On June 6th, the finale of the annual Danish Design Awards is taking place in Copenhagen. Rewarding the most innovative solutions across a number of categories, the award sets out to honour the contribution Danish design has brought society - as well as inspire new solutions for a better future. We tagged along to gain some inspiration and insights for the bar industry.
What is “design”? To most, sleek furniture, interior decorations and fashion labels might be the first thing to come to mind. But in Denmark, design is a mindset and human-centric ideology omnipresent across the whole of society - from public digital solutions for our common wellbeing, to private companies like Grundfoss and LEGO. Design is also about rethinking and improving the way we do things by asking: Can it be better? And if so, how?
The potential to improve and build upon existing scenarios is why design - and design thinking - is such a powerful tool. Design doesn’t just determine the shape of the furniture in our house, but also how technological solutions are implemented in our society, the infrastructure of our transportation system and even the choice of ingredients in a dish. Design thinking can help businesses from banks to bars scope existing problems, explore new solutions and break free from unimaginative rigid systems bound by old school traditions.
The Danish Design Awards, hosted in collaboration between the Danish Design Center and Design Denmark, gathers annually to highlight some of the most innovative, inclusive and forward thinking creations in Denmark. Categories span across both public and private sectors, gathering solutions by established businesses as well as startups and students.
Earlier this year, we tagged along as the jury went through the nominees. With the bar industry in mind, we took note of some viable solutions capable of addressing unexplored needs and inspiring new ways of thinking for the bar manager and bartender alike.
Aguardio Leak Sensor
Category: Save Resources
The Aguardio Leak Sensor is on of those design solutions that you don’t think you need until it is invented. Leaking toilets might not be the first problem bartenders think they have to deal with when they start studying cocktails. But as we all know, after a brief stint in a busy venue, most are able to write both plumbing, hardwiring and carpentry on their resumes.
The leak sensor addresses a critical area that most of society is unaware of. An estimated 5-8% of all toilets leak water, meaning a lot more than a headache for your manager. In fact, several thousands of liters of water go to waste very year due to leaking latrines. According to Aguardio themselves, annual costs can amount to anywhere between 5-28.000 DKK per toilet. Old and out of date hardware conflict with a global urgent need to conserve our natural resources, but with this simple piece of technology bars are given an opportunity to do more for the environment whilst minimising the annual water bill. For bars looking to downscale their ecological footprint beyond repurposing lemon peels, the leak sensor is a good first step.
Spottune
Category: Outstanding Service
(Image source: Spottune)
How big of a role does music play in a bar? A huge one, and arguably not only as a cornerstone of the bar atmosphere. Consistency in music or lack of can potentially make or break a brand. Sadly, music can be a hassle, from the technical installation of speakers and sound systems to understanding ambience and loudness across multiple venues and/or rooms.
Enter Spottune; a cloud-based software service and speaker system combined that is currently being used by retailers and hotels to tailor the sound experience for customers. Applied to bars, and it could change the game for indoor atmosphere, venue branding and the time spent by managers on picking playlists.
The wireless speakers can be stored in the ceiling, bridging the divide between good sound and aesthetics. Furthermore, the software allows you to control speakers individually from one central control point, meaning zones within a venue can be divided via sound. In a venue with multiple bars or atmospheres, this allows a manager to control playlists, sound levels and ambience without having to switch rooms. In theory, this means the dance floor can stay loud whilst conversations can continue effortlessly three feet away in the lounge chairs. For brands with multiple venues, it provides the opportunity to ensure consistency across the brand. Lastly, Spottune is not locked to a specific platform, meaning it can be used with Spotify, YouTube, iTunes, USB, AUX or whichever system your venue accommodates.
The speakers are omnidirectional, and if you want to feel what they can do, head to Spottune customer CPH Studio Hotel, and listen closely.
Mooon Walk - small steps for a new period
Category: Outstanding Service
On a recent visit to Stockholm, we were thrilled to experience that a large number of bars had installations in their toilets providing free female sanitary products. The only other place we recall seeing this has been inside the diaper changing table at Paloma Vermuteria in Nørrebro, and even then it’s quite well hidden for guests. So, what’s stopping us from copying our neighbours and doing the same here in Denmark?
The Mooon Walk had some design issues that didn’t land it a spot in the finals. Nonetheless, it is a smart, simple design that provides easy access to and refill options for female sanitary products in toilets. Furthermore, Mooon Walk promotes social transparency and an end to embarrassment around the female cycle. The name is also a fun play on the famous Moon Landing quote that encompasses the change we’re experiencing towards female periods. If bars are serious about providing a safe space for women, then period taboo is a detriment to the industry that both managers and staff should work to get rid of. One small step at a time.
Howdy
Category: Better Work
Working conditions, discrimination and mental health have made headlines across the whole of the Danish industry in the past year. The time is ripe for change, but a lot of owners and managers are left at a loss. To simply understand the problem, where does one begin?
The Howdy app could be a good start. Developed as a feedback system for employees, the collection of well-being data is meant to help employers detect unwell-being amongst staff. Every employee is encouraged to give feedback on their wellbeing daily. The app then translates the data into easy-to-use analysis that managers can use to understand where to improve and what issues to address. Until now, Howdy estimates a 50-60% reduction in sick leaves thanks to the use of the app.
However, an issue voiced by the jury is how the data is used. Apps like these can help drive important discussions about well-being at work and make it a common language and culture also within hospitality. But if management doesn’t use any of the data or feedback from employees to improve conditions, then what is the point of an app? Just goes to show, technology alone cannot solve our issues, albeit they might help to guide the direction.
Vivino
Category: Employment Growth
(Image source: Vivino)
Many may not know that Danes love to drink wine. Wine bars continue to pop up all over the country, and supposedly, we have the largest number of wine importers per capita. As such, is not surprising that it was a group of Danes who decided to gather all that love of wine in one place.
The app Vivino is a community platform and digital market place. It currently has 56.5 million users worldwide and was nominated in the “Employment Growth” category for having reached 345 employees in Denmark and the US in just 10 years. Beyond that, the app has helped provide more visibility for smaller wine growers globally and in doing so has successfully contributed to the democratisation of the wine industry.
The winners will be announced on June 9th from 16:00 at Industriens Hus and via LIVE stream. Check out the Danish Design Awards and see all the finalists here.