Among Danish furniture designers, Hans J. Wegner is considered one of the most creative, innovative and prolific. Often referred to as the master of the chair, Wegner designed more than 500 chairs in his lifetime – many of them considered masterpieces. He is probably best known for his iconic Wishbone Chair which has been in continuous production since 1950.

The core of Wegner’s legacy is his focus on bringing the inner workings – the soul – of the furniture to the exterior, where the simplicity and functionality can be appreciated.

Ole Wanscher was integral to the aesthetic and functionality of modern Danish design. Having studied under Kaare Klint, he helped shape Danish furniture design as a designer and as an educator when he took over Klint’s professorship at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts.

Wanscher’s classic and contemporary designs made him popular.  In 1958, the Danish newspaper Politiken wrote: “Owning a Wanscher chair is an adventure every day, and will be so even several hundred years from now, for this is how long it lasts”.

Mogens Koch's designs reveal some of the most elegant and important solutions to the requirements of function, comfort and aesthetics. His works, from homes to monuments, building extensions, and, of course, furniture – are original examples of universal utility.

Structural components and mathematics were key to Koch’s process. Traditional ornamentation for its own sake were not part of his ideology – an object’s purpose led the way. The modular concept for his Bookcase System is one of his major design successes.

One of Denmark's most respected architects, Arne Jacobsen has become synonymous with global modernism. His precise yet expressive aesthetic still serves as inspiration for contemporary designers, and his furniture designs, most created in connection with specific architectural projects, continue to excite both in Denmark and abroad.

While architecture was Jacobsen’s primary focus, he also made lighting, textiles, furniture and industrial designs, approaching all projects with the same perfectionism that defined his career.

Poul Kjærholm mixed his strict, modern idiom with superior quality and materials rooted in Danish craftsmanship traditions. Despite his short career as a furniture designer, Kjærholm’s craftsmanship and clear expression resulted in timeless designs with a global influence.

Kjærholm became known for his functionalist steel, leather and glass furniture. He removed unnecessary ornamentation in favor of clarity and function, and avoided easy solutions and fads in his search for each material’s own language. 

Austrian design collaborative, EOOS, were established in Vienna in 1995 by Martin Bergmann, Gernot Bohmann, and Harald Gründl. The trio study historical roots in a contemporary context and use a unique process called Poetical Analysis to create works. Their method focuses on myths, rituals and intuitive expressions, to create connections that extend beyond initial perceptions.

EOOS view design as a poetic discipline, and believe that end results should be able to accommodate changing needs and desires.

With his unconventional background and personal design approach, Anker Bak pushes conceptual and physical boundaries via quality materials, craftsmanship and functionality. His designs make a difference in people’s lives and meet real needs.

An example of this is the Rocking Nest Chair he made for his sister who needed a comfortable place to relax with her newborn baby. The chair’s distinct, minimalist, folding form shows Bak’s understanding of materials, function and aesthetics,  as well as society’s changing needs.

The Strand + Hvass duo is part of a new breed of Danish designers whose work continues in a direct line from their celebrated predecessors. The designers focus on simplicity, superior quality, and the combination of uniqueness and industrial production to create the modern classics of tomorrow. With the Extend Table design, Strand + Hvass infused the modern Danish furniture tradition with a bold new expression and additional functionality.

Danish professor and architect Bodil Kjær has significantly contributed to the spread of Danish Modern design principles through her travels, knowledge gathering and promotion of the relationship between design and architecture.

Kjær views furniture construction from a purely technical perspective, interplayed with modern architecture and created for people. She always considers context and has collaborated with different professions in her desire to optimize physical settings.

After graduating from the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts’ School of Architecture in Copenhagen in 1969, Claus Bonderup and Torsten Thorup began a collaboration that led them to join forces on design projects across the globe for more than 20 years.

The pair have designed everything from large-scale architecture to lighting, including a series of geometric-inspired lamps, which Carl Hansen & Søn recently revived. Throughout their joint career, Bonderup and Thorup have received much recognition and numerous prizes. Their contributions to the world of design are ongoing.

Her desire to explore spaces and experiment with techniques on the edge of what is possible led Nanna Ditzel – one of Danish design’s most distinctive personalities – to become acquainted with the entire design universe. This unconventional approach to the design process, together with an extensive knowledge of the craft, spawned a range of innovative designs from jewellery to textiles and furniture. Throughout her 60-year career, Nanna Ditzel established herself as one of the most distinctive figures in Danish design. She rethought the functionalist design tradition with her imaginative expressions and left her mark on thousands of private homes and public forums.