spirits extends beyond the packaging – Knutsson is a former wine journalist. The Australian winery behind Caravan wine wanted to pay homage to Bordeaux and yet stay true to their origin. The traditional statement of ‘Mis en Bouteille au Chateau’ was swapped for ‘Miss me when I’m gone’. Motherland worked closely with Finnish Mirka, designing their new and improved flowpack. Mirka’s new bulldog logo as edited and updated by Motherland.
For more information, please visit: www.motherland.se
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LEFT: Antrop’s team creates the simple, stylish and trendy design Scandinavia is known for, and dives deep into the pool of customer needs and experiences. RIGHT: “Customers want recommendations from their peers rather than expensive ad campaigns. That’s where our focus lies: provide brilliant services to the customer and the rest will sell itself,” says Erik Hammarström, Business Director at Antrop.
Traditional marketing made redundant by brilliant services Service Design Agency Antrop is helping some of the world’s largest companies improve their services by focusing on the customer experience. By Astrid Eriksson | Photos: Mattias Mårtensson
“Traditional marketing is dying, it just takes a while for people to realise it,” says Erik Hammarström, Business Director of Swedish firm Antrop. “A lot of money is being spent on marketing bad products and services instead of improving and developing the already existing services. We are trying to change that.” Profit and efficiency are the pillars of the traditional business model, but Antrop is looking at it from a different perspective – the customers’. “Customer satisfaction tends to be more of an afterthought in a lot of business,” Hammarström explains. “But word of mouth is absolutely crucial. Customers want recommendations from their peers rather than expensive ad campaigns. That’s where our focus lies: pro-
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vide brilliant services to the customer and the rest will sell itself.” With clients such as H&M, Spotify, Axfood, IKEA, the Swedish Television and Scania, Antrop works with gathering customer and business insights and translating these to detailed designs of innovative services. These are services that provide great customer experiences and make businesses stand out when put up against their competition. This approach can also be used for the public sector to give better services to the broader population. Antrop is, for example, working with projects in the healthcare sector based on centralising the patients in order to give them better and more coordinated care.
Much of Antrop’s effort goes into restructuring and building companies’ online platforms to better suit what the customers want. Antrop’s team creates the simple, stylish and trendy design Scandinavia is known for, and dives deep into the pool of customer needs and experiences. “We get to know the end users,” Hammarström says. “We identify the roots of consumer behaviour, analyse them and optimise the companies accordingly, so that a world-class service can be provided every step of the way.” The visions of Antrop are catching on. Trends in business developments point towards a bigger customer focus than before. Companies are now hiring Chief Customer Officers to ensure that the needs of the users are being met, something that thrills Hammarström and his staff. “At the end of the day, we get to make life a little bit better and easier for people, something that I am immensely proud of.”
For more information, please visit: www.antrop.se
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"We prefer looking at the brand as a person or a personality. A brand is significantly more than a logo,� says Tom Emil Olsen, CEO & Founder of KIND. Read more on page 38.
Visualising paramount objectives Norway has, throughout the past decades, increasingly attached importance to how design is included in the early stages of the development of a product or a service. By Fredrik Jean-Hansen, NID
This is evident in how the institutes dedicated to educating industrial designers are growing in numbers and quality, but also in how the number of qualified industrial designers educated in Norway and abroad increases year by year. This importance can thus also be noticed in positions made available for industrial designers, positions that were previously intended for other professions. When NID came into being in 1955, it was with the idea that a group will have the best chance of making an impact. Through combined efforts, industrial designers can make industry stakeholders and policymakers aware of how an industrial designer can contribute significantly in the development of a product or a service.
Industrial design appears in different disciplines, such as interaction design, service design and as a method for approaching and mapping out the development of a complex project. The sooner the industrial designer is involved, the sooner the designer can visualise the lifecycle of the product or the service. The designer can early on make the right material or method choices and coordinate the collaboration that goes into the product. The industrial designer always keeps in mind the paramount objectives, which are dealing with the challenges our society is faced with, such as population growth and climate issues, combined with profitability. The industrial designer is prepared and able, employing innovative thinking and methods to encounter these challenges.
Read more about the Norwegian digital creative agency Netron on page 40.
For more information, please visit: www.nid.no
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"We prefer looking at the brand as a person or a personality. A brand is significantly more than a logo,” says Tom Emil Olsen, CEO & Founder of KIND.
The emotional KIND: finding the brand's x-factor By developing strategic and emotional branding, the Norwegian agency KIND emphasises and enhances a brand's x-factor, thereby separating it from the herd, while simultaneously reflecting its personality. This formula has made KIND a leading conceptual branding company. By Didrik Ottesen | Photos: KIND Norway
The Bergen-based company has boiled down their extensive experience of the design and advertising industry into their own inimitable six-step model, which today forms the basis for their work with major domestic and international brands. The essence of the model is the expression and the emotion, two equally important aspects of a successful brand. "The way things look and their expression is important, but if it's only a shiny surface, then people will quickly lose interest, and that is similar with branding,” says
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Tom Emil Olsen, CEO & Founder of KIND, and continues: "We prefer looking at the
brand as a person or a personality. A brand is significantly more than a logo. A brand should speak just as much to the heart as the intellect. At KIND we work with both the visual and the emotional brand. This is to establish an exact brand position and differentiation for our clients."
Over the past year, KIND has developed visual identities and concepts for market leaders such as Enhanced Drilling (pictured above), Grøvik Verk, Macduff Shellfish (pictured far right) and LG Harris (pictured right).
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“Continuing the comparison to people, the brand also has an x-factor, something positive and different that separates it from others. This x-factor is what we try to emphasise on and nurture, to enhance and improve every company's uniqueness,” he says. He explains that it's essential that the brand and the communication reflects who, or what, the client is, as too many seek approval by following others, when the strength lies in being who you are. "It's important to lead and not follow. I suppose you could say that we help companies enhance and confirm their own personality," Olsen explains.
KIND has developed the marketing strategy and overall branding for Coldwater Prawns, who were awarded Norway’s "Company of the Year 2014”, by Innovation Norway.
oping the strategy as well as executing it. Over the past year, KIND has developed visual identities and concepts for market leaders such as Enhanced Drilling, Grøvik Verk, Macduff Shellfish and LG Harris.
Extensive experience KIND's employees have extensive experience working with branding. Olsen has over 16 years of experience in the field and has worked with several large international brands. Furthermore, he has won several awards and is included in AdWeek's list of the top 100 most creative talents in the world. One of the agency’s clients is Coldwater Prawns of Norway, the country's largest prawn exporting company. KIND has developed the marketing strategy and overall branding for the company, who were awarded Norway’s "Company of the Year 2014”, by Innovation Norway. Coldwater Prawns increased their revenue 28 times in six years due to targeted and determined branding and positioning towards the export market, with KIND covering every step of the process, devel-
Due to their experience and expertise, KIND staff are regularly featured as guest speakers at conferences focusing on design, branding and advertising. They have in the previous year been represented at the Eurobest conference in Lisbon, Hyper Island in Stockholm as well as several domestic events, including speeches for The Norwegian Design Council and Innovation Norway. Substantial focus on emotional branding "What separates us from others is our unique approach to branding, where we work to create a differentiated identity for our clients, with substantial focus on the target group as well as the emotional brand," Olsen says. KIND's approach is based on a six-step model, designed so that every step is a direct consequence of the previous, making
every step of the process vital. "Specifically, the six-step model starts with a client briefing and an extended analysis. When that is completed, we scrutinise how our client can differentiate themselves from the competition and the market positioning,” Olsen says, continuing: ”Then we start the conceptual development phase, before moving on to the design and implementation phases. Our philosophy is that the idea should generate the means and not the other way around.” "A brand should create emotions through an inimitable expression and story," Olsen says. Always working closely with the client, long-term thinking is essential for KIND as they aim to appeal to the consumers' feelings. "The worst thing that can happen is if consumers don't feel anything. A successful brand always provokes feelings," Olsen concludes.
For more information, please visit: www.kindnorway.com
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LEFT: Some projects, like this one for The Norwegian Defence Estates Agency, require all hands on deck. For this project a green screen studio large enough to bring in horses and cannon were built. Photo: Netron. RIGHT: From the left: Gaute J. Fleisje, Joakim Tun Tunæs, Morten Marius M. M. Apenes and Torgeir Holm. Photos: Tom Egil Jensen
All work and all play Founders of the Norwegian digital creative agency Netron have been designing and animating online content since the late ’90s. Ever since the group of friends started the company it has kept its firm grip on an ever-changing industry, and with a sister agency set up in Estonia the agency is still going strong. By Maya Acharya
“There aren't many companies like us that have been around for as long as we have, without being bought out by large corporations,” says Netron's Creative Director, Morten Marius Mulvad Moe Apenes (M4 for short). Since being founded 12 years ago by a group of tech wizard buddies, Netron has managed to grow while staying true to itself. No mean feat. “When we first started we were focused mostly on animation and online games. Designing online content was a big deal back then,” explains Apenes. Nowadays, the company offers a whole host of digital services, from digital marketing and websites to production design, film and 3D design. One of their favourite projects, which basically required a mesh of all disciplines, was the Fredriksten Projection
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project, an installation about a big Norwegian fortress that was projected onto outdoor walls, which also became a big tourist attraction. Other clients include the likes of WWF, Fjords Processing and ColorLine. With their Tallinn-based extension, Netron are also reaching out internationally. “We focus a lot on interactive projects. Whereas before we were sort of a subcontractor for advertising agencies, we've now moved to a point where we're actually challenging the marketing industry,” says Apenes. So what's the big secret? Well, for one, a transparent process in which clients are involved from start to finish. “We've noticed that people are fussy. Nowadays, es-
pecially in Scandinavia, most people are part of a digital everyday life. This means people are more professionalised – they know what they want – so they can go directly to small specialists like us and ask for it, without a middle man,” says Simen Johan Matri Apenes, Producer at Netron. “The more familiar people are with the field, the easier it is to involve them in the entire process. We show them what didn't work and why so that they understand and can contribute to the concept development.” The other thing that gives Netron an edge is the fact that they're essentially a bunch of geeky friends. Morten Apenes explains: “We're a hands-on gang. We started Netron because we were all into digital media; we like to play; we're always curious and stay updated on the next new thing. I think that helps.”
For more information, please visit: www.netron.no
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Entries judged best in each category are awarded a Pyramid, the symbol of the Vuoden Huiput competition. Gold Award winner 2013 in the Illustration Category, Janine Rewell (pictured). Photo: Johannes Romppanen
Reshaping the world Visual communication designers are fluent in the meaning of line, shape and colour. According to UNESCO’s Creative Economy Report 2013, the creative economy is one of the most rapidly growing sectors of the world economy, and not just in terms of income generation but also for job creation and export earning. Being part of the creative economy, design is, admittedly, an investment that creates value for businesses. But it's more than that. Visual communication is a form of dialogue. It is an interpretation, a point of view, a statement and a perceptive thought.
Through symbols, logos, patterns, typography and images, visual communication designers re-organise the chaotic world of images and words by turning them into crystallised ideas – messages ready to be delivered. This is graphic design.
Text & photos: Heidi Rostén, Communications Officer and Subeditor, Grafia
With some 1,000 members distributed throughout the visual communications field in Finland, Grafia, an association of visual communication designers, is dedicated to advancing the profession by looking after the juridical, economic and professional interests of its members. It was founded in 1933 by a small, dedicated group of designers and illustrators. Today, its members are employed in various sectors within the field: graphic design, marketing communications, digital visual design, illustration and layout design, teaching, research and study. Run by Grafia, Vuoden Huiput – The Best of Finnish Advertising and Design is the
annual showcase of excellence in design and advertising in Finland. The awards were established in 1980, and since then new categories have been introduced to the annual showcase. In recent years, the competition has attracted nearly 1,000 entries annually. The aim of Vuoden Huiput competition is to strengthen the significance of high-quality marketing communications and visual communications design in Finland, while encouraging better design, strengthened creativity and originality, and the development of professional standards. Most of all, the aim is to celebrate the best of Finland’s graphic design and advertising.
For more information, please visit: www.grafia.fi
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For MI-NO Rune & Berg created the logo, calling cards, website, flyers, packaging material, storefront window stickers, web shop design, store layout, furniture, surface materials and lighting, among other features.
Rune & Berg Design – designing for people A single, creative concept that covers all. That is the motto of design company Rune & Berg Design, specialising in visual identities and at home in downtown Helsinki. Founded by three women and now in its fourth year, Rune & Berg Design is a successful one-stop shop catering to clients’ every visual need, from websites to spatial design. Ultimately every project is about people, as co-founder Jenni Herkama states. By Joanna Nylund | Photos: Rune & Berg Design
Rune & Berg provides comprehensive planning services – from graphic design to spatial design of premises, and the look of the products themselves. The team consists of interior architects, graphic designers and an economist, and the company track record boasts office designs for innovators such as Boehringer Ingelheim, Bilot and FremantleMedia, just to name a few.
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Creative understanding “Everything we do is based on the client’s needs. We start by getting to know them in order to really understand their needs and visions. Together we hatch ideas and make plans. We take care of organising the project from start to finish, and our job is not done until the client is happy. Throughout the process, we continually meet with the client to
make sure we are on the same page,” explains Jenni. Attention to detail is key in this kind of concept service. “If a company has, say, a great storefront but a poor website, there is a discrepancy in the company image. We create a single, seamless visual iden-
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tity that runs through everything: calling cards, website, marketing material, the premises themselves, product packaging – you name it. That’s how strong brands are created.” When the shoe fits One such recent success story is Helsinki shoe store MI-NO. Founder Johanna Keltto asked Rune & Berg to be involved in the conceptualisation of the store, enabling comprehensive planning that involved every aspect of launching the new brand. Among other things, Rune & Berg created the logo, calling cards, website, flyers, packaging material, storefront window stickers, web shop design, store layout, furniture, surface materials and lighting. The end result was a seamless store concept featuring a Nordic minimalist design coupled with a warm, approachable kind of elegance that serves to highlight the products themselves. “Rune & Berg always delivered on time, and the quality was outstanding. They had the talent and resources to carry out this ambitious project, and were very meticulous and nice to work with,” says Keltto.
overwhelmingly positive, with many crediting the remodelled space for their increased work motivation. Fabrics retail chain Eurokangas has 32 shops around Finland, and was in need of a visual change that would be distinct but still feasible to launch in all shops over a short period of time. This meant a large change achieved by small means, and together with Eurokangas, Rune & Berg planned the layout and lighting of the shops, the colour scheme, typography and product presentation. The company now has new iconography featured in shop windows, in-shop graphics and shopping bags – all in support of the brand.
Jenni smilingly explains the secret behind the positive atmosphere: “The people are the best part of my job!” she says with emphasis. “My wonderful and talented colleagues, the clients, our co-operation partners. I get to work with everyone from the CEO to the carpenter, and I love it!” That friendly philosophy, paired with a healthy dose of ambition, seems to be serving Rune & Berg very well.
For the love of work Ask Jenni Herkama what dreams Rune & Berg has for the future, and the answer is typical of the company’s humble approach: “We want to expand our competence in order to serve our clients even better.” Rune & Berg has received praise for their warm approach and uncompromising work ethic, and it is very clear that this is a workplace for creatives who love their work and, what’s more, love doing it together.
Rune & Berg were responsible for the remodeling of the main Finnish offices at Intrum Justitia, Europe’s leading credit management service company.
For more information, please visit: rbdesign.fi
Dreams taking flight Another exciting challenge, in an altogether different kind of space, came when Rune & Berg were commissioned to redesign gates 16-19 at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport. “The parameters were obviously pretty strict,” laughs Jenni. ”We had lots of fun with this project, and our pride and joy is the beautiful Finland-themed wall graphic that our graphic designer Jenny Ruuskanen created. The length is an incredible 100 metres!” Other recent projects that have been completed to glowing reviews include a remodelling of the main Finnish offices of Intrum Justitia, Europe’s leading credit management service company. With Rune & Berg at the helm, the premises were streamlined from three floors to two, unused space was eliminated and a variety of different workspaces and communal areas were created in order to bring employees together while still promoting an effective and pleasant working environment. Feedback from employees has been
Eurokangas, with its 32 shops around Finland, was in need of a visual change. Rune & Berg achieved this by re-designing layout and lighting of the shops, the colour scheme, typography and product presentation.
Wall graphic designed by Rune & Berg Design for Helsinki-Vantaa Airport.
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LEFT: Hahmo creatives Jenni Kuokka, Antti Raudaskoski, Heikki Rajasalo, Hanna Nissilä, Marko Pesonen, Uma Pihlaja and Pekka Piippo. Photo: Antti Luostarinen. RIGHT: Photo: Patrik Rastenberger
Creating accessibility in a world that demands uniqueness Making something unique that is also unrestricted to everyone is a difficult task. Finnish creative agency Hahmo specialises in making as accessible and long-lasting designs as possible, yet differentiating them from the ordinary. By Tuomo Paananen
Linguistic, cultural and cognitive aspects affect human perception. When designing, it is important to take into account all the different ways of experiencing something, even when having specific target audiences, according to Pekka Piippo, one of the two creative directors of Hahmo. “It's only sensible that we work according to the needs and strategies of our clients. However, as a designer you sometimes have to consider, if I may exaggerate a bit, the whole world. Good accessibility includes options from hearing to touching and seeing – just to name a few.
Excluding something should always be a choice, not a mishap,” he states. One of the company's latest projects requiring wide accessibility includes restructuring the visual instructions of the Finnish Pharmaceutical Information Centre. “This is one of the examples where the message of the organisation has to be the same for everybody. Nothing can be trivial when it comes to health and safety. In this case being different and visual means guiding seekers of medical information to find what they are looking for,” says Piippo.
Information is also in the main role when the company fulfils its aim of sustainability. “To make designs sustainable we need to know where they will be situated. We always use the most ecological materials in relation to durability. For instance, when the end product is located outdoors or is constantly transported, easily biodegrading cardboard might not be the best choice, although it's superb indoors,” he says. Awards as side products of innovation During its eleven years in the business, Hahmo has received several industry awards. The company has actively participated in competitions to test new ideas and maintain a fresh approach. “Well, almost every office has some kinds of trophies. The main thing for us is to develop our ways of creating an unlimited user experience.”
The key to the best results is information
A selection of icons and logos designed by Hahmo. The company was founded in 2003 and has since won several industry awards.
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The company does not only create a vast variety of designs, but also collects relevant information about their users before making the first drafts. “Hahmo ensures the best results by gaining knowledge through data. For instance, we can invite users to test our designs or observe how different kinds of people handle certain products. The purpose is to produce a better understanding and a concrete list of design drivers with our efficient usability walkthrough methods,” says Piippo.
Photo: Jenni Kuokka
For more information, please visit: hahmo.fi
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ducers to Watch list, announced in Cannes. He started making short videos with a friend at the age of 10 and he is still as excited about them as he was back then. “Technology has changed radically. High quality videos are cheaper to produce and easier to distribute, plus now there are more opportunities to use moving image than ever before. Ten years from now television won´t be the same. This fascinating evolution makes me want to go to work every day.” Klok consult, analyse and produce creative video content for every platform, from television to mobile and the web.
Smart moving images In Swedish, ‘klok’ means wise, smart and intelligent. For the people of the Finnish creative video agency Klok, it´s a statement. At a time when the importance of video is exploding, smart companies make the most of moving image – with the help of experienced experts. By Mia Halonen | Photos: Klok
“The lines between advertising, television, film and the web are blurring. It is no longer just advertising or marketing departments that need moving image,” says Klok creative director and co-founder Pauli Kopu. “Today the other departments, like customer service or a loyalty programme, can benefit from videos, too. Content marketing builds brands, creates engagement, drives sales and offers a way of communicating ideas leadership,” Kopu continues. “Over and over again we see that the most successful companies understand the need to continually connect with audiences and demonstrate commitment.” Creative video agency Klok was founded by four video pioneers who shared a vision about the new world of original video con-
tent. Together they have decades of experience of captivating moving image and how to use it effectively. They consult, analyse and produce creative video content for every platform, from television to mobile and the web. ”We are more than a production company. Our job is to fully understand the potential of moving image and get the most out of it,” states Kopu. The Klok offices in Helsinki and Stockholm serve consumer brands, ad agencies and their clients, media networks, B2B companies and entrepreneurs as well as NGOs all over the world. The long-term local and global clients include big names such as Supercell, Rovio, Microsoft and Finnair. Kopu himself is someone to keep an eye on: in 2012 he earned a place on the Pro-
Pauli Kopu started making short videos with a friend at the age of 10.
For more information, please visit: www.klok.fi
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: ME ARK E TH ENM L D A I EC N IN P S TIO A UC D E
Imagine a School… Imagine a school without tests, without a curriculum and without grades. A school where you learn simply because you have the desire to learn – a school that gives you the opportunity to learn more about yourself and the world around you. A school not just about teaching and theory, but where the reality of living with one hundred other students and teachers is a vital part of the experience. Where living together, learning together, eating, partying, singing, laughing, crying and sharing our stories so that we become a part of each other's lives is key. In other words: Imagine a school of life. Text & photos: The Association of Folk High Schools in Denmark
This is a school where theory and books lend qualities to the conversations we have with each other, instead of being text for us to learn by heart in order to pass an exam. It’s a school where teachers do not hold the truth to the questions asked, but seek it together with the students – a school where education is not solely about preparing for a job, but an essential part of being human. There are 67 folk high schools spread across Denmark, most of them situated in rural areas or smaller towns, and they are typically named after the local district. Some are quite old, others founded recently. Some are large and can accommodate more than 100 students, while others have room for only 30. Some are
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well consolidated, others less well off. Some are architectural gems. Most are characterised by stylistic confusion. However, the most important thing about them is not their appearance, but rather their atmosphere. As one teacher once said: "The task of the schools is to create a climate where culture is a reality." The Danish folk high schools offer nonformal adult education. Most students are between 18 and 24 years old and the length of a typical stay is four months. You sleep, eat, study and spend your spare time at the school. There are no academic requirements for admittance and there are no exams – but you will get a diploma as a proof of your attendance.
For more information, please visit: www.danishfolkhighschools.com/about
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physical education, music or theatre, or offer various kinds of special education. Compared to regular state schools, the efterskole has substantial freedom in terms of, for example, the choice of subjects, the teaching methods and the educational approach. These vary in accordance with the school’s political, religious or pedagogical orientation. The freedom of the efterskole is assured by substantial state subsidies to both schools and students.
Discover knowledge and make friends for life The “efterskole” is a unique Danish independent and residential school for young people between 14 and 18 years of age. Currently, some 28,000 students attend one of the approximately 250 schools throughout Denmark, and the schools are also open to students from abroad. By Efterskoleforeningen | Photos: Faaborgegnens Efterskole
Historically and culturally, the efterskole is related to the Danish free school movement, and the efterskole is often regarded as a junior form of the Danish folkehøjskole (folk high school), closely related to the educational ideas of N.F.S Grundtvig (1789-1872), who wanted schools to pro-
vide enlightenment for life rather than formal vocational training. The first few efterskoler were founded about 150 years ago. Most efterskoler offer the same subjects and final examinations as state schools, but many focus on special subjects like
Each efterskole is a self-governing independent institution, and they all deal with both the educational and personal development of the students. They embrace a common educational focus on enlightenment for life, general education and democratic citizenship. The efterskole has something to offer both educationally and socially, because the students live together. It can perhaps be said that the teachers who work at an efterskole are not entirely ordinary. They are prepared to involve aspects of themselves other than the professional, so that the pupils have a positive relationship with the teachers. The teacher is responsible for both teaching and supervision outside of school hours. This means that teachers and students are together all day from the time the students wake up until they go to bed. This often engenders a close, personal and non-formal relationship between students and teachers.
For more information, please visit: www.efterskole.dk/english
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“Turning young people into responsible adults is one of our key aspects, and by combining a social and professional development we truly believe you are in for a unique experience here at Ranum,” says Joakim Philipsen, Head of the International Department.
The forefront of international secondary study in Denmark Last year Ranum Efterskole College became the first international college in Denmark. It turned out to be a great success, and this year the number of learners participating in the international programme has more than doubled. A proof of the demands for a more international profile for young people today, according to the school.
standing, and that combined is what we aim to give our learners here at Ranum Efterskole College,” says Joakim Philipsen, Head of the International Department.
By Nicolai Lisberg | Photos: Ranum Efterskole College
Forward-thinking and classical values
Ranum Efterskole College believes in finding the perfect balance of tradition and modernity, championing innovative education with an international outlook. As a self-governing independent institution concentrating on the educational and personal development of its students, or learners, as they like to call them, Ranum focuses on personal and academic growth and democratic citizenship within a global context.
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“We already see many educational courses in Denmark being taught in English, and I am sure that this number will only increase in the years to come. I am also positive that more young people will go abroad to study part of their degree, just like more young people in the future will work for international companies, where the main language will be English. Therefore, it is important to have great English skills and an intercultural under-
The international profile does not mean that Ranum Efterskole College has forgotten about the classic “efterskole” traditions – on the contrary. The school maintains a rich legacy, delivering the very best opportunities and social engagement for its learners. “We see the young people mature a lot in the year they spend here. Turning young people into responsible adults is one of our key aspects, and by combining a social and professional development we truly believe
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you are in for a unique experience here at Ranum,” says Philipsen. Last year 45 learners took part in the international programme which turned out to be such a success that the number of international learners this year reached 109. Of these learners 27 come from countries outside Denmark.
ish IB system, international study, or the internationally recognised Cambridge International AS and A levels that many universities now set as entry requirements.
International study trip destinations: USA, Japan, Norway, Sweden, Germany, UK, France, Spain, Turkey, Ireland, Greece, Nepal, Ghana, Malaysia, China, Nicaragua, Peru, Cambodia, South Africa, New Zealand and the
IGCSE
Philippines.
The IGCSE is the first year of international study and foundation for further international study. Learners choose five of the following
Ranum Efterskole College in numbers:
subjects to combine with the compulsory
Student life
- 405 learners
subjects: English First Language, English as a
- 85 employees, 52 teachers
A typical week at Ranum Efterskole College consists of 28 lessons from 8am to 2pm every day. Besides that, all learners choose between a great variety of subjects, such as adventure sport, diving, street performance, visual design and many others. These subjects are called profile subjects and are divided into three periods throughout the year. “These subjects take place three times a week, and with 20 very different subjects to choose between, there is always something exciting going on here,” says Philipsen.
Second Language, International Mathematics,
- 19,600 square metres of teaching and
Co-ordinated Science, Geography, German
- Boarding facilities for 425 learners
Chinese Mandarin, French First Language,
- Students live in one-, two-, four-, or six-
French Foreign Language, Spanish First
student apartments
Language, Spanish Foreign Language,
- Assembly hall (460 seats)
Global Perspective, Physical Education.
- 22 classrooms all equipped with
AS and A Levels
ActiveBoards
AS and A Levels are the advanced studies,
- Four fully equipped science laboratories
which are extremely flexible – without
- Three fully equipped music classrooms
compulsory subjects. Learners choose three
- Four specialist classrooms: design/art,
or four subjects according to interest and skills, focusing the learner’s individual study to enable a concentrated and prioritised education: English Language, French,
Ranum offers two strands of education: Danish secondary education in compulsory and extracurricular subjects in the public 9th and 10th grades, from the Danish curriculum, and international education through Cambridge International Examinations at IGCSE, AS and A levels. By studying IGCSE, students have the option to continue their studies through the Dan-
boarding facilities
First Language, German Foreign Language,
craft, multimedia and IT - Four gyms + one full-size gym (46m x 30m) - Outdoor sports centre
German, Spanish, Marine Science, Mathematics, Media Studies, Music, Physics,
Contact information:
Physical Education, Travel & Tourism and
Ranum Efterskole College
History (AS).
Kærvej 6-8, 9681 Ranum, Denmark
All learners study Danish, which is incorpo-
E-mail: info@ranumefterskole.dk
rated into the learner’s study to encourage a Danish grounding and appreciation of the culture and country of Study.
For more information, please visit: www.ranumefterskolecollege.com
Ranum Efterskole College believes in finding the perfect balance of tradition and modernity, championing innovative education with an international outlook.
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Rydhave Slots Efterskole is located in a historic castle in idyllic western Jutland just a short walk from the Limfjord.
Equipping and encouraging students to make a difference With international trips, straightforward goal descriptions and a holistic learning approach, Rydhave Slots Efterskole has transformed itself from a traditional Danish efterskole to a frontrunner within innovative education. In the process the school has attracted attention from higher educational institutions as well as local and national media.
the new subjects this year are two new sport majors: Horsemanship and Adventure Sport. The activities take place in the adjoining Rydhave Forest and the nearby Limfjord, which is just a short walk from the old castle.
By Signe Hansen | Photos: Rydhave Slots Efterskole
Taking on responsibility Founded in a historical castle in idyllic western Jutland in 1956, Rydhave Slots Efterskole is today the home of approximately 75 boys and girls in grade nine and ten. Offering a diverse programme of international studies, design, crafts and sports, the school attracts youngsters from all over Denmark – as well as the rest of the world. Students also meet the world outside Denmark’s borders on a number of yearly trips abroad. In line with the school’s goal of preparing and equipping the youngsters to take responsibility for their own lives, some of the trips are
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planned by the students themselves. “It's a big goal, yes. But I am convinced that we send our students out into life with a strong belief that they can make a difference for themselves and their surroundings. In fact, I believe that our students go out into the world and make a difference,” says school principal Ole Conrad Kondrup. Kondrup took over the management of Rydhave Slots Efterskole almost two years ago and has since worked to develop the school’s new profile and offers. Among
One of the main pillars of Rydhave Slots Efterskole’s approach to learning is the principle that students should take responsibility for their own learning. This means that while the teacher is responsible for teaching, the student bears the responsibility for learning. At the beginning of the year, all students write down a “contract” defining the ambitions for their stay and how he or she will work to achieve these in the best possible way. Another essential component of the school’s innovative learning environment
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is the 4MAT teaching principle. All classes at the school are taught according to this principle, which focuses on the students’ individual approach to acquiring knowledge. “Quite simply, students will be offered an unprecedented level of educational differentiation. The school knows and takes the consequence of the fact that many students have so far been trained to sit for an exam instead of learning how to learn,” explains the principal, adding: “Our students are provided with the knowledge and skills to set goals, build and maintain motivation, as well as read a lot and read deeply. They learn physically that practice makes perfect, and they are allowed to express themselves freely.” Preparing to take on the world Rydhave Slots Efterskole is one of 36 schools in Denmark to offer the University of Cambridge International Examinations. Many bilingual students choose this option, which provides them with qualifications recognised by universities and employers all over the world. But it is not just the students in the international programmes who
get to meet the world. During a normal school year all students participate in intercultural trips to Berlin and Holland, and a smaller number choose to participate in separately funded development projects in countries such as Tanzania. The yearly trips also include a skiing trip for all students to Obertauern in Austria. Besides this, sports courses, in particular the elite Badminton course, which attracts some of Denmark’s
best young players, sees students travelling far and wide to participate in international tournaments. This year the school’s girls have, on their own initiative, taken upon them the responsibility of planning a trip to London. For more information, please visit: www.rydhave.dk
Rydhave Slots Efterskole offers three main
On top of the three major programmes the
programmes within the official 9th and 10th
school offers a wide range of optional courses,
grade curriculum:
such as English, Fitness, Music and Cooking as
- The Design course offers students the
well as a number of evening classes.
opportunity to explore the subjects of: Motor
Students share rooms with one or two fellow
and Metal, Tailor and Design, and Wood and
students. The girls live in the old castle’s main
Forging.
buildings and the boys in adjoining wings.
- The Sports course offers students the opportunity to build on their strengths within Football, elite Badminton, Adventure Sport and Horsemanship. - The International course gives students the chance to travel, interact with students from
Many of the school’s teachers are also residents at the school. The school is located 14 kilometres from the town of Holsterbro and 100 kilometres from Aarhus.
abroad and take part in global development projects.
TOP LEFT & MIDDLE: Motor and Metal students at Rydhave Slots Efterskole’s can test their work on the school’s motor cross track. TOP RIGHT: Students at Rydhave Slots Efterskole get to see the world; the yearly international excursions include a skiing trip for all students to Obertauern in Austria. BELOW: This year’s students can choose from two new sport majors, Horsemanship and Adventure Sport.
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LEFT: Bjerget Efterskole is located just six kilometres from the sea, and surfing is among the sports on offer as part of the school’s Adventure programme. MIDDLE: With main subjects such as Sound (music), Science, Author and Adventure, Bjerget Efterskole gives students a chance to dedicate themselves to their passions. RIGHT: After school, students at Bjerget Efterskole can use the school’s facilities such as the sports hall, climbing wall and music room.
Express yourself With just 70 pupils and classes half the size of many other schools, Bjerget Efterskole is loved for its homely and intimate atmosphere. Despite housing a small and tight community, the school embraces individuality and diversity in everything from academic level to physical ability. By Signe Hansen | Photos: Bjerget Efterskole
For years solidarity and unity have been the keywords at most of Denmark’s efterskoler. But Bjerget Efterskole has turned the old “solidarity ideology” upside down. Insisting that developing, defining and expressing yourself is part of the process that enables you to participate in, and contribute to, society, the school is creating solidarity by encouraging individuality. “Instead of creating individuals through solidarity we create solidarity through individuals. It’s not just about creating a community: it’s about creating individualistic young people who want to be part of that community,” explains principal Steffen Krøyer. The focus on the intertwined nature of individual development and group dynamics saturates almost every aspect of life at
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Bjerget Efterskole. The school’s main subjects, Author, Adventure, Science, Sound and Bjerget 10, are all based on an individual learning process which can benefit from as well as contribute to a larger group. "Take our Author course for instance; writing is the expression of an individual process, but the best way to improve it is through feedback from others,” explains Krøyer. Bjerget Efterskole also strives to attract pupils of diverse academic levels and social classes. Some students come from families of academics and professionals while other kids have no family or resources at all. “We are a small school because we need to be a small school. We don’t want to have a lot of divisions and
smaller groups and our size ensures that we don’t. It ensures that our pupils meet people who see things differently than themselves,” explains the principal and adds: “We believe that they can all learn something from each other. Students, for instance, who have always found school easy might very well learn something about work discipline and the necessity of doing homework from the students who have always had to work hard just to keep up.” Bjerget Efterskole also has a number of spaces reserved for disabled students.
Bjerget Efterskole is located in northwest Jutland between the Limfjord and North Sea, approximately one hour from Aalborg. The school employs 15 teachers. The school’s 70 students share a room two and two. The rooms are split into halls of around 15 students.
For more information, please visit: www.bjerget.dk
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Aabybro tries to give its students as many different social and cultural experiences as possible, helping them develop as people and prepare for the wider world.
Individuality in the community “It’s important to keep in mind that an efterskole is not just a school, but a home,” says Thorsten Matthiesen, the principal of Aabybro Efterskole. “Of course, Aabybro teaches you traditional academic subjects and sports, but life here also gives you many broader life skills, such as communication, self-discipline and thriving within many different social groups.”
come experts in them,” Matthiesen explains; “we can offer students courses they wouldn’t usually find at school, such as skiing, science, international studies, or even trampoline and tumbling.”
By Louise Older Steffensen | Photos: Aabybro Efterskole
While learning the ins and outs of their subjects, students build transferable skills that they can use for the rest of their lives. Skiing majors also learn how to instruct others, for example, while students on the international line study advanced English and German, and travel to the US. All students go on at least one trip abroad to expand their cultural horizons, and the school also works with outside experts, including a top female football team. “As a school, it’s crucial we move with the times both in terms of education and facilities,” Matthiesen adds; “we want students to leave us ready both for further education and for future life in general.”
Aabybro Efterskole is a large continuation school in northern Jutland. Students are 1418 years old, and Aabybro is usually their first experience of life away from home. There is therefore a strong emphasis on community spirit to help everyone acclimatise. “We pride ourselves on being able to foster one large, harmonious social group where every student’s personality can shine through, using students’ unique backgrounds in a positive way to help them grow.” Students live together 24/7, which helps pupils form deep, strong bonds much quicker than at other types of school. Students are encouraged to form friendships across all ages and backgrounds, and every morning features an hour’s worth of
collective music, singing and games to create a friendly and inspiring atmosphere. Students also set up events ranging from harvest festivals to gala nights, and they can make use of the school’s top-class sports and technology facilities during their free time. Self-discipline and responsibility are picked up naturally both inside and outside the classroom. Everyone studies general subjects such as mathematics and Danish, and can add additional subjects of interest, but students also specialise in one or two particular skills which they develop with support from expert teachers. “Thanks to the size of the school we’re able to take some slightly less usual subjects and be-
For more information, please visit: www.aabybroefterskole.dk
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Sportsefterskolen SINE is known among pupils for its great opportunities to socialise and make friends for life.
A serious approach to sports and fun At Sportsefterskolen SINE youngsters get a lifetime’s worth of experience while being academically, mentally and physically prepared for the future. The sports school is not only known for its extraordinary sports facilities and high academic level, but also its international breadth. By Signe Hansen | Photos: Sportsefterskolen SINE
Founded in Løgumkloster in Southern Jutland in 1997, Sportsefterskolen SINE is a new and modern school in all respects. Today, the school houses around two hundred 9th and 10th grade students, who immerse themselves in their favourite sports. But the school’s focus on sports does not mean that students are not academically focused – on the contrary, says principal Rene Jacobsen. “When you look at the discipline needed to play any sport on a high level, it is something which can and does rub off on students’ academic achievements. We try to teach students how to transfer the discipline from the
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sports hall to the classroom. Obviously not everyone will become a professional athlete, but they will still be able to use the lessons they learned through their sport; it will be part of their DNA and their work ethic.” The academic achievements of the pupils at Sportsefterskolen SINE have proved the principal right: the school is among the top ten in the country when it comes to average grades, and 90 per cent of students go on to take part in advanced secondary education.
An international profile While pupils at Sportsefterskolen SINE study subjects in the Danish curriculum, the school also offers several opportunities to add a broader and more international base for further studies. For grade 10, an international class is taught 100 per cent in English – enabling students from abroad to take part. Furthermore, the school, as one of 36 Danish schools, offers the opportunity of studying towards the internationally recognised Cambridge International Examinations. “While many of our students choose us because of our school’s many sports offers and great social life, parents focus more on our high academic levels and the opportunity for students to add another 25 per cent to their 9th or 10th grade by taking the Cambridge Examinations. We also have many students who have been living
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abroad with their parents,“ explains Jacobsen and adds: “All the teachers teaching the course are native English speakers so it is really something that prepares students if they want to move on to international schools and universities later.” The Cambridge International Examinations give students access to International Baccalaureates all over the world. Seeing the world Badminton, dance, football, fitness, handball, golf, and extreme and adventure sports are all among the sports offered at Sportsefterskolen SINE. The school, which is surrounded by some of Denmark’s most beautiful nature, boasts a wide range of facilities including several sports halls, game pitches, an outdoor swimming pool, tennis courts and even a driving range. “All our sports programmes offer the best possible facilities. For our new golf class we have established a driving range and a small area for playing. Apart from that, students will play on the courses of nearby golf clubs and as a feature absolutely unique to our school we can, thanks to a sponsorship from ECCO, offer students the chance to play in ECCO’s huge indoor golf hall. It is one of the best winter facilities in Europe and it means that students will not have to rely on computer simulations but can practise in real life all year round,” Jacobsen stresses.
Sportsefterskolen SINE offers eight sport majors: badminton, dance, football (girls and boys), adventure sport, fitness, handball and golf. The school also offers two international classes for 10th grade students. The classes are taught in English and can be attended by foreign students without a Danish language background. Students live in four-pupil rooms, creating a warm and homely atmosphere, while three teachers are responsible for each house to provide a contact for parents. The school is located in Løgumkloster in
On top of the great facilities at the school, students will also get to experience one of the international hotspots for their particular sport. For example, boys following the school’s football programme visit Liverpool, home to Liverpool FC, while the football girls travel to Atlanta. Badminton pupils will similarly fly to Beijing, and dance and basketball students go to New York.
Southern Jutland, close to the border of Germany and approximately one hour from Kolding and Esbjerg.
RIGHT: Sportsefterskolen SINE offers unique training facilities for its new golf class including the opportunity to play on one of Europe’s best indoor golf courses.
For more information, please visit: www.sine.dk
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Through personal and educational enhancement the students who go to Vandel Efterskole change dramatically throughout the year they are there.
A year can make all the difference Situated between Vejle and Billund, Vandel Efterskole offers students the opportunity to engage in new disciplines, whilst also maintaining a high academic standard. Students are given a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet new people and develop their own persona, at the tender age of 14 and 15. By Josefine Older Steffensen | Photos: Vandel Efterskole
Efterskoler (roughly translated to “after schools”) are very common in Denmark and provide teaching for children aged 1418. Most people choose to go to these schools when they are at GCSE level, and before starting gymnasium (A-levels) or other further education. It provides students with the opportunity to look into areas that they are interested in, such as sports, music and theatre, which are not always offered through traditional schools. Vandel Efterskole can accommodate 138 pupils, who will live and study at the school for the year that they are there.
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The personal and the educational “The personal development is just as important as the educational development,”
says Lars Mortensen, the principal at Vandel. “We want to raise the students both on an academic level, and a personal level.” The educational level challenges students and makes them achieve more, through different subjects such as football, handball, design, music and theatre, whilst also including the traditional subjects such as Danish, English and maths. But Mortensen also wants
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the students to develop on a personal level. Throughout the year the students live with people they will – most likely – never have met before. They experience new ideas and new people and have to find out where they stand within this community. “If you want to develop personally, you have to experience other people and other ways of living,” Mortensen says. He tells an anecdote of a student who went to the efterskole and thoroughly enjoyed it, but who, like many, was also experiencing the classic teenage issues at home. After he had spent a few months at Vandel, he said that his parents had become “so mature” in the time he had been at efterskole. Although the students may not realise it themselves, they are constantly changing and developing as people. Mixing up an education There are two school years offered at Vandel Efterskole: the 9th year and 10th year. Traditional schools in Denmark finish their education after the 9th year, after which you will do a final exam, much like GCSEs. This system is the same at Vandel; however the students have a chance to study less traditional subjects here, such as theatre and design, whilst also maintaining a high level of knowledge in the
traditional subjects. Vandel Efterskole has decided to change things for the 10th year. This is not a compulsory year for Danes, but it’s a year that many people will choose to do – most likely at an efterskole. Currently, the Vandel school year encompasses around 20 short, but intense, courses. The students have a choice of 80 courses, whilst also being able to choose between football, handball, design, music and theatre. Every course takes about three to four weeks, and allows the students to choose subjects that are relevant to what they might want to do later on in life. There will still be exams at the end of the year, but much of the work will be project-led, teaching vital skills that will help students later on in their career. Students who have completed their 10th year have found that they have had an advantage in further education, compared to those who have not taken this path. As Mortensen says: “Knowledge is only worth something once it’s been dispersed.”
deserved breakfast afterwards and students are ready for the day ahead: an energy-requiring 8am to 5pm schedule. Unlike traditional schools, the days include plenty of subjects encouraging social interaction, such as sports and theatre, providing every person at the school with lifelong friendships. By living with each other and growing up with each other for a year, the students get to know each other on a different level than they would otherwise. The school also teaches students that they should not judge a book by its cover, and many comment at the end of the year that those they are closest to are people they would never normally have tried to become friends with. Through personal and educational enhancement the students who go to Vandel Efterskole change dramatically throughout the year they are there. They are more engaged with the world and themselves, and have encountered people and experiences that wouldn’t otherwise have been part of their world.
Long days providing friends for life Getting up at 06.50am to go for a walk might not seem like everyone’s dream start to the day, but that is common practice at Vandel. However, add some well-
For more information, please visit: www.vandelefterskole.dk
Currently, the Vandel school year encompasses around 20 short, but intense, courses. The students have a choice of 80 courses, whilst also being able to choose between football, handball, design, music and theatre.
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Many students from abroad, with or without Danish backgrounds, are attracted by SKALs’ International Project Class as well as the Cambridge-approved IGCSE classes.
Prepare for an international future It is no coincidence that as many as 97 per cent of students continue on to a post-secondary education after a year at SKALs Efterskole [SKALs International Boarding School]. The school, which offers the International General Certificate of Secondary Education, strives to give its Danish and international students both a personal and educational journey. The approach has earned it the highest grade average of its region.
ademic – the languages, knowledge and so on; and the social – the ability to interact as an individual with people different from yourself. We want to give our students both.”
By Signe Hansen | Photos: SKALs Efterskole
An international set of skills
Founded in central Jutland in 1990, SKALs Efterskole had the ambition to provide an alternative to the then majority of free boarding schools focusing on personal development and social interaction. SKALs Efterskole’s founders wanted to combine these traditional efterskole ideals with more tangible preparation for students’ continued professional and academic lives. From this ambition the school’s current international profile naturally germinated, captured in the slogan “the world must be conquered every day”.
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“What we mean by this is that we have to relate to, and choose how to relate to the world every day. As a young person today, you have to realize that you are part of a generation that, to a much greater extent than previous generations, must be able to conduct themselves professionally and socially all over the world,” principal Sven Primdal explains, and adds: “A cultural ABC, the ability to move in, and understand, different cultures will be essential, and requires two sets of competences: the ac-
Of the 144 students enrolled annually at SKALs Efterskole, one-third choose to study and take the examination in the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE). The class, which is approved by the University of Cambridge, gives access to the International Baccalaureate (IB), which is offered by 14 Danish gymnasia, as well as numerous educational institutions all over the world. Furthermore, if students take the 10th grade IGCSE, the exam qualifies them to skip one year of the Danish three-year version of the IB.
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The IGCSE subjects are taught in English, and the course is attended by both Danish and international students with global ambitions. Some of the school’s growing number of non-Danish students, however, enrol in SKALs’ International Project Class, an exam-free, project-based class taught in English. “This class attracts students of high academic levels from both Denmark and abroad, students who want to explore other ways to work with their competences and improve their media, communication and presentation skills,” explains Primdal, adding: “Our aim is to prepare our students not just for their further education but also for their role as global citizens.” The different programmes all take annual study trips to Cambridge, UK; Limerick, Ireland; Hanoi, Vietnam; or Nepal. Students from all classes travel together to Berlin. Wanting to learn Students enrolled on SKALs Efterskole’s regular 9th and 10th grade programmes are divided into several smaller subgroups of varying academic levels and teaching styles across different subjects. All classes have a strong academic focus and aim to prepare students for the specific line of post-secondary study they wish to pursue. This does not, however, mean that it is all about books, stresses Primdal. “SKALs Efterskole is not a rigidly academic school where we pace our students through hard subjects. On the contrary, it’s about involving both your head and your heart. Being a student here is not about being academically strong: it’s about wanting to be.” All students have to spend at least one hour daily doing homework, but the school, which is located just a 15-minute bus ride from the regional capital Viborg, also offers an array of possible afterschool activities such as swimming, kayaking and tennis.
For more information, please visit: www.skals-efterskole.dk
At a glance: SKALs Efterskole is located in Skals, a town of approximately 2,000 inhabitants, 14 kilometres from Viborg and 78 kilometres from Aarhus. SKALs Efterskole’s 144 students share four-bed dormitory rooms; students can choose between single- or mixed-gender floors. SKALs Efterskole offers a 9th and 10th grade education based on the students’ different learning approaches and academic levels as well as an English-language, project-based 10th grade with no examinations, and Cambridge classes (9th and 10th grades). SKALs Efterskole is among just a handful of schools in Denmark offering the entire IGCSE curriculum and, furthermore, is the Danish headquarters for IGCSE-approved education in Denmark.
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Instead of compulsory subjects, the students get to choose all of their subjects themselves at Agerskov Ungdomsskole.
The time of your life If you are considering what continuation school to choose, you might want to take a closer look at Agerskov Ungdomsskole in southern Denmark. Lots of travelling, an IT-innovative way of teaching, great sports facilities and the opportunity to choose your own subjects are just some of the things the school offers you within a year – a year they aim to make the time of your life. By Nicolai Lisberg | Photos: Kim / Agerskov Ungdomsskole
Many continuation schools want to give their students lots of responsibility for their own development, but only a few do it to such an extent as Agerskov Ungdomsskole. Instead of compulsory subjects, the students get to choose all of their subjects themselves. “We wish to give our students an opportunity to try out a lot of different things. We want to challenge them to discover new talents, because I don’t believe 15 or 16-year-old kids know what they are actually capable of at this age. Every year we witness someone who finds out what they are actually good at, whether it’s singing, acting
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or playing football. They just didn’t know they were. We believe in versatility, and that’s why we want to help students explore their potential,“ says Lars Kristensen, principal at Agerskov Ungdomsskole. Every year the school welcomes 135 new students. Besides getting to choose their own subjects, they also have the privilege of doing sports in top facilities. Football, handball, gymnastics and swimming are among the sports offered, where you can improve your skills.
“To make sure we offer the best practice possible, we have assigned people externally. So if you are great at football or handball you will get a coach who has played at a high level and knows everything in their field about new training methods. Also, if you are a competitive swimmer we have our very own indoor swimming pool, where you will be able to stay in good shape as we offer up to five hours of practice a week,” explains Kristensen, and adds that Agerskov Ungdomsskole also offers a wide range of creative subjects. For instance a class called ‘hand-made’, where the students get to design clothes and bags for themselves. iPads instead of books The school, which was founded in 1919, is the oldest in southern Denmark, but that does not make the school old in its way of thinking – on the contrary. Last year,
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Agerskov Ungdomsskole tried out a new innovative project: at the beginning of the year every student bought an iPad and used this as a replacement for traditional schoolbooks. “The iPad project turned out to be a great success, so we continued teaching by only using this. We got a very good response from our students last year who found the lessons more interesting than the ones they were used to. We want to connect with the young people on a platform they find exciting and that is why we try to be innovative in our way of teaching,” says Kristensen. Exploring different cultures The academic level at Agerskov Ungdomsskole is important, but so is the so-
cial aspect. The students are responsible for creating a strong community with each other, but also to make relations outside of Denmark with young people their own age. In order to do so the school offers four trips to European locations each year. Two of them are included in the price when you enrol at the school. This year students went to either Dublin, London, Alpe d’Huez, Barcelona or Iceland, depending on what subject they had chosen. The entire school will also go on a ski trip to France. The students also have the opportunity to join a trip to Berlin, as well as getting a diving certificate while in Egypt. Kristensen ensures that these travels are
about much more than just sightseeing and having fun. “On these trips our students meet other students and get to know their everyday life. The ambition is to get to know different cultures and different ways of being young. We often use sports to get to know the culture. In Dublin our students tried to play Gaelic football, and in Barcelona they played football against a local team. It’s okay to see tourist attractions while being there, but the important thing is the cultural exchange.”
For more information, please visit: www.agerskovungdomsskole.dk
ABOVE LEFT: The students are responsible for creating a strong community with each other, but also to make relations outside of Denmark with young people their own age. ABOVE RIGHT: Agerskov Ungdomsskole, which was founded in 1919, is the oldest in southern Denmark, but teaching is innovative and technology-oriented.
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Kristian Ikponmvosa (front, left) and his classmates launching a homemade raft.
Experiences and friends for life A year filled with sports, music, trips abroad, an ambitious education and time for contemplation is just the compulsory part of the programme that makes Sædding Efterskole a popular place for teenagers to finish their time in secondary school. Then come the closeness, the friendships and the countless extracurricular activities that ensure that the school buildings are rarely empty at the weekends. By Marjorie Mendieta | Photos: Sædding Efterskole
The Danish continuation schools are boarding schools focusing on friendships and personal development. The schools offer 9th and 10th grade secondary school students the chance of a lifetime, while simultaneously offering a change of scene. Situated near Skjern in western Jutland, Sædding Efterskole was inaugurated in 1974 – making 2014 the year of its fortieth anniversary. Its Christian core values and international focus is a sought-after combination. Each year, the school hosts around 70 students. The intimate and closely-knit community on the school premises promotes close friendships and
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an exceptional spirit of togetherness, and the school takes pride in the recurring praise it receives from former students.
Uncompromising values The school values are rooted firmly in Bible-believing Evangelical Lutheran Christianity, and values like equality, acceptance and respect are most important in the way students are met. “At Sædding, everyone has a say regardless of their background, and everyone has their unique way of contributing to the community,” says Rasmus Houler, the school principal for the last 5 years. The students
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and school staff are encouraged to meet each other at eye level. Christianity plays a great role in the everyday life at the school. Devotions and hymns are part of the schedule, Sundays and other ecclesiastical holidays are celebrated, and the staff are active believers who want to present Jesus to the students and show the relevancy of Christianity to the life of modern day teenagers. The school adopts a zero-tolerance bullying policy, and alcohol and smoking is off limits on the school premises. Sex between pupils is not accepted, and the boy and girl dormitories are situated in separate wings. A fit mind in a fit body The philosophy of Sædding Efterskole is that a healthy body is the basis for a sound mind. A compulsory morning jog is included in the school schedule three times a week, and for school excursions the bicycle is always the chosen means of transportation. The school kitchen provides for a healthy (and delicious) diet, and the list of optional subjects is a veritable profusion in physical education and sports. The school volleyball and football teams enter competition level tournaments against other schools each year.
With these basics in place, the scene is set for the school’s main service: the providing of professional education, and Sædding Efterskole also documents that it can deliver in terms of this objective. Naturally, the schedule covers the complete spectrum of compulsory subjects for Danish 9th and 10th grade school years. In addition, as part of the school’s specific tradition, it offers highly profiled courses in the fields of sports, music, international studies, advanced English and Bible classes, and it boasts exam grades well above the national average. International outlook Principal Houler takes special pride in the international outlook of the school and its teachers. An obligatory part of the school year at Sædding is the biannual opportunities to travel abroad. The winter months feature a ski trip, while the spring semester promises a week in one of the capitals or major cities of Europe. That is unless one opts for the school’s “World Wide” programme, which guarantees a trip to another continent. Most classes are conducted in Danish, but students for whom Danish is a second language receive extra Danish courses. Among the students are immigrants and students from Greenland and the Faeroe
Islands. One of the strengths of the continuation school is its special catering to pupils with only a limited knowledge of the Danish language, as Russo-Nigerian Kristian Ikponmvosa can testify. “The teachers always take the time to explain things and are very helpful with grammar,” says the young man who had only recently moved to Denmark when attending Sædding. “It’s a relief to study and live in a student community that is not shy to talk about faith,” says Kristian, adamant that the daily devotions and Sunday services with the school have meant immensely much to him as a person. Naturally, the students’ different backgrounds stimulate a great diversity in the student group, and the realms of music, theatricals and the Bible itself are as universal as it gets. The formula behind the profound impressions that a year at a continuation school almost always leaves on a young person, cannot be grasped or explained in a few words. It has to be lived. Nothing does a better job of summing it up than the official motto of Sædding Efterskole: “Excitement for Life”. For more information, please visit: www.saedding.dk
The intimate and closely-knit community on the school premises promotes close friendships and an exceptional spirit of togetherness.
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For the love of sport Between the forests of Funen and the strait of Lillebælt, Strib Idrætsefterskole gives pupils the opportunity to focus on sports they love. However, the balance between sport and academic learning is crucial. By Tina Nielsen | Photos: Strib Idrætsefterskole
While many efterskoler in Denmark have grown to accommodate more than 150 pupils, Strib Idrætsefterskole takes pride in remaining relatively small, accommodating just 123 pupils. “It creates intimacy, comfort and security, and it means that everybody knows each other very well, both students and staff,” says school manager Ole-Kristian Warthoe. At Strib the focus is firmly on sport and physical education. At the start of the school year all students choose one of four sports that they commit to throughout the year. The options are handball, football, badminton and sailing. Furthermore, all pupils have compulsory Danish, English and maths lessons, and they also have the option to study additional academic subjects like physics, Spanish and German. This year the school has introduced even more options including communications, innovation and IT. Young people choose Strib because it allows
them to engage with their favourite sport at a high level, but Warthoe says there is an equal emphasis on the more academic subjects. “We are clear on the fact that we are an academic school. Our job is to ensure that the young people are well equipped when they leave us and continue their education in society,” he explains. “They need to be skilled on all levels – socially and academically as well as on a sporting level.” He believes that the fact that students are allowed to spend so much time on their favourite sport improves their academic performance. “It makes pupils happy and content and it means that they are motivated in the classroom,” says Warthoe. For more information, please visit: www.stribidraetsefterskole.dk
Practise what you teach Diversity, quality and passionate teaching are the backbone of Staby Efterskole. By Ann Bille Simonsen | Photo: Staby Efterskole
“If you want someone to be passionate about something, you have to show them the way,” Anders Boll Mikkelsen, principal at Staby Efterskole, says enthusiastically. The same phrase, in a shorter and perhaps more poetic form, was engraved in the wooden rostrum in 1932 by the wife of the principal at the time. This is the philosophy the school has practised for over 90 years, and it still applies. "Our teachers are all of a high professional level, and they are extremely passionate about teaching,” Boll Mikkelsen says. Good teachers are important
for a school that basically teaches their students a lesson for life. Staby Efterskole is an academic school, with great focus on gymnastics, various ball games and music. “And of course all the other stuff,” as Boll Mikkelsen says, including climbing, obtaining a hunting permit, and drama classes to name a few of the wide variety of subjects from which the students can pick and choose. “The students who come here have broad interests – they are the kind who want to try and do lots of different things,” he says,
adding: “With us, they can basically design their own programme.” With 180 students in years eight to 10, Staby Efterskole is one of the biggest of its kind, but the principal’s aim is to give it a “small school feel”: “We do our best to make the students feel at home, and we want the students to know each other. Community and a good atmosphere is important here too,” Boll Mikkelsen says.
Students in years four to seven can get a taste of the Efterskole life for three days in August at Camp Staby.
For more information, please visit: www.stabyefterskole.dk
LEFT: The academic subjects are in focus at Staby Efterskole (Sofie Sjøstrand and teacher Charlotte Falkenberg Sloth, pictured). MIDDLE: The school offers a range of ball games, for instance volleyball (Michael Gad, pictured). RIGHT: Camp Staby, a taste of the Efterskole-life for students in year four to seven.
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TOP RIGHT: The school puts on 20 shows each year, performed by all 170 students. RIGHT: The school upgraded its facilities in 2009. Here: the new tumble hall.
Where there’s a will, there’s a way “The sky is the limit” is one of the mottos of Skyum Idrætsefterskole in north Jutland. The gymnastic-focused sports school believes in setting a high bar for its students. By Ann Bille Simonsen | Photos: Skyum Idrætsefterskole
“We are ambitious on our students’ behalf,” principal Hanne Haldrup explains, “but we also expect discipline, as we believe that’s a good foundation for the students’ wellbeing.” This philosophy seems to agree with the students. Former student Emma Cecilie Voxnæs Søndergaard explains how it provided a sense of security to her, when she started her school year. “To rappel from a 43-metre high tower is no big deal, but waving goodbye to my mum on my first day here, that was tough. What made it easier was the structure here – I loved that they made sure I always knew what to do.” Gymnastics as the team builder At Skyum Idrætsefterskole the students get to experience the Danish gymnastics tradition. Gymnastics is mandatory; and four times a week they practise strength, jumps, rhythm and balance. The school is
renowned for its big, professional gymnastic shows – 20 during a school year – with all students included. Current student Astrid Damsgaard, 16, recalls when she saw one of the shows a few years ago. “I was hooked, as soon as I saw the show,” she says, thinking back on why she chose Skyum Idrætsefterskole. “The teamwork and unity you felt when they blew the audience away with their show was just amazing. I knew then and there I wanted to be part of that!” “One of the biggest reasons why our students come here is the school spirit,” the principal says. Gymnastics is a big part of that – but it’s not necessary in order to have great experience when joining Skyum Idrætsefterskole. “Of our 170 students, 100 will typically not have done gymnastics before,” Haldrup estimates.
Besides gymnastics, the students are able to choose their own sport as a major focus, for example badminton, football or handball – and then there are a number of optional subjects. The students are able to practise their own sport as well as trying out new things. “It’s no doubt a tough year with a high tempo and a high level of activity – but it’s a year where they will grow a lot and get tons of experience,” the principal concludes.
Principal Hanne Haldrup
For more information, please visit: www.skyum.dk
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A place to learn, live and laugh Salling Efterskole, situated in beautiful Danish landscape, offers the opportunity to enjoy a fruitful year of experiences with new friends, whilst learning everything you need for further education.
By Josefine Older Steffensen | Photos: Salling Efterskole
“Everyone should get a good deal,” says principal Leif Lundsgaard, “and with football, fitness/adventure, handball, rhythmic gymnastics, gymnastics, music, animation and media design and design, there is a something for everyone.” Along with choosing one of these main subjects, students also have to maintain a high level in the usual subjects, such as Danish, English and maths. Unlike other efterskoler, Salling
have chosen to maintain a broad range of subjects, meaning there is something for everyone. However, it is not all about the academics, it is also about the social experiences. Living side-by-side for a year, the students make friends for life. Lundsgaard says that “diversity is a strength” and that the students realise this early on when confronted with people they would never normally have met. It’s important
Efterskole life is not all about the academics – it is also about the social experiences.
that the students feel safe and comfortable with each other and within the school. With the multitude of events happening throughout the year, and a leaving gala at the end of the year, there are plenty of opportunities to socialise outside of lessons. “You shouldn’t develop into something, but instead develop into someone,” says Lundsgaard about the individual journey that the students make. They are there to learn, both on an academic level and a personal level. In the end they leave the school a more wholesome person than when they arrived. For more information, please visit: www.salling-efterskole.dk
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LEFT: Climbing on Bornholm. Former student Jesper Skau (in the back) with teacher Jacob Oddershede. MIDDLE TOP: The ‘Outdoor’ girls kayaking at Vemmingbund. MIDDLE ABOVE: Former student Lars Rossen on a wire bridge. RIGHT: ‘Aqua’ is one of the courses you can choose. Here: student Anne Jørgensen on a kneeboard.
We make learning an adventure “Everyone has at least one ‘world championship’ in them”, is the assumption at Adventure Efterskolen. Through mud, sweat and adrenaline the students get valuable experiences of success to last a lifetime. By Ann Bille Simonsen | Photos: Adventure Efterskolen
Surrounded by water and forests in southern Denmark, Adventure Efterskolen has the perfect setting for the adventurous in water sports, outdoor sports, bike racing and fitness. “The courses we offer are designed to push the student’s boundaries,” explains teacher Sally Flindt. The activities often take place outdoors, which at times can be cold, wet and muddy. “We have the most interesting nature around us – but it can be extremely demanding at times.” “You can’t be afraid of getting dirty here,” 16-year-old student Louise Vibe says. She chose the school because she was bored at her regular school, and as an active girl she was longing for something more physically and mentally challenging.
Not just teachers Besides the specific competences, such as obtaining a climbing, diving or fitness instructor certificate, the school offers the students some valuable social skills. “We teach them how to handle social conflicts and to be team players,” Flindt says, “and you get to know ‘the adults’ on another level here.” Vibe agrees: “The teachers here are not just our teachers, they are our friends too.” “You get to know your teachers on another level when you are tucked in by your German teacher, make dinner with your maths teacher and get laundry tips from your Danish teacher. That is something that divides us very much from a regular school. The teachers are our school’s greatest asset,” Flindt states.
The hidden adventure The adventures at the school lead to more than the initial adrenaline rush. “The parents are basically picking up a different person at the end of the year,” Vibe says. “Ultimately, what the students learn here is the ability to handle things themselves, and take responsibility for their own lives. And our adventure courses support that. This is where they test their boundaries, how far they can actually go, and learn their strengths,” Flindt says. “They never thought they would race 400km in a week, or live outdoors in the snow for four days – and that is where the adventure really lies – in finding out what you can master,” Flindt says enthusiastically.
For more information, please visit: www.adventure-efterskolen.dk
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From above, the campus looks like a small village. Around 1,000 students and staff members are in residence at any given time.
Preparing for a brighter future When someone mentions Fame, Dead Poets’ Society, Dangerous Minds, or the Harry Potter series of books and films, all sorts of classroom images come to mind. It is natural for us to then reminisce about our own school experiences. Most of us have at least one teacher, school administrator, or coach who was integral in our development as a person and who helped us realise what we wanted to do professionally. At Oure College of Sports & Performing Arts, the highly varied and inspirational staff do just this. By Kathleen Newlove | Photos: Christian Larsen
Not only do teachers and staff help students with the development of their professional future, but students leave the school with a solid educational foundation, encompassing teamwork, strong community values, and respect for other individuals.
Various sports fields sprawl across this safe and secure campus that is dotted with many different residences where anywhere from seven to 16 students share their living space and learn how to coexist. This independent, non-profit, so-called “free school” has a strong set of values and is part of the official Danish school system.
Embodying a strong set of values Oure College of Sports & Performing Arts is located between Zealand and Jutland on the southern portion of the island of Funen.
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“We want to help these young people with their competency in entering the real world with a solid framework of education
that will follow them throughout the rest of their lives,” explains Simon Frejvald Andersen, the school’s principal. Acquiring knowledge through sports and arts Oure College of Sports & Performing Arts provides an excellent education in music, acting, modern dance, ballet, soccer, sailing, skiing, golf, handball, adventure, board sport and horseback riding. The staff and alumni boast a plethora of Olympic medallists and national coaches, as well as internationally acclaimed musicians, actors and dancers. The school follows the education tradition of elevating sports and the arts as an important tool in the education process and in the students’ acquisition of knowledge. What makes this school unique, however, is that the curriculum is much
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more focused on the student’s specific end goal – students have more lessons in his or her specialist field than in his or her general electives. By narrowing the scope of the studies, the educators at this school are able to help the students to really focus on the area of expertise they hope to eventually master. Taking responsibility for personal and social growth A staff of over 180 people allows this school – the largest boarding school of its kind in Denmark – to always have an adult available to ensure the students’ needs are met. Despite their accessibility, the adults on campus manage to create an environment in which students learn to rely on themselves and their peers to solve problems and accept personal responsibility in dealing with each other in a respectful manner. In addition to the intensely motivating academic environment on-campus, Oure College of Sports & Performing Arts also has many different training trips to locations such as Argentina, New York, Turkey, France and Spain. Maybe you have fond memories of your formative years, or maybe the thought of reliving that time in your life makes you want to use one of Harry Potter’s spells to disappear. Regardless of whether or not you enjoyed your secondary school education, one thing is clear: given the chance to do it all over again at Oure College of Sports & Performing Arts, we would all be excited at the prospect of enjoying an amazing experience. RIGHT MIDDLE: The sea surrounding Funen offers great training for the sailing school. RIGHT BOTTOM: Students study chemical processes in the lab. FAR RIGHT FROM TOP: Strong community values are taught through games incorporating teamwork and various group exercises. The recording studio and rehearsal facilities draw musicians from all over the country. The Oure Dance Academy performs in Copenhagen. Ballet teacher, Allan Mortensen, explains proper positioning. Kite Surfing is one of the very popular sports offered.
For more information about Oure College of Sports & Performing Arts, please visit: www.oure.dk
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“The goal is to form our students into their own, internal leaders. It also reflects what life might expect of them – that they are able to communicate with people in different cultures,” says Charlotte Vest, Head of the International Department at The International.
The International – raising self-led individuals With a philosophy firmly rooted in the Danish boarding school tradition, The International has become a hub for young people wanting to improve their sports, dance, media, academic, multicultural and social skills in an international environment. Cooperating closely with the parents of their students, this acclaimed Danish boarding school encourages young people to form authentic, healthy and enduring relationships – inviting them to be the best they can be. By Julie Lindén | Photos: The International
Absolute and personal attention is another natural outcome of The International’s care for the individual. Teachers educate classes of approximately 20 students at a time, making sure to keep in touch with parents to bring them up to date on their child’s progress. And, at the only 100 per cent English-speaking boarding school in Denmark, progress is just about guaranteed in a number of disciplines. “The goal is to form our students into their own, internal leaders. It also reflects what life might expect of them – that they are able to communicate with people in different cultures,” says Charlotte Vest, Head of the International De-
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partment at The International, who emphasises that operating in one language creates a feeling of constant unity amongst all students and staff. International connections are core to The International’s teaching, where students go on trips connected to their choice of talent line. These educational visits allow students to develop a cultural understanding of the visited countries, while exchanging and developing competences with locals in a natural environment. All in all, the travels enable students to immerse themselves in cultural, historical, environmental, political and religious
matters. “We see that the students make valuable connections that not only supply them with knowledge about the world, but also in terms of further studies, jobs and personal relationships,” says Vest. The International at a glance: - An International Academy and Boarding School in Denmark - Speaking English is core to classes and daily life - Offers Cambridge IGCSE educational studies - The International´s core value system is based on the philosophy and practices of N.F.S. Grundtvig (www.grundtvig.dk) - Sports, healthy nutrition, student safety and welfare are main priorities! - Specialises in: soccer, dance, media and Cambridge Studies - Secures personal and social development for all students - Song, storytelling, dialogue, critical thinking and social engagement are part of the daily life - Has staff who can and who care! - Offers two trips to other countries - Offers a Leadership Programme
For more information, please visit: www.theinternational.dk
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An educational melting pot NGG International School in North Zealand provides 210 four- to 16-year-olds from 28 different countries with an international education emphasising responsibility, independence and respect. As a state-supported institution, the school’s fees are well below those of many other international schools. By Signe Hansen | Photos: NGG International School
In 1996, NGG International School was founded as a department of NGG (Nordsjællands Grundskole og Gymnasium), Denmark’s largest private school. Founder and headmaster Jan Thrane’s ambition was to provide the area’s many expatriate families with an affordable, challenging and morally sound international education option: “Our main ambition is to equip students with a solid work ethic, teach them to respect other people, their opinions, colour and culture. We want them to be able to talk to each other on an equal footing. As a school we see it as an important duty of ours to enlighten them on the rules and structures of a democratic society,” explains Thrane, who also earlier, in 1992, established the Danish School in London (which is today a department under the Norwegian School in Wimbledon).
Today, 210 students from kindergarten to 10th grade study at NGG International School. The students and their educators originate from over 28 countries all over the world and all lessons are taught in English. The school offers the International Primary Curriculum (IPC) and Cambridge International Exams (CIE) for secondary students. “We started out with another programme, but we wanted to ensure that our students came out with the same high academic level that we have at our Danish school, and through Cambridge’s tests we have been able to confirm that we have achieved that,” explains Thrane. The International School now functions as a separate unit from the adjoined Danish school, with its own international traditions, environment and parents’ groups.
“We only accept students from expatriate families or Danish families who have been and expect to be expatriated, not students who just wish to go to an international school. We do this because we wish to preserve the special international atmosphere that being around like-minded international students creates,” explains Thrane. Students do, however, still take part in some shared events and Danish traditions, and, as a state-supported private school, it offers all students four weekly Danish lessons at their individual levels.
For more information, please visit: www.nggid.dk
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TOP LEFT: IPC in its idyllic surroundings. TOP MIDDLE: Students enjoy a boat ride on a study trip to Africa. LEFT ABOVE: Students share healthy meals together. MIDDLE ABOVE: Music is an important part of everyday life at IPC. RIGHT: Students partake in courage-building activities to see a different point of view.
Building active global citizens Danish secondary schools are consistently ranked among the top in the world. Currently, the 65 folk high schools in Denmark enrol mostly Danish students. One of these schools, however, has a majority of foreign students, and only 15 per cent Danish students. Even though this school, International People’s College, blends into the beautiful countryside of coastal Zealand, its teachers and the education they offer definitely stand out. By Kathleen Newlove | Photos: IPC
International People’s College (IPC), the only truly international school in the Danish folk high school system, is a 45minute drive north of Copenhagen. “Since we have students and educators from all over the world, we distinguish ourselves from other folk high schools. The school is located in Denmark, but it is a place to meet the world,” explains IPC principal, Søren Launbjerg.
aware, and curious citizens of the world. “When you eat, learn, exercise, party etc. with people from the entire world, you get a global understanding and develop a way of communicating with people from foreign places. We make it possible for our students to optimise their global skills, skills that are highly regarded by universities and employers internationally,” explains Launbjerg.
IPC has an international focus, encouraging students to become active global citizens. With subjects like Global Challenges, Intercultural Communication and Human Rights & Active Global Citizenship, IPC strives to create more tolerant,
At IPC, it is a priority to inspire students to really discover their passion in life. This promotes a higher level of understanding of their studies, of other people, and ultimately, of themselves. With more than 30 subjects to choose from, including classes
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like music, photography and world cinema, IPC encourages students to challenge themselves on various levels. “When you challenge yourself, you get a better insight into who you are – a selfawareness. This is the first step towards becoming a global citizen,” concludes Launbjerg.
- IPC welcomes students over 17-and-a-half-years-old to a boarding school environment. - Semesters range between eight and 24 weeks during the year, with three-week long summer language sessions, and occasional weekend seminars. - Students come from 30 different countries, representing all continents. - All subjects are taught in English.
For more information, please visit: www.ipc.dk
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TOP LEFT: ”I wanted to test my musical skills,” Anders Stæhr, 20, says about his reason for attending the acclaimed music school. LEFT: A high percentage of the sound engineering students at The Music Conservatory come from Den Rytmiske Højskole. RIGHT: Each semester the students go on tour for a week.
Find your own beat at Den Rytmiske Højskole Figuring out your future can be a tough nut to crack. Den Rytmiske Højskole could help you to decide if music is your path. By Ann Bille Simonsen | Photos: Den Rytmiske Højskole
“I had been here for a party once and the atmosphere really appealed to me,” 21-yearold Amalie Kusk says, explaining why she decided on a four-month stay at Den Rytmiske Højskole, located in beautiful surroundings an hour by car from Copenhagen. Initially she was inspired by her mother. “It sounded so amazing when my mum talked about her folk high school,” she recalls. Ultimately, the decision to enrol at the acclaimed music school was not hard to make for Kusk, who loves music and has been singing for “a very, very long time”. Reality check The school is renowned for being a steppingstone on the way to the Rhythmic Music Conservatory or a professional life in music. Dreaming of going professional is
not a must, however, explains principal Lars Gjerlufsen. "Some of our students already know that they are heading in another direction, but just want to dedicate a few months to their music hobby before embarking on their studies. Others come here to figure out if their wings can fly – if they are really prepared for a life with so much practising every day – which a professional life in music demands. They have the opportunity to test that here.”
here,” he says, referring to the music as well as the alternative motive for his stay: developing his social competencies. Kusk agrees that she has learned a lot about herself too, for instance where to set her boundaries. At first, however, she was overwhelmed by constantly being amongst so many people. “But when I managed to find the right balance between being social and having some alone time, it was just great. The best thing about the school is being surrounded by all these amazing, creative people – and with people you might not like, you can still meet them through the music.”
Finding the right balance 20-year-old Anders Stæhr was in doubt whether to go for the music or to choose the engineering path. "I've always played a lot of music, and I wanted to test myself musically one last time, before making my final decision. I’ve learned so much
Principal Lars Gjerlufsen joined the school shortly after its founding in 1991.
For more information, please visit: www.drh.dk
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TOP LEFT: With every three- to five-month-long programme at Nørgaard Højskole, you get the opportunity to experience Berlin (pictured), as well as New York. MIDDLE: You are part of a community whilst you’re here, and you learn key skills about others and yourself that you’ll use for the rest of your life,” says PR Manager Jan Bo Rasmussen. RIGHT: Principal Vibeke Hundborg
A hands-on experience of Denmark, whilst doing something you love Everyone knows someone who has been unsure of what they were going to do once they finished their schooling. Plans of travelling and experiencing other cultures develop, and the money starts dwindling out of the pockets. Behold Nørgaard Højskole – the school that offers a fabulous opportunity to get hands-on experience of Danish culture, whilst also offering trips to Norway, Berlin and New York. By Josefine Older Steffensen | Photos: Nørgaard Højskole
Nørgaard Højskole is situated in the town of Bjerringbro, close to Viborg and Aarhus. It was founded in 1955 and today has nine major subjects that the 60-90 students (of which a third are international) can choose from: Photography, Music, Musician/Singer, Film Acting, Sport&Cross, Write!, Dance, Art and Outdoor.
“Open-mindedness, tolerance and receptivity towards everyone are key factors within Nørgaard Højskole,” says PR Manager Jan Bo Rasmussen. “You are part of a community whilst you’re here, and you learn key skills about others and yourself that you’ll use for the rest of your life.”
Open-mindedness, tolerance and receptivity
Travel as an essential
Out of these nine you choose two, with an additional range of minor subjects, such as football, improvising theatre and art & design (there are up to 25 different minor subjects to choose from). All the subjects are in Danish, but are translated into English as needed, while tutoring in Danish is also offered at the school.
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With every three- to five-month-long programme at this liberal boarding school, you get the opportunity to experience Berlin and New York. Berlin is a joint trip with all the other students, whereas New York is more catered towards the subjects that you have chosen, and gives you the chance to put theory into practice. For those choosing the very popular Outdoor
course, there is also a trip to Norway where you get to experience the beautiful Scandinavian nature full scale. Highly qualified professionals run the different subject courses at Nørgaard Højskole. As an example, the photography course is run by international award-winning photographer Morten Rygaard. This also means that your teacher can help you to get onto further education programmes and provide you with references. As Rasmussen says “50 per cent of being here is the social part” and if you are looking to have a good time, experience a new culture, get to know people from all over the world, travel and not worry about exams but still learn something, then Nørgaard Højskole is the place for you.
For more information, please visit: www.nrgaard.dk www.facebook.com/nrgaard.dk/info
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Meet the world at Brenderup Højskole Global awareness is the focus at Funen-based Brenderup Højskole – getting friends from all over the world and a better understanding of your own background is the payout. By Ann Bille Simonsen | Photos: Brenderup Højskole
"Meeting other cultures and backgrounds will help you understand your own" is a phrase that might have a cliché ring to it, but this is nevertheless what students discover at Brenderup Højskole, a Danish folk high school with focus on international exchange. “Living side by side with other nationalities as you do here, can in itself be a life-changing experience,” says Peter Mogensen, teacher at Brenderup Højskole.
"Your life and your interests will be seen through other people’s eyes. This gives you a new kind of perspective." The usual mix of 14-15 nationalities on the longer courses is not just an educational eyeopener; it also generates lifelong friendships across borders. “I’m so happy about the friends I’ve made here," says 26-year old Fatou Badjie from Gambia, who has been at Brenderup since
August. Badjie first heard about the højskole concept from a Danish family she met through her hotel job in Banjul, and was inspired to go to Denmark. Brenderup Højskole is also an excellent platform for traveling or volunteering, an opportunity that appealed to 21-year old Mathilde Lillo-Stenberg from Oslo. She has just finished a travel module at the school, including a 10-week volunteering stay in Nepal. "It's amazing what you can achieve together," she says. Aside from the Nepal experience, the aim for her stay is to play a lot of music and to make a decision on what to study afterwards. "Ultimately it is very much a self-development experience to attend Brenderup Højskole," Mogensen adds. Community, global awareness and friendship are in focus when students from all over the world live and learn side by side at Funen-based Brenderup Højskole.
For more information, please visit: www.brenderuphojskole.dk
Let’s get physical “Physical activity is an invaluable focal point at our school,” says Finn Berggren, principal of Gerlev Idrætshøjskole [Gerlev Physical Education & Sports Academy]. “We want movement to be fun, confidence-building and a positive experience for everyone; a point from which to explore other subjects and learn about yourself.” By Louise Older Steffensen | Photos: Gerlev Idrætshøjskole
Gerlev Idrætshøjskole was established as the first Danish Sports Academy in 1938 and teaches Danish and international students of 18 years and older. Much of the teaching, which normally takes place during intensive fourmonth courses, is in English. Still, Gerlev’s ethos is placed firmly within the very Danish folk high school tradition, initiating an exciting meeting between Danish and foreign cultures. Students choose a sport, anything from football
to AcroYoga, that they develop throughout their stay, combining this with other physical activities and academic subjects. Despite its age, Gerlev is at the cutting edge of progressive new sports and teaching methods. Gerlev was the first place in Denmark to build a Parkour Park in 2006, which together with its modern dance courses are renowned internationally. Courses include a trip to an expert facility catering to each special subject.
Recent years have seen Gerlev’s dance students train on Broadway, for example, while students specialising in CrossFit have visited the home of CrossFit in Los Angeles. Back in Denmark, students live and work together and often form close friendships across different ages, abilities and nationalities. The school emphasises games and playfulness in order to encourage physical activity, both at the school and in society. In the last few years, Gerlev Legepark [Gerlev Play Park], which promotes movement through traditional games for all ages, has become a great success nationally, and Gerlev’s focus on fun movement and health as part of every-day life is rapidly catching on globally. For more information, please visit: www.gerlev.dk www.gerlev.dk/en
Gerlev is not an elite sports academy, enabling students of all fitness levels to come and stay: the important factor is that you are eager to develop your body and mind.
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: ME WAY E TH NOR L A I IN EC SP TION A UC D E
Helping you find your future education The education decision journey has moved to the online sphere. The way potential students search for, discover and choose institutions and courses has been transformed by technology. Studentum.no provides an online meeting point at which schools and other educational institutions meet the Norwegian education seekers of today. By Marcela Frugård | Photos: EMG (Educations.com Media Group)
Studentum.no is a website devoted exclusively to higher education. Here, prospective students can quickly and easily find relevant information on higher education options and schools can market themselves effectively to the right audience. Since 2006, when Studentum.no was launched, the website has grown with a steady increase in both visitors and customers. Today, the site has approximately 75,000 unique visitors per month, making Studentum.no one of the leading educational search engines in Norway.
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Marcela Frugård, Web Content Editor Studentum.no
Mission and vision Educations.com Media Group – the group behind Studentum.no – is the market leader in education marketing in Northern Europe. In addition to Studentum.no, EMG operates in all the Nordic countries, as well as in Germany, the Netherlands, the UK and globally via the site Educa-
Kine Maarud, Information Manager, Studentum.no
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tions.com. The business idea of EMG is twofold: the mission is to help schools market their education programmes and recruit qualified students. The vision is to help everyone in the world find their future education and the right training for their requirements. Pursuing EMG’s vision and mission, the Norwegian team strives to provide high quality marketing solutions. All texts on the website are search engine optimised, achieving visibility in search engines such as Google. The website also offers an information request form on each education programme – putting potential students in direct contact with the specific school they’re interested in. This creates the possibility of driving quality leads who are really interested in these programmes and who can be admitted to them. Combined with clicks and page views, the information requests also have the advantage of making it easy to measure the efficiency of the online content. Studentum.no has a member base consisting of over 90,000 people. This creates
the opportunity to find students whose interests are targeted at customers’ education courses, both within and outside of Norway.
crease from last year. Around 30 per cent of the requests have been related to international studies, especially in the USA, UK and Australia.
Trends and statistics
The majority of Studentum.no’s visitors are female, reflecting the trends in higher education in general (in Norway, female enrolment surpasses that of male enrolment in higher education). Females constitute 64 per cent of members, and over 70 per cent of the members in total are between 19 and 26 years old.
Potential students can use the unique education search engine on Studentum.no, which includes the parameters category, education level and location. This year, the most popular category has been ‘health/medicine/dentistry’, followed by ‘economy’ and ‘teaching/literacy’. Over 60 per cent of the visitors have shown interest in education programmes on a university and college (høgskole) level, while trade schools and other vocational education constitute almost 30 per cent of searches. The remaining 10 per cent has mainly been aimed at Norwegian folk high schools (folkehøyskole), language courses and external candidate schools on a high school level. As for location, online studies (distance studies) are increasing in popularity. This year, 13 per cent of all the requests sent through Studentum.no have been related to online studies. This is a 20 per cent in-
In March 2014, Studentum completed a large survey in Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland that received 9,431 answers. One of the results of the survey is that the Internet is by far the most important channel through which young people search for information about higher education. With this in mind, Studentum.no will continue to provide future students with high-quality content. For more information, please visit: www.studentum.no
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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Education in Norway
The Nordic contribution to education Imagine a kind of school that doesn’t have exams or grades. A kind of school where you don’t get a formal education or a degree. A boarding school where students have lectures in the evenings and on Saturdays. This is the folkehøgskole, which can be translated as ‘Folk High School’ or ‘Folk College’. By Dorte Birch, Folkehøgskole.no | Press Photos
Each year more than ten percent of all Norwegian 19-year-olds attend one of the 78 folkehøgskoler in Norway. They are situated from the Russian border in the north, to Agder in the south. They provide over 300 different courses, from Computer Game Design and Dog Sleighing to Norwegian Language and Culture to Acting Classes. For most of the students the folkehøgskole is a gap year between high school and university but some students attend folkehøgskole as a break during high school. Other students use the folkehøgskole as a break in their university studies. This is what a folkehøgskole is to many of the students – a break from a school system, with its exams and pressure. At the folkehøgskole most students find—or re-find—the joy of learning.
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The joy of learning has been the core of the Norwegian folkehøgskole since the first school opened 150 years ago. Though the schools have changed over the years, the main ideas are still the same. The schools are based on learning by doing and learning for life. Apart from the topic the students have chosen, they also learn valuable lessons in cooperation, democracy and politics. All schools have school trips where they learn about Norway and the world by actually visiting the places they seek knowledge about. The idea of the folkehøgskole came from Denmark and spread to all the Nordic countries. There are, today, more than 400 folkehøgskoler in Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland.
For more information, please visit: www.folkehogskole.no
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“Our subjects focus specifically on the outdoors, sports and creative subjects, which are often inspired by the nearby fjords, sea and natural beauty,” says assistant principal and teacher at Høgtun, Einar Hals. TOP RIGHT: Growing through new experiences and encounters with people from all around the world is what it’s all about at Høgtun.
A school for life At Høgtun Folkehøgskole, students can enjoy some of the most spectacular nature in Norway, perfect for alpine skiing overlooking the sea, cycling, volleyball, and make lifelong friends. By Maya Acharya | Photos: Høgtun Folkehøgskole
For the uninitiated, folkehøyskoler, or 'folk high schools', are a popular Scandinavian concept – a year of boarding school based on the idea of gaining life experience, exploring your interests and living in a closeknit community, without the pressure of exams. At Høgtun Folkehøgskole, a historical school in the county of Møre and Romsdal, this is the key idea: to grow through new experiences and encounters with people from all around the world. “Our school consists of around 100 students, and around 10 per cent of these come from abroad with no prior knowledge of Norwegian,” explains assistant principal and teacher at Høgtun, Einar Hals. “It's a perfect school for international students as we focus largely on language and integration. Unlike many other schools, we combine a one-day-a-week
Norwegian language class with a variety of optional courses so that the students can piece together their ideal year.” Høgtun is set in the midst of a rural area, with a distance from city life that Hals sees as positive. “It allows students to fully immerse themselves in the community they live in, something that can be especially useful for international students. During the weekends they are encouraged to create their own entertainment, putting on shows or themed nights. Our subjects focus specifically on the outdoors, sports and creative subjects, which are often inspired by the nearby fjords, sea and natural beauty.” Every year there are Norwegian students from all over the country who choose Høgtun specifically for its amazing loca-
tion and sports facilities. When students aren't completing courses with invigorating titles like “Catch, Eat, Survive” or “Outdoor Explore”, they can also enrol on school trips to countries such as Nepal, Iceland, Israel and Kenya. There is even a Norway trip tailored to international students who want to explore more of the country. “What we notice most is the incredible bond students feel with the school and their schoolmates, long after they've left. It's natural at a place like this where you live so close to one another.” Hals himself is a former student of Høgtun, and one of the school’s more romantic return stories is that of Julie Weyde and her husband, who met as students at Høgtun and returned together to teach years later. As Hals says: “Once a Høgtuner, always a Høgtun-er.”
For more information, please visit: www.hogtun.no
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At Bjerkely FHS students work with real clients, enabling them to learn what will be expected of them outside the educational environment. Photo: Esther-Elise Gisholt
Capturing the moment Few schools can say that they’ll take you to the top of the Empire State Building, and even fewer can say that parts of your education will take place there. Boasting an impressive and diverse photography programme among other courses developed to advance your creative abilities, Bjerkely Folkehøyskole has blazed their own trail in the educational sphere – and the Big Apple is just the beginning. By Julie Lindén
“I always say to my students on their first day here: ‘From now on you are considered professionals, not students’,” says photography teacher Anne Marit Holmseth. “It’s important emphasising to them that we are training them to be professionals, and therefore we should, I believe, teach by example and treat them as the professionals they are working so hard to become.” Unmatched professional training Holmseth’s approach is in every sense representative of Bjerkely FHS as a whole
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– a school passionately dedicated to bringing out the best in each of their students, creatively but also personally. Motivating everyone to take part in the activities on offer is a goal, and one that is upheld by putting students in contact with some of the biggest industry professionals in Norway. For instance, the mid-course period will see photography students working closely with Morten Krogvold, one of the country’s most celebrated photographers and visual artists, who has shot portraits of notables such as Nelson Mandela and Norway’s Crown Princess Mette Marit.
“We are the only institution where he teaches these days,” says Holmseth proudly. “He poses a remarkable focus on extracting the true meaning of photography from our students, asking them questions like ‘who are you as a photographer?’ and ‘how will you set yourself apart from others?’. He is a master at motivating them, breaking down the elements of their interest before building them back up again – at which point they have a sound knowledge of their abilities.” Meeting real demands on the market The workshop method of learning is a favoured one at Bjerkely, emphasised by Holmseth as a realistic form of creation, where students learn what will be expected of them outside an educational environment, and not just inside the classroom. “There are multiple studios on the school premises, along with a darkroom
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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Education in Norway
Photo: Birthe Mejdal
“We’re very lucky to be working with Tag#Design, complementing their innovative ways of creating awareness of their products and reaching their social goals. Our students shoot the product imagery for their summer and winter collections, and learn to develop a vision compliant with the wishes of a client,” says Holmseth, adding: “It’s a spectacular way for them to learn while also doing something for others.”
When asked what brings her the biggest joy in her profession, her answer is loud and clear: “Seeing these young people come out of their shells and develop creatively into skilled and passionate photographers. It’s the best feeling in the world.”
“I first organised the New York trip because I thought it was absolutely perfect for photography students; I mean you have all the important museums and exhibition galleries there, and every kind of motif you could possibly imagine,” says Holmseth. Besides taking in the sights and soaking up the atmosphere at institutions like the Guggenheim and the Metropolitan, students have the chance to shoot fashion images in Central Park, and to everyone’s delight, night photography from the top of the Empire State Building. “The trip became so popular that our other students also wished to take part, and now, every time we go we travel with a mixed group of students from Bjerkely, taking in all the best that New York has to offer. Including some shopping, of course,” says Holmseth with a smile.
Photography students go to New York to try their hands at different types of photography art in locations such as Central Park and the Empire State Building. Photo: Edith Anne
For more information, please visit: www.bjerkely.fhs.no
Photo: Bjerkely FHS
By involving students in an array of courses positioned to teach various photography disciplines, such as a promotional, fashion or nature photography, the skills of the individual are preserved and developed to meet real demands on the market. An exciting new project where the budding photographers are really put to the test is the Tag#Design venture, a project that saw Bjerkely FHS team up with shoe designer Luisa Arango on a creative, hashtag-led movement.
A New York state of mind – and photography She underlines that while the Bjerkely photography programme is primarily a vocational education, all basics of photography theory are taught down to the smallest detail. Students are granted a top-class training scheme, which also includes a trip abroad. And, where better to take a first bite of the photography world than the Big Apple?
Photo: Photography class of 13-14
where we develop photos in an old-fashioned way, and we also do lomography courses where the students receive their own camera suitable for this kind of photography. Using our various resources we allow students to experience what it’s really like having a client book them for a job where they have to deliver work of a professional standard,” says Holmseth.
Photography teacher Anne Marit Holmseth is enthusiastic about the progress she sees in her students: “Seeing these young people come out of their shells and develop creatively into skilled and passionate photographers is the best feeling in the world.”
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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Education in Norway
LEFT: “I learnt so much I would never want to be without,” says Emma Traasdahl, former student at Bømlo Folkehøgskule. TOP MIDDLE: At Bømlo FHS students are taught how to work as a team. ABOVE MIDDLE: Kjetil Berger Falk, course coordinator for the school’s Peace and Solidarity in Africa programme. RIGHT: “There is so much more to Africa than one might think and we want our students to see the reality of the countries they visit,” Kjetil Berger Falk explains.
Bømlo FHS: We bring out the best in you It is the impressions you make when you are young that will come to shape your life as an adult. The people you meet, the places you go and the experiences you have will help you grow and mature into the person you are meant to be. Nowhere is that more true than at Bømlo Folkehøgskule. By Stine Wannebo | Photos: Bømlo FHS
“Students graduating after a year at this school leave with a whole new universe in their stomachs,” says teacher Kjetil Berger Falk with a smile. As the course coordinator for the school’s Peace and Solidarity in Africa programme, he knows exactly how much students’ perspectives can change in just one year. A trip to a faroff destination is an essential part of all the teaching at Bømlo, even if most of the school year is spent on a little island between the Norwegian cities of Bergen and Stavanger. Surrounded by woods and seawater, nearly a hundred students are taught a range of subjects centred on countries thousands of miles away from their own. After studying both history and politics, the 18- and 19-year-olds studying the
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Peace and Solidarity programme spend four to five weeks in Africa or in South America, experiencing everything from normal everyday life to the popular tourist destinations. “There is so much more to Africa than one might think and we want our students to see the reality of the countries they visit – it’s not all bad,” Berger Falk explains. The school offers a wide range of programmes, from Musicals and Theatre to Food with a Taste of the World. What they all have in common is their aim to broaden the students’ horizons and teach them about the culture and traditions in other parts of the world. Along the way the students are taught how to think critically, work as a team, reflect on their own experiences and to be creative – all skills that will be useful no
matter what they choose to pursue in the future. Former student Emma Traasdahl says that her year at Bømlo Folkehøgskule made her see the world in whole a different light. “It was fun, and I learnt so much I would never want to be without,” she says.
Bømlo FHS destinations 2015: Africa, Latin America, Vietnam, Australia, New Zealand, New York, China
For more information, please visit: www.bomlo.fhs.no
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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Education in Norway
Photo: Eivind Høimyr
Elverum Folkehøgskule offers an impressive breadth of programmes, ranging from rock and soul to snowboarding and Norwegian culture. This is the perfect place to spend a year doing what you like the most. By Helene Toftner | Photos: Elverum Folkehøgskule
Unique to the Nordic countries, folkehøyskoler (folk high schools) offer adult education that grants its students the opportunity to study absolutely anything they fancy, including snowboarding, theatre and music. Elverum Folkehøgskule offers a broad variety of programmes, giving their students a year they will never forget. “We take great pride in offering a broad variety of programmes, so people interested in extreme sports come together with aspiring actors from the theatre programme,” vice chancellor Per Egil Andersen says. Spend a year doing what you like the most The school is a boarding school for students who have finished college and fancy
a year to explore their interests before university or work. While the majority of students come from Norway, they also have students from all over the world, including the United Kingdom, Nepal and the United States. “We have experienced a remarkable growth in the past few years, and most of the students come after hearing recommendations from friends,” Andersen says. The school has nine programmes, namely Backpacker, Norwegian Culture, Snowboard, Theatre, Band, Photography, Africa, Outdoor life, and Arts and Crafts programmes. Additionally, they offer more than 25 electives, seminars and theme weeks. “The students appreciate the great mix of people and options,” Andersen notes.
Introduction to Norwegian culture and language Unique to the school, they offer a Norwegian language and cultural programme. It lasts a year and gives the students handson experience with the language from the very start and includes no less than three trips around Norway during the year. “There are at least two trips in all the programmes, but this is special as they get to see 19 out of Norway’s 19 counties, as well as the other Scandinavian capitals, Stockholm and Copenhagen,” Andersen says. “Elverum is perfectly situated near both Oslo and Trysil, one of the country’s finest ski resorts, so there is plenty to explore nearby too.”
Photo: Åsmund Mjelva
Elverum Folkehøgskule – a year you will never forget
For more information, please visit: elverumfhs.no
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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Education in Norway
LEFT: Every year the folk high school puts on 50 amazing performances. TOP RIGHT: The theatre line is one of the most popular studies at Romerike folk high school. RIGHT: The right lights can transform scenery, something you learn when studying lighting design.
The creative folk high school conquers new fields The famous music and theatre school Romerike Folkehøyskole has bred many of Norway’s top actors and musicians. Now they aim to conquer the creative niche fields in the industry.
velop their cooperation skills, social skills, leadership skills and engaging in the activities is amazing,” says Brubæk.
By Celine Normann | Photos: Romerike Folkehøyskole
Double jubilee
At Romerike folk high school students with an interest in music and theatre are offered an educational gap year. Even if you do not wish to become a famous actor or lead singer, Romerike has all the options you could wish for. “Romerike is known as Norway’s leading folk high school within music and theatre. What makes us unique is our combination of high quality education, and that we value, and therefore offer, education across all industry aspects,” says principal Haldis Brubæk. Dare to be different Brubæk is referring to the broad variety of studies to choose from, including smaller, niche educational lines, study choices that many people do not even know exist. “Behind every big performance there is a range of truly essential, fantastic people providing and creating the setting and at-
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mosphere. Someone must be an expert also in niche fields for the end result to be impeccable – therefore we offer subjects like sound, lighting, costume and scenography,” says Brubæk. The principal highlights that these different, creative and “hands-on” studies can lay the foundation for pursuing a career in other fields later on, such as architecture, craft and design.
Since opening in 1864 the folk high school has built a strong portfolio, and it’s now celebrating 150 successful years. The school is also celebrating the music and theatre lines’ 50th anniversary. “What made us famous is now our core value. We want to continue educating the best people within all aspects of the industry. We know we can, because we already do,” says Brubæk.
Part of something big
A folkehøyskole is equivalent to a one-year
Regardless of study choice, at Romerike folk high school you are guaranteed to be part of something amazing. From national productions to intimate concerts, the school puts on 50 performances annually. “Being at folk high school is about more than professional education. It is also about developing your personal skills. Seeing our students grow and de-
boarding school, or college, without formal education. Folk high schools are very common in Norway as a gap year after finishing upper secondary school around the age of 19.
For more information, please visit: www.romerike.fhs.no
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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Education in Norway
Sports and music enlightenment in Arctic surroundings Vefsn Folkehøgskole is a folk high school located by the Arctic Circle in Northern Norway. Folk high schools offer young adults over 18 years of age an opportunity of personal enlightenment by studying a year or two on a boarding school basis. There are no formal entry requirements, finishing exams or formal degrees. By Stian Sangvig | Photos: Morten Eriksen
“Vefsn Folkehøgskole offers courses in sports, outdoors, music and theatre in Arctic surroundings close to the sea and next to an 800 metre high mountain,” Head Mistress Cathrine Markussen explains. New accommodation is under construction for the next academic year, and the folk high school can accommodate up to 90 students. Lines of study are divided into ‘Work @ Music’, ‘Work @ Stage’, ‘Sound, Light, Stage’, ‘Fitness Pulse’, ‘Total Sports’ and ‘Kayak & Climbing’. “The latter includes a field trip to Canada, and the music courses are useful in preparing students for music conservatoires,” Markussen continues. The school focuses on the entirety of the human being in their teaching, and students typically work in
small groups where it is up to each individual what he or she wants to achieve. “We feel privileged to be based by the sea with high mountains and an archipelago. Three national parks and the Svartisen glacier are nearby, too,” Markussen outlines. The contrasts between light summers and dark winters also add a distinctly Arctic perspective to the outdoors education. With its 13,500 inhabitants the nearby town Mosjøen can offer a number of cultural activities and efficient transport links, like an airport and a railway station. The folk high school also collaborates with the town on access to and use of facilities and equipment for sports and music.
Arctic flair to a university degree from UNIS The University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS) is an institution for higher education in Longyearbyen on the Norwegian archipelago Svalbard, which is halfway between Northern Norway and the North Pole. Its location makes it the northernmost university of its kind, offering courses in Arctic Biology, Arctic Geology, Arctic Geophysics and Arctic Technology to graduate and postgraduate students alike, complementing their degrees at universities elsewhere. By Stian Sangvig | Photos: UNIS
“UNIS is a shareholding company, which was formed in 1993 with the Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research owning 100 per cent of the shares,” explains Information Manager Eva Therese Jenssen. “Half of this year’s 550 students are foreign,” she continues. UNIS’s ob-
jective is to offer Arctic facilities and perspectives to their students’ degrees. Courses at a BA level typically last four months and often provide the first experience of fieldwork to the students. Postgraduate courses, on the other hand, are shorter, but they involve more fieldwork.
Vefsn Folkehøgskole offers courses in sports, outdoors, music and theatre in Arctic surroundings close to the sea.
For more information, please visit: www.vefsnfolkehogskole.no
Svalbard’s unique geographic location, as well as a cold, dry and windy climate, require students to participate in a weeklong safety course at UNIS before their normal course begins. Topics include: adequate clothing, GPS navigation, how to use a map and compass, and how to handle firearms. Local law requires carrying the latter whenever venturing outside Longyearbyen, in case of an unlikely and most reluctant rendezvous with one of the archipelago’s polar bears. “Students enjoy a good urban life in Longyearbyen in addition to the great outdoor offerings, as the town has a number of cafes, restaurants, shops and festivals,” says Jenssen. Svalbard’s non-VAT status may also help a student’s budget. For more information, please visit: www.unis.no
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Scan Magazine | Restaurant of the Month | Norway
Live, eat and breathe close to the Norwegian seaside: experience the culinary extravagance and take in the captivating nature at Stokkøya – no matter the season.
Restaurant of the Month, Norway
Dive into a new, tasty adventure A storm is when Norwegian nature is at its most stunning. In winter, when the dark, cold waves strike the shore, the air is crisp and the mountains roar. Imagine the fantastic view from inside a snug glasshouse on the beach. Sit back and enjoy the sounds of the turbulent sea while being served exquisite fresh food gathered just a few yards away. Welcome to Stokkøya Sjøsenter. By Stine Wannebo | Photos: Stokkøya Sjøsenter
“Most people eat more seafood in summer than any other time of the year, but did you know that sea food is actually at its best during winter?” asks Torild Langklopp curiously. She runs, and is the founder of, a guest house and a restaurant on the west coast of Stokkøya island, not too far from Norway’s third largest city,
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Trondheim. Together with her significant other, Roar Svenning, she introduces visitors to the island’s beautiful nature and the locally sourced deliciousness of the sea. Everything from sea urchins to pickled seaweeds is on the menu at their pride and joy: the Beach Bar. Built on the grounds of an old cement factory from
1947, the restaurant has a fully equipped kitchen and a large seating area in a glass box situated on the white sand beach. In summer, the doors open towards the sea so that guests can walk in and out directly from the seaside. During winter, doors remain closed and the two fireplaces spread warmth and a cosy atmosphere throughout the restaurant. A taste of the sea Diversity, flavour and texture are the things Svenning thinks about when choosing what to put on the menu. He is considered somewhat of an expert on the topic of seafood, as he used to sell the
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Scan Magazine | Restaurant of the Month | Norway
treasures he harvested from the bottom of the ocean. In completely unspoiled waters such as the Norwegian Sea, there are quality ingredients that cannot be found anywhere else in the world, and Svenning often sold his gems to both France and Japan. During winter and early spring, when the busy days of summer have passed, he has time to allow greater attention to the food and the restaurant becomes even more high-class than the rest of the year. The chef gets to play around with tastes and textures, creating a truly remarkable culinary experience for all his guests. “This is the time when we get to prove how spectacular the Beach Bar really is,” Langklopp says. Svenning and the chefs even find the time to teach, giving both children and adults the chance to learn more about how to cook and prepare food from the sea. Stunning surroundings But a heartily luscious meal becomes even more so when combined with a really exceptional experience. Whether guests want to go for a walk in the mountains or take a warm bath before throwing themselves into the freezing waves, there is something for everyone at Stokkøya. It is
one of the most beautiful diving spots on this earth – the reason why the couple started working here in the first place. “We met when Roar organised a diving event near his family farm here,” Langklopp explains. “In the end we decided that this was where we wanted to spend our lives.” Eight years have passed since they first opened their doors to tourists from near and far, and in that time the couple has developed numerous captivating traditions. Concerts are a given, with big and small, national and international artists appearing regularly. Another tradition developed over the years is the annual Valentine’s Weekend. The coming February's All Hearts’ Day, as it is commonly referred to in Norwegian, will be the fourth year running that couples can spend on the little island to enjoy a romantic getaway. Not only do they get a chance to savour two four-course meals and an exquisite wine tasting experience, but they may also attend a cooking class to learn how to prepare shellfish at home. At one with nature “Architecture is very important to us. We want our houses to complement the sur-
rounding environment but also contrast it to create something new and unique,” Langklopp says. And there is no doubt they have managed just that. With a range of living options, from camping to elegant subterranean lodges, there is something to fit all wishes and wallets. And after the days’ adventures have been brought to a close, everyone is more than welcome to the beach to watch the blue waves curl against the sky and enjoy a memorable, mesmerising meal at the Beach Bar restaurant.
For more information, please visit: www.stokkoya.no
Photo: Christian Houge
Photo: Anne Nyseter Perez Built on the grounds of an old cement factory from 1947, the restaurant has a fully equipped kitchen and a large seating area in a glass box situated on the white sand beach.
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Restaurant of the Month, Denmark
Huntsman’s cottage puts the forest on the menu Peter Lieps Hus offers storytelling, fresh local produce and warm atmosphere in abundance under mighty trees in the heart of the Dyrehaven woods north of Copenhagen.
old inn into the 21st century began. On 1 April this year, the restaurant opened to the public in its new guise.
By Thomas Bech Hansen | Photos: Mariya Pepelanova Photography
“This house has always been about tradition and time-honoured Danish dishes like smørrebrød. We still make the staples and would never renounce tradition, but we have a new take on it,” says Stephanie Dahl and explains how the approach she has helped introduce is inspired by the forest right outside. “The menu varies according to the season and how nature works in cycles. We insist on using produce fresh from the forest, like berries
Anyone who has ever ventured out into the age-old woods of Dyrehaven (The Deer Park) around 15 kilometres north of Copenhagen, and taken in the majestic views of the royal family’s old hunting grounds, will have come across a Hansel and Gretel-like thatched house between the tall trees. It emanates the beauty of times gone by, and serves visitors of Dyre-
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haven with black filtered coffee and layered whipped cream cakes – just the kind that Danes have known and loved for years. New take on tradition In 2013 the ownership of the house was passed to Stephanie Dahl and Bastian Bak, and the journey to bring the quirky
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Scan Magazine | Restaurant of the Month | Denmark
and mushrooms, and we have a hunter who brings deer and roebuck to us. In fact, our most popular dish by some distance is the cured venison.” Dream come true It is only fitting that Peter Lieps Hus should return to the tradition of serving fresh game, as the place is named after Dyrehaven’s first sharpshooter, Peter Liep. “He only lived here for a few years towards the end of the 19th century, but like many personalities from these woods, he was a larger-than-life character who liked a good meal, a drink and a laugh. We like these stories, and we like to tell them again and again,” says Dahl. The house was originally called Kildehuset [the Spring House] and is thought to have been built towards the end of the 18th century. In September 1915 the house burned to the ground. By 1916 it was reconstructed, only to burn down again in 1928. It was rebuilt to a different design, basically as it can be seen today. “The thought of that beautiful house has always been in the back of my mind, ever since I was a child,” says Dahl. She comes from a long line of fairground workers at nearby amusement park Bakken, and as
a child she would often pass the old house on her way to meet her father. It was here that her love for the fairy-tale-like house took root. “Being the landlady of this house is like a dream come true,” she says.
A glimpse of the menu: - Peter Liep’s beloved omelette - The huntsman’s pot with mashed potatoes or chips - Herring with onion and capers
Winter wonderland
- Smoked salmon with scrambled eggs
As Dyrehaven’s mighty trees shed their leaves, the forest turns into a winter wonderland with crisp, frosty mornings, occasional snowfall and horse carriages doing rounds on the wood paths carrying chiming bells. On those winter days, Peter Lieps Hus provides the perfect end to a rose-cheeked walk. This could involve the homemade schnapps aged on birch wood – or why not let the place demonstrate its talent for pleasing sweet teeth? “We have always been big on cake and hot chocolate,” enthuses Dahl in a tone suggesting a pining for moments of fireside cosiness. “Apart from January, when we always close down, we are fully open during the winter months. Christmas, particularly, is a busy time with specially made pastry and our outdoor Christmas market.”
- Warm liver paté with mushrooms and bacon
For more information, please visit: www.peterlieps.dk
- Roast pork with pickled red cabbage
Dyrehaven Dyrehaven covers around 11 square kilometres, and is noted for its mixture of huge, ancient oak trees and large populations of red and fallow deer. King Frederick III of Denmark outlined the area in 1669 as the royal family’s hunting grounds. Annual events include the Hermitage running race, Day of the Kite, St. Hubertus Junt and open-air plays by the Royal Danish Theatre. The forest is a short walk from Klampenborg S-train station, which runs services to and from Copenhagen’s city centre with journey times of approximately 20 minutes.
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Scan Magazine | Attraction of the Month | Norway
Sykkylven has, perhaps, one of the most beautiful landscapes in the world. “What makes it so is not easy to say – it is not the fjords, not the mountains, not the glaciers, not the valleys, but a blend of all these together. Nothing is allowed to thrust itself to the forefront at the expense of the others.” (Kr Randers, mountain hiker, 1890).
Lady in Wind. Forget not, Cylindra has, perhaps, some the most beautiful furniture objects in the world. What makes it so is not easy to say – it is not the form, not the quality of the wood, not the way it is decorated, not the handicraft, but a blend of all these together. Nothing is allowed to thrust itself to the forefront at the expense of the others.
Attraction of the Month, Norway
Cylindra gallery of Norway With Norway’s beautiful mountains as backdrop, Cylindra objects materialise in the picture almost as part of a mythical landscape. And in a way they are: many of the pieces are inspired by stunning wild nature in western Norway, and Sykkylven in particular. By Cylindra gallery of Norway | Photos: Arild Solberg
“Mountain Peak – chair, table and cupboard, are inspired by the landscape of this area. They look like sharp, craggy mountain peaks. As with the other pieces in the series, the top of the cupboard represents a majestic range of mountain peaks, which in this case rises up to two metres in height,” says its renowned creator Peter Opsvik.
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“And forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair” – Khalil Gibran, The Prophet. “Sometimes I find text that goes very well together with photos of our objects. I like that,” says Kjellbjørn Tusvik. “I also very much like to combine proverbs with the name of the objects.”
Workshop and gallery At Gallery Cylindra in Tusvik, visitors can experience not only the furniture, but also the landscape it is inspired by. “Even if these objects are meant for indoor use, I like to bring them out into the nature because it creates some very beautiful photos,” explains Kjellbjørn Tusvik. Sykkylven is a municipality in the county of Møre and Romsdal and it is primarily an industrial community were furniture and furnishing manufacturing is the dominant industry. A Centre of Expertise and Inspiration has recently been established by competitors and suppliers in the furni-
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Scan Magazine | Attraction of the Month | Norway
ture business – also local institutions, as well as the municipality of Sykkylven. The idea is to create a centre for the furniture industry, so it may succeed on the international scene. ”‘Design – Create – Live’ have become important elements in our daily life. In September, a successful pilot project was completed in cooperation with Oslo National Academy of the Arts. The centre will be up and running by 2015,” explains Tusvik.
chairs, tables, cupboards and wardrobes, started. Today, the cylindrical furniture’s combination of artistic expressions and practical function is renowned all over the world, with objects exhibited at museums and art shows in cities such as Chicago, New York and London. Today, the collection consists of more than 200 different designs from Peter Opsvik. An extraordinary experience
Cylindra was founded to produce the wooden, barrel-inspired furniture by Peter Opsvik in 1989. The idea for the unique design came into being when Opsvik was experimenting with the cylindrical shape in the beginning of the 1980s. ”When I worked in graphic art and paintings on paper or canvas with only two dimensions, I often wished to have a basic form that could be shaped freely and yet be functional,” says the artist. “The solid wood cylinder made my wish come true.”
At the gallery in Tusvik, visitors can buy many of the pieces in the exhibition, like for instance the Silhouette of a Man – a hanging wall cabinet. Not much space inside, but decorative on the wall. You will admire these beautiful cabinets for years to come. But the gallery is not just about buying objects, stresses Kjellbjørn Tusvik: “It’s nice to have our own gallery – a place where we can meet people with an interest in our sculptural furniture, listen to their opinion and test our theories on how to work with our pieces. You see, working with objects that are both art and furniture is something quite special. We are not offering just an object; we are also selling a story.”
In 1989, Opsvik teamed up with Tusvik, and the development of 20 objects, such as
So, whether you are looking for a new piece of unique furniture, an inspirational
From barrel to furniture
art exhibition or a different evening out, Cylindra Gallery might just be the place.
Cylindra workshop and gallery in Tusvik is open: Monday – Friday 10 am – 4 pm. Saturdays and Sundays by appointment.
For more information, please visit: www.cylindra.net/tour www.cylindra.no
The cylindrical furniture collection of Gallery Cylindra consists of more than 200 designs that are renowned across the world. The objects have been exhibited at museums and art shows in cities such as Chicago, New York and London. LEFT: Hand – cupboard in solid wood. MIDDLE: From the gallery. RIGHT: Lady in Wind - display cabinet in solid wood.
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Scan Magazine | Attraction of the Month | Denmark
LEFT: Dybbøl Banke history centre brings Denmark’s most famous battle, the battle of 1864, back to life. TOP RIGHT: Visitors at Dybbøl Banke history centre get the chance to cook a typical soldier’s meal the way it was done in 1864. RIGHT: Dressed up in historic Danish and German soldiers’ uniforms the centre’s employees showcase their skills and guests can, of course, give it a go too.
Attraction of the Month, Denmark
Relive Denmark’s most famous battle A visit to the history centre Dybbøl Banke offers not only a chance to see the most famous frontline in Danish history: you can actually step right inside the battle of 1864. With historically accurate re-creations and re-enactments, guests are invited to participate in the life of the soldier as it unfolded back then. By Signe Hansen | Photos: Historiecenter Dybbøl Banke
Located at the site where the Danish troops lost the two duchies Schleswig and Holstein to the German Empire in 1864, the Dybbøl Banke history centre has become a hugely popular family destination for both Danes and Germans. The centre, which adjoins the original remains of the Danish entrenchments, receives around 80,000 guests every year. “We are located right in the middle of the heritage site battlegrounds. It is an open landscape, which everyone can explore without a ticket, but there is not much left to see. Our job is to ensure that people understand what they see, and to help with
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that we have re-created one of the entrenchments in its real size as well as one of the off-site soldiers’ camps," explains museum director Bjørn Østergaard, and adds: “It’s a very realistic and detailed setting which includes all the props from back then, from cannon to moats, tents and bullets. But what really makes it interesting is when we bring it to life and inhabit it with the people who lived and experienced the battle.” An array of events and characters meet guests visiting the centre in the high season. Dressed up in historic uniforms, soldiers tell their stories (based on authen-
tic soldiers’ diaries), and show their skills with cannon and guns. Guests can also get a first-hand taste of the life of the soldier. For instance, they can cook a typical soldier meal or visit the local post office, where a letter written in ink and closed with a wax seal can be created and posted as an original alternative to the traditional postcard. With all these possibilities many families end up spending most of the day at the centre. For those who wish to study the history of the war even further, there are several apps available for exploring the surrounding area and sites of significance.
For more information, please visit: www.museumsonderjylland.dk/dybbol-banke.html
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Enabling E real
aachievement Man Mannaz is an international frontrunner in leadership development. A do Adopting innovative and efficient learning methods and approaches, wee empower people development and business success. w
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Scan Magazine | Business | Key Note
Scan Business Key Note 94 | Business Feature 95 | Conferences of the Month 96 | Business Calendar 100
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Borrowing money for use in the UK - HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) change of practice on collateral By Helena Whitmore, senior wealth structuring advisor, SEB Private Banking UK Many UK residents from overseas have borrowed money for use in the UK, perhaps to buy a property in the UK or to pay for UK expenditure, and may not have appreciated that this can have UK tax consequences. After all, taking a loan isn’t income, so why would it need to be reported on the tax return? Unfortunately, under the UK’s complex set of tax rules which apply to resident but non-domiciled individuals who choose to be taxed on the remittance basis, even bringing a loan to the UK could now result in a tax bill, if the loan happens to be secured on overseas income or gains. This is on the basis that HMRC now consider that the foreign income or gains which represent the collateral should be treated as used in respect of a loan which is used in the UK (“a relevant debt”), therefore falling within the definition of a remittance. Previously, this was rarely a problem in practice, because HMRC took a fairly generous view of normal commercial loans. This was because neither party to the loan arrangement intended the collateral to be used, so HMRC considered that it should not normally be treated as used in respect of the debt, and the collateral was “masked” by the normal servicing of the loan. However, on 4 August 2014 HMRC announced that they were changing their treatment of the collateral with immediate effect.
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From 4 August this year, if the collateral for a loan that is used in the UK consists of foreign income or gains, the taxpayer will be taxed as if he/she had brought that income or gains to the UK instead of the loan. Depending on the taxpayer’s marginal rate of tax and the exact nature of the collateral, this could result in a tax charge at up to 45 per cent of the amount remitted. In addition, if the loan is serviced or repaid using foreign income or gains, that is also treated as a remittance of the income or gains, even if the payments never touch the UK (because they are used in respect of the relevant debt). This is not a change of practice, but has been the case for many years. HMRC’s revised view on collateral also leads to the risk of potential double taxation, if other overseas income and gains are used in order to repay the loan. This is because the repayment would then be treated as a remittance of that other income and gains, with no offset or credit for the fact that the collateral has already been taxed when the loan was brought to the UK. HMRC have also announced that taxpayers who have brought loans to the UK before 4 August where the collateral consists of foreign income or gains, should notify this to HMRC 31 December 2015 and the loan either needs to be repaid or the collateral replaced by 5 April 2016, otherwise a taxable remittance will arise. Many
commentators say that this is unfairly harsh, because the borrowers have acted in accordance with HMRC’s own previous guidance, and had not expected such loans to become reportable. Clarification is also being sought from HMRC on various aspects of this change, and many question marks remain. Anyone who is affected should contact their professional advisers as soon as possible in order to review their options.
Helena Whitmore, senior wealth structuring advisor, SEB Private Banking UK
For more information, email privatebanking@seb.co.uk or call 020 7246 4307
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Scan Magazine | Business Feature | Volvo
ABOVE: The all-new XC90 boasts a range of new safety features. TOP RIGHT: The interiors of the all-new XC90 model are luxurious and sleek, incorporating details from Swedish glassworks Orrefors. RIGHT: The new generation XC90.
Volvo – launching a new generation Since its founding in 1927, Volvo has become famously synonymous with safety, quality, and innovation. With the new generation XC90, the brand has yet again proved their skill of combining Swedish simplicity with impressive safety features. So what are the best features of their newest model, and where to next? By Julie Lindén | Photos: Volvo Cars
Lars Lagström, as the Car Line Product Manager at Volvo Cars, you’ve seen the new generation XC90 develop into one of your most impressive cars yet. How does this model carry on Volvo’s legacy of unmatchable safety? “Volvo has always been a pioneer of safety, going back to 1959, when it made the three-point belt – a Volvo invention – standard equipment. The all-new XC90 moves safety to a whole new level. Two worldfirsts are the run-off road protection and Auto Brake at intersections. These are just some of the safety tech driving us towards our vision that no one should be killed or injured in a new Volvo by 2020.” What does the all-new XC90 add to the brand of Volvo, that hasn't been done before? “It marks a new chapter in our independence. It is the first car to be built on Volvo’s
own Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) modular chassis technology, and it’s also our first car to be powered entirely by our own range of new Drive-E engines. In fact, 90 per cent of all components in this car are completely new and unique, so you can see how it embodies our Volvo-byVolvo strategy.” The car has incorporated Orrefors glass in its interiors. How important is it for Volvo to preserve and front Swedish design? “Today we are the only Swedish carmaker, so our brand heritage is extremely important. It’s vital that Volvo stays true to its roots, and we continue to seek inspiration from the environment and the Scandinavian way of life. It’s all about making functionality an emotional experience, combining technology, sophistication and simplicity with masterful craftsmanship, strength and capability.”
What are you particularly excited about in Volvo's near future? “The new XC90 is just the first phase in Volvo’s on-going transformation plan. As our President and CEO Håkan Samuelsson has already said, we are not just launching a car, but re-launching our brand. We’re also continuing to invest heavily in technological innovation. As a leader in this field, we will be at the forefront when the technology comes to market. So watch this space.”
Lars Lagström, Car Line Product Manager at Volvo Cars.
For more information, please visit: www.volvocars.com
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The Water Lounge invites guests to reflect upon their meetings in a relaxed way, something that often unlocks new solutions to pressing matters.
Conference of the Month, Sweden
Nova Park – nothing but excellence No buts, just quality – that’s the motto behind the success of Nova Park, the conference centre at the heart of Scandinavia. By Bella Qvist | Photos: Nova Park
Twelve minutes from Arlanda Airport and half an hour from Stockholm’s city centre we find the brightest shining star of Swedish conference centres: Nova Park. This place is a real diamond in disguise, and yet business is booming as those who are in the know return time and time again. Thanks to its ideal location near the Swedish capital, as well as its main airport, most Scandinavian guests arrive at Nova within the hour, and it’s plain to see why they choose to come here. The establishment doesn’t just boast great accessibility but also one of Sweden’s high-
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est safety standards, outstanding meeting facilities and one of few Swedish ice bars. “No buts” With 25 years of experience behind them, the team at Nova knows how to make guests feel welcome. Quality is always a priority and, as Magnus Ericsson, Hotel Manager and Head of Marketing, says, the Nova Park motto of “no buts” permeates the entire business. “It is typically Swedish to not want to be negative and say ‘that was really nice but the food wasn’t that great’ or ‘but the rooms weren’t very nice’,” says Ericsson.
“It is really important to us that once someone has been to our establishment they have no ‘buts’; they have just found it excellent, full stop.” Focus on investment During the recession many hotels made cuts in order to keep prices down, but Nova Park insisted on investing. “The reason why we have been able to grow during a downward trend is that we have kept a high quality product. Continually investing in our product during both recession and economic growth pays back as we get very happy customers who return time and time again.”
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Scan Magazine | Conference of the Month | Sweden
“Take technology for example,” says Ericsson. “Many may not have updated their systems in many years and that is something that customers will be able to tell.” This is not the case at Nova. With an upto-date technical suite and expert staff on hand, their technology offer remains unbeaten in Sweden. Newly renovated rooms in one of Sweden’s safest hotels However, it’s not just the broadband speed that is kept to the latest standards. This summer 70 per cent of the rooms were renovated. “It was the final puzzle piece to the ‘no buts’ policy; once this had been done we felt everything was spot on,” says Ericsson. The result is a modern yet classic-looking hotel with a focus on great materials and fantastic service, including the highest security standards available. Nova Park is one of Sweden’s highest scoring Safe Hotels establishments, meaning that security aspects such as encryption, fire safety and personal safety are taken very seriously. “Many companies wouldn’t put a group of executives on the same plane but they might not think twice about booking a hotel without proper fire safety,” says Ericsson. “We’re trying to raise awareness about safety by setting an example.” Water Lounge – more than just a spa Another area in which Nova has long been setting trends is wellness. Nova built their Water Lounge in 2007, a time when spas weren’t standard at hotels, and it remains unique today. Inspired by Scandinavian nature and with a big Aspen-like fire, this relaxation suite is far from your average hot tub and mini sauna. “Our spa is called Water Lounge for a reason. It’s a lounge; a space for dialogue and reflection where more complex issues may be more easily resolved than in a conference room.” Next to the spa, which is complimentary to all conference guests, we find an ice bar. Here you can wrap up in a robe whilst enjoying a drink in a sub-zero environment
Nova Park was renovated this summer, leaving modern yet classic looking rooms where you can feel at home. Photo: Jesper Anhede
The fireplace is a natural meeting point after a visit to the ice bar.
Nova Park has a 100 per cent focus on conference guests and an up-to-date technology suite.
The Water Lounge is the perfect space for reflection and relaxation between meetings.
made entirely out of ice. “We see a lot of people take a final meeting of the day at the Water Lounge, and some meet here to relax before dinner.”
really doesn’t leave anything to be desired. We expect it may not remain a well-kept secret for much longer.
The kitchen wow factor Nova’s real wow factor is the restaurant. “The food always scores a high number on the customer satisfaction surveys. It sounds like a cliché but guests literally give our chefs standing ovations; that’s how good it is,” Ericsson says, applauding head chef Thomas Antonssen for the creativity and passion that sees him cook up the most gorgeous meals from seasonal produce.
For more information, please visit: www.novaparkkonferens.se
“What’s so brilliant is that you get the same quality cooking for thirty people as you do for groups of 300. The kitchen is incredibly sharp!” Ultimately, it is easy to see why people return to Nova Park time and time again: it’s the perfect location for meetings, it hosts superb spa facilities and mouth-watering dining experiences, and amounts to an excellent product throughout. Nova Park
Head chef Antonssen’s kitchen has received top scores time and time again.
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Scan Magazine | Conference of the Month | Norway
When business is taken care of, visitors are free to enjoy everything the Norwegian archipelago has to offer.
Conference of the Month, Norway
Business and pleasure in the Norwegian archipelago Ny-Hellesund, with its rustic wooden houses and maritime character, can be described as the essence of the Norwegian south coast. It was here author Vilhelm Krag coined the term “Sørlandet”, which has since been used to identify the region. According to myth Saint Olaf escaped his enemies in Ny-Hellesund, and the strait has played an important part in history ever since. Welcome to an oasis for work and pleasure in stunning surroundings.
tenance arose. For 99 years the Bentsen family ran the wharf in the strait, until the last owner, Jan Erik Bentsen, retired in 2008. His daughter, Hanne Bentsen, is the fourth generation on the wharf and has
By Andrea Bærland | Photos: Verftet i Ny-Hellesund
Ny-Hellesund has been known as a port since 1200, but in the 1600s, when the local inn was granted royal privilege by the Danish king Christian Quart, the strait became an important Norwegian outpost. To this day it remains one of the best preserved such outposts in the country.
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The strait reached its height as an international harbour in 1860 when the population peaked at 212 permanent residents, and international ships came with textiles and spices from all over Europe in exchange for lobster and timber. In the seaport, the need for shipbuilding and main-
Artist Per Fronth has turned the old oil tank into a suite with a unique view.
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Scan Magazine | Conference of the Month | Norway
many stories to tell from the strait and the old wharf – a place she has now turned into an oasis for work and pleasure, beautifully situated in the Norwegian archipelago. In the summer time the little outpost, with only 10 permanent residents, becomes a lively holiday destination with a bustling beach life popular with locals and tourists alike. Popular activities such as boat trips, kayaking and fishing is available throughout the year. “When summer is over and it is time for people to get back to work, we bring all the good things with us into the new season for our conference guests to enjoy,” says Bentsen. A peaceful meeting space In addition to offering 19 rental apartments, Verftet can also offer a conference room big enough to accommodate 40 participants, as well two smaller meeting rooms. Verftet has the capacity to offer separate bedrooms to all participants in buildings designed by local architects Strek Arkiktekter, built to resemble the original wharf buildings. Because NyHellesund is one of eight listed cultural landscapes in Norway, and the only one on the southern coast, it was important that any new buildings paid homage to the history of the strait.
Bølgen&Moi provides guests with a first-class dining experience at Verftet.
workers get the chance to build stronger relationships. “Compared to the big cities where you have the chance to go out by yourself when the day is over, everyone stays here in Ny-Hellesund. Whether they partake in any of our activities or just relax, co-workers get to know each other better in a new more intimate setting,” says Bentsen. One way of bonding with colleagues could be over a tasty meal. The renowned restaurant chain Bølgen&Moi – owned by Nordic culinary champion Trond Moi – has brasseries across the country, but it is only at Verftet they have chosen to open a gourmet restaurant serving delicacies made of local produce on the pier. Henrik Dahl Jahnsen, Norwegian Sommelier of the year 2014, is in charge of pairing food
and wine in the best way possible. He also holds wine tastings for Verftet’s visitors, while the kitchen can offer baking classes. Access to Europe While many of the visitors are local, Verftet has also become a popular seminar destination on both a national and international level. Kristiansand’s airport Kjevik, conveniently located only a short boat ride away, serves both domestic and international flights from Amsterdam, Gdansk and Copenhagen. Verftet has yet again turned Ny-Hellesund into a place where the world comes together.
For more information, please visit: www.nyhellesund.com
“It feels really special that we were allowed to build these new houses among all the history and buildings dating back to the 1600s,” says Bentsen. The acclaimed artist Per Fronth – who also did the artwork for the Nobel Peace Prize diploma awarded to President Barack Obama in 2009 – has decorated all the buildings on the wharf. Fronth’s special project has been to turn the only building remaining from the original wharf – the oil tank – into a suite with a 360-degree view of the Norwegian archipelago. Visitors have described Verftet as a place where they get the peace and quiet to get work done and have a productive meeting, while at the same time getting the chance to relax and unwind in their spare time. Ny-Hellesund is also a place where co-
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Scan Magazine | Business | Business Calendar
Scandinavian Business Calendar
By Julie Lindén
– Highlights of Scandinavian business events
Water & Climate Change Adaptation The UK is experiencing extreme rain events and flooding with more frequency and scale. There are lessons on adaptation from northern Europe to be considered, which are transferable to the UK environment. This groundbreaking event pulls together leading Nordic thinkers and designers working on
innovative and effective solutions to climate change and water. Date: 25 November London UK-Norway Oil & Gas Technology Partnership Workshop The main objective of this UK- Norway gathering is to address the joint challenges the government and business communities are facing to improve the profitability of the remaining hydrocarbon resources in the North Sea. The two-day workshop will include comments from several of the key players in the offshore industry. Date: 26-27 November Aberdeen Christmas dinner with Young Professionals SCC is pleased to announce that 29 November marks the date of Young Professionals’ annual festive dinner, inviting you to make
DUCC
Gear up on fashion inspiration Start off the season of formal wear by taking part in an inspirational evening of fashion, brought to you by SCC and Älva, London. Clothes will be on the rack, accessories will be on the shelves, stylists will be on the premises and drinks will be served. Selling Scandinavian fashion brands like Filippa K, Greta, By Malina, Stylesnob, Mayla, Ahlvar, Stylesnob, Misst and Skultuna, this event is sure to leave you sartorially satisfied. Date: 12 November, 5pm – 9pm London
new connections while soaking up that longed-for Christmas spirit. Members and their friends can feast on a traditional Swedish Christmas buffet while enjoying music, great company and entertainment. The evening’s festivities will proceed to the ever so popular nightclub Bodo's Schloss. Date: 29 November London
Oh, to be in England...
By Helena Halme
Bloggers’ Corner: The very best of the Anglo-Scandinavian blogosphere: from films to fitness The first time I came over to the UK from Finland to visit my English boyfriend, we were invited to his parents’ place in the countryside for a traditional Sunday lunch. It happened to be a few days after my birthday in April and the Englishman’s mother – who I had only just met that day
Helena Halme
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– surprised me by producing a present. It was a lovely bone china mug by Royal Worcester. It wasn’t the item itself that took my breath away, but the package that it came in. As I opened the carefully wrapped present, I saw the words, ‘Oh, to be in England now that April’s there’ on top of the box. It was as if my future mother-in-law had seen into the deepest recesses of my mind and read my thoughts. This happened towards the end of my twoweek holiday, and I was young, madly in love and dreaded having to say goodbye to my Englishman. All I wanted was to stay in England forever and never return home. But this was the 1980s, I was in the middle of my studies at Hanken (Swedish School of Economics in Helsinki), and my
boyfriend was about to go away to sea in a Royal Navy submarine for an undisclosed period of time. Now, after some 30 years of marriage to that same Englishman, I still remember the intense emotion, which the beautiful poem by Robert Browning evoked. I have to admit that those words still bring a lump to my throat.
Helena Halme is Development Director at Finn-Guild, the Finnish-British cultural association, www.finn-guild.org and editor of the magazine Horisontti. She blogs at www.helenahalme.com and has published three novels, The Englishman, Coffee and Vodka and The Red King of Helsinki. All titles can be found on www.amazon.com/author/helenahalme.
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WEALTH WE ALTH P PLANNING LANNING
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Nordfyns Museum The history of the town of Bogense and North Funen, in words, artifacts, paintings and pictures. Nordfyns Museum Vestergade 16, DK-5400 Bogense, Denmark Phone: +45 6481 1884 E-mail: nordmus@mail.tele.dk www.nordfynsmuseum.dk
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Scan Magazine | Humour | Columns
IS IT JUST ME...
By Mette Lisby
Who thinks that the constant “home improvement” of our bodies and lifestyle is getting out of hand? I think it’s great to always try to be a better person, but now we’ve turned ourselves into a “building project” in constant need of improving. We’re expected to treat ourselves like an on-going construction site. We can always look better, look younger, eat more healthily, exercise more, loose weight, breathe right, drink more water etc. etc. These constant possibilities for improvement are both exhausting and timeconsuming. First you have to find the time to actually exercise more, juice your veggies, read the newest studies on gluten etc. Second you need to brag about your endeavours on Facebook. Preferably with a photo from Instagram, so while maintaining your rigorous workout programme, you also have to remember to take selfies. I always thought women were given – or chose to have – a hard time living up to the
whole “look better, look younger, feel better, live healthier” treadmill, but now men’s obsession with improving themselves is becoming nothing short of women’s. Men too want to look younger, fitter, and healthier. Maybe their focus is skewed towards marathons, triathlons and “proper” results-heavy sports, instead of Yoga and Pilates, but still. . . Men are increasingly focusing, just like women, on demanding more and more from themselves, constantly optimising their looks and lifestyle. The problem is that it does not make you a better human being, nor does it make you an interesting one. On the contrary – there’s something very boring and very sad about people who are only passionate about themselves. To give you an easy way out of all this “turning-yourself-into-a-work-in-progress” nonsense I’m happy to supply you with
Ghosts and other critters
It’s that cold, dark time of the year when I start writing about ghosts again. Don’t quote me on this, but I think that Britain has got one of the largest ghost populations in the world. I’m basing this on three facts; 1: There are a lot of people here, which must lead to a lot of ghosts. 2: Most houses are older than time itself, which breeds ghosts. 3: Britain really went for it
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with the whole Victorian thing and obviously a large proportion of ghosts are Victorian. Don’t ask me why. Just close your eyes and imagine a ghost. I bet it’s Victorian and not – say – a 90s rave-ghost, or a 50s car-salesman ghost. I was fascinated with ghosts growing up in Sweden too, even though they didn’t seem as plentiful. Sweden did however have its fair share of mythical, breathing things. These mostly resided in the woods, where their main pastime was to whisk you away to an untimely death. I was running through a list of these various creatures the other day, and was surprised to realise just how many different kinds there are. Everything from tiny trolls to a chap who sits naked in the rivers and plays his violin with deadly consequences (näcken – a male water spirit). Even the original Swedish Santa is a bad-tempered, sinister little gnome. Who has time to worry about Victorian ghosts gliding relatively quietly through
the easiest way to instantly improve yourself. It’s great, and it works every time! It makes you look younger, look better, feel better, AND it will improve the impression you have on others by approximately 100 per cent. On top of that – it’s free! Here it is: (Drum roll!) SMILE! Mette Lisby is Denmark’s leading female comedian. She invites you to laugh along with her monthly humour columns. Since her stand-up debut in 1992, Mette has hosted the Danish versions of “Have I Got News For You” and “Room 101”.
By Maria Smedstad
your house, when there is an angry goblin underneath it, threatening to burn the place down if you fail to provide him with the correctly heated porridge? I reckon this is why Swedes are fairly hardy. Just don’t put them in a house with no central heating and single-glazed windows. If you do, the only ghostly pale, shivering, haunted-looking things left will be the Swedes.
Maria Smedstad moved to the UK from Sweden in 1994. She received a degree in Illustration in 2001, before settling in the capital as a freelance cartoonist, creating the autobiographical cartoon Em. Maria writes a column on the trials and tribulations of life as a Swede in the UK.
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Scan Magazine | Culture | Mew
A new album and Nordic tour for Danish heroes Mew
ple have been following us for years and some are only discovering us now. I’m very thankful for the reception that we get.” This tour is not to be missed.
The darlings of the Danish alternative music scene, Mew, are very excited to embark on an intimate Nordic tour in advance of releasing their sixth studio album. Lead singer Jonas Bjerre talks to us about the weird and wonderful musical world they inhabit. By Helen Cullen | Photos: Mew
Bjerre and his band of eclectic musical innovators have pioneered alternative Danish music on the international music scene. On this intimate tour, they return as conquering heroes to where it all began. “It’s going to be like old times, playing some venues that we haven’t played in years and we’re very much looking forward to that.” For their legions of fans, the return of the original bassist, Johan Wolhert, to the line-up makes this tour even more special. “He has received a very warm welcome and it’s very gratifying to see how much people care,” Bjerre explains. “He brings a lot of energy and focus to what we do, and performing live he is one of the extroverts, so he brings a great energy to the shows.” Mew’s eagerly anticipated new album is due for release in early 2015, but
the title remains a secret for now. “We’ve shown the fans plenty of clues but nobody has guessed it yet. I’m sure somebody will soon.” Mew Tour Dates:
With the new album the band aspired to create something different, that is still very much Mew. “The last album was wide, floaty and cinematic. We wanted to keep some of that but also make it more precise, so that each of the songs would be less of a chapter in a book and more like short stories on their own.” Those who attend the gigs on the upcoming tour can anticipate hearing some of the new material interwoven with classic songs. Notorious for creating exceptional live shows fusing projections, lights and sounds, the melancholic wonder of Mew will have fans rejoicing in the intimate environs. Bjerre is excited too: “Some peo-
05 Nov: Tavastia, Helsinki, Finland 07 Nov: Debaser Medis, Stockholm, Sweden 08 Nov: Pustervik, Gothenburg, Sweden 09 Nov: Vulkan Arena, Oslo, Norway 10 Nov: Ole Bull Scene, Bergen, Norway 13 Nov: Pumpehuset, Copenhagen, Denmark 14 Nov: Train, Aarhus, Denmark 15 Nov: Fermaten, Herning, Denmark 17 Nov: Nordkraft, Aalborg, Denmark 18 Nov: Posten, Odense, Denmark
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Scan Magazine | Culture | Roy Andersson
Roy Andersson winning the esteemed Golden Lion Award at this year’s 71st Venice International Film Festival. © la Biennale di Venezia
Roy Andersson – honoured in Venice “This movie has it all. It’s a comedy, a tragedy, a musical. It’s slapstick. It’s poetry,” suggests Roy Andersson when describing his latest film, A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence. The 71st Venice International Film Festival committee recently awarded the film their most prestigious prize of the year, The Golden Lion, making it clear that the internationally renowned Swedish director is not exaggerating in his description. By Helen Cullen
The acknowledgement was hugely important to Andersson: “That recognition meant a lot. I’m very happy to receive such a fantastic award in a country that has delivered so many masterpieces into film history. It’s a great honour.”
“I really want my movies to be universal so that everyone can understand them,” says Andersson about his films, revealing that he has already begun work on his next project. Photo: courtesy of Studio 24
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The film completes a trilogy that started with Songs from the Second Floor in 2000 and 2007’s You, the Living, an arrangement that came as something of a surprise to the director. “It was not planned,” Andersson explains. “It’s something that came with time. The three films are very connected as they have the same ambition and a similar visual richness. Each time, I wanted to take the movie art closer to fine art, to painting history.” Throughout his career, Andersson has aspired to use his visual medium to portray the very essence of humanity with empathy and humour. His objective is “to understand relationships, how human beings function, and to make relationships more clear.” His commitment to portray-
ing human nature with great responsibility enables his work to resonate with a myriad of viewers worldwide. This is very important to him: “I really want my movies to be universal so that everyone can understand them, if you are living in China or South Africa or anywhere in the world, because we are so similar as human beings, more similar than we think we are.” Andersson’s latest work offered his first opportunity to work with digital technology, an experience that delighted him. “For me, analogue filming is back in the stone age. Now I have a richer, deeper focus that I’m a fan of. I’m happy to have received that quality with the help of this new technique.” After waiting seven years between each instalment of the trilogy, fans will be delighted to hear that Anderson has already begun work on his next project. “It will be the fourth part of the trilogy,” he jokes. “At the moment, I can only say that I would call the three movies in the trilogy sketches for the next one.”
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Scan Magazine | Culture | Johan Hugosson
Jonas Hugosson (left) and Sven-Bertil Taube (right), who are currently setting up a show together to be premiered in 2015.
Exploring Nordic Romance Pianist and composer Johan Hugosson has one foot firmly rooted in the world of classical music and now one in the contemporary. On 28 November at St James’s Church in Piccadilly, Johan will present Nordic Romance, an exploratory new path incorporating his own compositions, taking the audience on an exhilarating journey filled with strong rhythms, sweeping melodies and his own Nordic heritage. By Emelie Krugly Hill | Photo: Paul Grayson
Born and bred in Lund in Southern Sweden, Johan comes from a musical family and began playing piano at the age of three. He studied at the Royal College of Music in London and at the Royal Danish Conservatoire in Copenhagen, but London has been his home since 1996. In 2009 he toured with and recorded the Bach Goldberg Variations in London, Paris and around Sweden. This revered work requires a great deal of courage and technical skill, and this exactly is how Johan’s talent has been described. His driving force? An immense love for music. A great deal has happened in Johan’s career since then, such as his rebirth as a composer. It was in 2012 that Johan first
touched Londoners with his own work, entitled Dusk to Dawn, performed at The Forge in Camden. This spring he held a spectacular performance at the Swedish Church in London, revealing his piece Literas Loquendi for the first time, where he used mixed choir, string orchestra, solo piano, drum kit and percussion to evoke the development and journey of a soul. The result was a standing ovation, and a leap in this powerful chapter in his career. On 28 November, the audience will experience two newly composed works performed together with the Belsize String Quartet. A recent trip to Swedish Lapland provided the inspiration, and the new pieces are called Fate and Northern Lights. Johan’s audience will experience
an extraordinary musical show with swathes of cinematic drama accompanied by delicate flickering candlelight. “It’s obviously a big deal performing your own work and something that I’ve been longing to do, but for me that takes more guts than for example interpreting Chopin,” Johan explains. “I’m currently composing for an Evensong at St Paul’s Cathedral this coming spring. I’m also planning to go into a studio in the near future with percussionist Måns Block. My dream is to compose for the piano and a full symphony orchestra, and perform at the Royal Albert Hall,” he says. Johan also collaborates with Swedish singer and actor Sven-Bertil Taube, with whom he is currently setting up a show for 2015.
For more information, please visit: www.johanhugosson.com
Issue 70 | November 2014 | 105
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Scan Magazine | Culture | Iceland Noir
Susan Moody, Yrsa Sigurðardóttir, Zoë Sharp and Ævar Örn Jósepsson in discussion at last year’s gathering.
Iceland Noir – thoroughly Nordic Débuting in 2013, Iceland Noir was well received by fans who had travelled to Reykjavik for the opportunity of chatting with their favourite authors in the very city that inspired writers to craft the classic Nordic Noir novels Jar City and The Season of the Witch. An instant success, the organisers knew they had to stage another event. The second celebration of Scandinavian crime fiction will take place in November at The Nordic House in Reykjavik. By Andy Lawrence | Photos: Markús Már Efraím
Journalist by day, crime author by night, Quentin Bates has written several books set in Iceland. One evening he was enjoying a curry with Icelandic writers Ragnar Jónasson and Yrsa Sigurðardóttir, and European literary festivals were the topic of conversation. It was an informal discussion that would set the trio on a journey that would lead them to the start of Iceland Noir. “Over the korma, Yrsa, Ragnar and I talked about how odd it was that Iceland had never had its own crime fiction gathering,” says Bates. “A few weeks later we found ourselves at CrimeFest in Bristol, which is one of the annual landmarks of the crime fiction calendar, and by then the die was more or less cast, and we'd decided to go ahead and do it ourselves.”
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Set to become an annual fixture on the literary festival circuit, fans will have the opportunity to attend discussion panels, a crime fiction workshop, tour the streets of Reykjavik accompanied by authors and experience readings of murderous deeds against a backdrop of the city's locations. The cream of homegrown talent will be there alongside writers from the neighbouring Scandinavian countries, as well as the UK. Amongst those confirmed to attend are David Hewson, Peter James, Johan Theorin, Vidar Sundstol, and Antti Tuomainen.
“November’s a good time for a little crime,” says Bates. “It’s in the middle of winter, so it’s dark a lot of the time. So, dark, yes. Cold, probably. Wet, likely. Snow, maybe. We like to think of all that as providing atmosphere. This is working on the thoroughly Nordic premise that there’s no such thing as bad weather, just inadequate clothing.”
Author Ragnar Jónasson at Iceland Noir.
Iceland Noir takes place 20 – 23 November at the Nordic House in Reykjavik.
Alongside the talks and walking tour, aficionados will get the opportunity to attend a dinner at a nearby restaurant, and chat informally with the guests throughout the evening. A trip to see the Northern Lights is planned.
A full programme of events and booking information can be found at: icelandnoir.com
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Scan Magazine | Culture | Scandinavian Music
Scandinavian Music
Gabriel Alares might be a new name and just releasing his debut single, Dårarna, but he’s had quite the career in his native Sweden already. He’s been in two rock bands, he wrote the Russian entry to the Eurovision Song Contest in 2013, (What If, which he performed as part of the backing choir on stage), and he competed in last year’s series of Swedish Idol,
making the live shows and finishing in 7th place overall. Now things start to get really good for him though. Dårarna is an exciting debut that gives us a glimpse of the potential of a future star. Sound-wise, it is one of those great moments where rock-pop is joined by a massive synth, and the whole feels infectiously rousing. Danish popstress Oh Land has returned triumphantly with a brand new single, Head Up High (apt). It’s the first single to be taken from her next album Earth Sick, which comes out on 10 November. Oh Land wrote, produced and recorded the album all on her lonesome via a crowd-funding campaign on PledgeMusic (and you can still donate – help a girl out!). The single is an up-tempo electropop (yay, and yay!) track with a hugely uplifting chorus and an even bigger post-chorus. It turns out that Head Up High is more “HIGHER, HIGHER, HIIIYYYYAAAAAA”. And that’s precisely what you’ll be singing to yourself after only one listen. Ina Wroldsen is one of Norway’s finest and most prolific songwriters, and she’s also one half of the duo Ask Embla. Therefore, she knows
By Karl Batterbee her way around a good pop song more than probably 99.67 per cent of the global music industry, and it’s obviously a no-brainer that a solo single of hers is going to be something to sit up and take note of. And it is, as it turns out. She’s going solo and has just released her debut – Aliens (Her Er Jeg) – sounding like a cross between Sia and Lorde, which is quite the feat. Finally, don’t be too surprised this month if you find yourself falling hard for a novelty, Swedish language rap track: Paradise Jokkmokk by Sweden’s own Kitok. I think it’s the combination of the overpowering flavour of the nineties and the great big stonking anthemic melodies and harmonies of the chorus. The novelty aspect comes from the fact that it’s been said that the man behind Kitok, Magnus Ekelund, dreamt up Paradise Jokkmokk as an attempt at a sort of Lapland Beastie Boys track. It’s very odd, but very likeable. www.scandipop.co.uk scandipop@googlemail.com
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Scan Magazine | Culture | Culture Calendar
Scandinavian Culture Calendar – Where to go, what to see? It’s all happening here! JaJaJa Festival (13-15 Nov) London's celebration of Nordic music, food and film will include performances by artists such as Swedish Jenny Wilson, Danish When the Saints Go Machine and Norwegian Highasakite. For tickets and more info visit: billetto.co.uk/jajajafestival2014 Tove Lo (18 & 21 Nov) Swedish singer-songwriter Tove Lo will be playing songs from her newly released debut studio album Queen of the Clouds in Berlin and London this month. For more info visit: www.tove-lo.com
Jenny Wilson. Photo: Daniel Wirtberg
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Scandinavian Christmas Bazaars (20-30 Nov)
The Swedish Church 6 Harcourt Street London, W1H 4AG Thu 20 Nov 11am - 8pm Sat 22 Nov 11am - 8pm Sun 23 Nov 12noon - 5pm The Scandinavian Christmas Market Albion Street, Rotherhithe London, SE 16 7JB Fri 21 Nov 10.30am - 6pm Sat 22 Nov 10am - 6pm Sun 23 Nov 12noon - 6pm
By Sara Schedin
Dansk KFUK 43 Maresfield Gardens London, SE16 7JB Sat 29 Nov 11am - 5pm Sun 30 Nov 11am - 4pm Miah Persson (26 Nov) Renowned Swedish soprano Miah Persson joins Ian Page and Classical Opera for an evening of Haydn and Mozart. Wigmore Hall, London, W1U. www.wigmore-hall.org.uk Salonen conducts Pelléas et Mélisande (27 Nov) Debussy's only completed opera is a landmark in 20th century music and will be
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Your Shortcut to Scandinavia Bergen
NORWAY
Oslo Stockholm Bromma
SWEDEN Aalborg
Gothenburg
Aarhus
UNITED KINGDOM
DENMARK Billund
Manchester
London City
GERMANY Brussels
D端sseldorf
BELGIUM
SWITZERLAND
Munich
Z端rich
S n acks
Me als
Drinks
ba.com
Pap ers
Lounges
Smiles
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Scan Magazine | Culture | Culture Calendar
conducted by Finnish Esa-Pekka Salonen as part of the City of Light: Paris 19001950 series. Royal Festival Hall, London, SE1. www.philharmonia.co.uk Tina Dico on tour (Nov/Dec) Danish singer-songwriter Tina Dico is touring Europe with her latest album Whispers this winter. tinadico.com Saraste and Hardenberger (5 Dec) An evening of music by Berlioz, Prokofiev and Brett Dean conducted by Finnish Jukka-Pekka Saraste featuring Swedish trumpeter Håkan Hardenberger. Barbican Hall, London, EC2. www.bbc.co.uk/events Rouvali conducts Prokofiev (11 Dec) Young exciting Finn Santtu-Matias Rouvali conducts the Philharmonia Orchestra in this UK première of James MacMillan's Second Percussion Concerto. Royal Festival Hall, London, SE1. www.philharmonia.co.uk Lucia celebrations (4-13 Dec) A perfect way to make the darkest month of the year a bit brighter is to join the Swedes for some traditional Sankta Lucia celebrations. The Swedish church Ulrika Eleonora, St Paul's Cathedral and Southwark Cathedral will all host Lucia concerts in December. Visit the Swedish Church's website for more information: member.swedishchurch.com/tickets Ancher and Krøyer (Until 12 April) The exhibition focuses on the relationship between two giants in Danish art, Michael Ancher and P.S. Krøyer. The focal point is the scenes painted in their beloved Skagen. It was largely thanks to these two painters and their vastly different temperaments that Skagen was put on the artistic world map at the turn of the last century. Tue-Sun: 10am-5pm, Wed: 10am-9pm. ARKEN - Museum of Modern Art, Skovvej 100, Ishøj. uk.arken.dk
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P.S. Krøyer, Summer evening at Skagen, 1892. Ny Carsberg Glyptotek. Photo: Skagens Museum
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THØR: T HØR: LÖVES LÖVES CRISPBREAD C RISP PBREAD HE H E JJUST UST DÖESN’T DÖESN LIKE L IKE T TØ Ø SH SHØW Ø W IT. Crispbread: o Crispbread: one ne o off o over ver 6 600 00 d delicious elicious Swedish, Danish Norwegian S wedish, D anish aand nd N orwegian foods foods UK our online aavailable vailable aacross cross tthe he U K ffrom rom o ur o nline sshop hop and and in in our our London London store. store. SCANDIKITCHEN.CO.UK SCANDIKITCHEN.CO.UK GOOD G OOD FOOD FOOD W WITH ITH L LOVE OVE F FROM ROM S SCANDINAVIA CANDINAVIA
Viking V iking sships hip ps in Roskilde Roskilde History H istor y for for all all tthe he senses senses – year year rround ound Experience five five o r i gi n al V iking ships sh i p s a nd ssee ee o ur Experience original Viking and our impressive boat Museum i m p r e s si v e b oat ccollection ollec tion iin n tthe he sscenic cenic M useum Harbour. Harb r o Look, feel, feel, ssmell mell - and and try! tr y ! Look, The The Viking Viking Ship Ship M Museum useum focuses focuses on on the the Vikings’ Vikings’ maritim i e ccraftsmanship raf tsmanship a nd ttheir heir i impressive i pressive ships. im ships. maritime and Exciting e Exciting exhibitions xhibitions – Films F i lm s a about bout the the Viking Viking sships hips and an d S ea Stallion Stallion ffrom rom Glendalough Glendalough – Dress D r e ss a Viking Sea ass a Viking Activities A c tivities ffor or children children – Go Go on on board board Viking Viking ships sh i p s B oat yard – Museum M u s e um S hop – N ew Nordic Nordic V iking FFood ood Boatyard Shop New Viking Scenic Viking and historical S cenic harbour harbour llife ife with w i th V iking ships sh i p s a nd h istorical w ooden boats. boats. wooden Go September G o sailing sailing on on Roskilde Roskilde Fjord: Fjord: May May 1155 - S eptember 30. 3 0.
SPECIAL S P E C I A L EEXHIBITION X H I B I T I O N 2014 20 1 4 The T he W World orld in in tthe he V Viking iking Age A ge –iS Seafaring anag rinsghiin n thm e 9th 9t 9uhsccentury ntm ur y.d changed chk anged tthe he w world! orld! vikingshipmuseum.dk v keiaf ipthe eeum u
Under U nder the the a age ge o off 118 8a admission dmission free fre e A alb borg org Aalborg
Open O pen d daily aily 10:00 10:00 - 116:00 6:0 0 (May (May 16 16 - Aug. Aug. 24: 2 4: 110:00 0:00 - 17:00) 17:00)
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Transport: T ra n s p o r t: Free car park. Train to Roskilde. From Roskilde Station bus route 203 or about 20 minutes’ walk.
København K øbenhavn Odense
Vindeboder 12 • DK-4000 Roskilde • vikingshipmuseum.dk
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