Scandinavian design emerged in the 1950s in the three Scandinavian countries (Denmark, Norway and Sweden), as well as Finland. It is a design movement characterized by simple designs, minimalism, functionality, and low-cost mass production.
The Lunning Prize, awarded to outstanding Scandinavian designers between 1951 and 1970, was instrumental in both making Scandinavian design a recognized commodity, and in defining the profile of Scandinavian design. Since 2006, the tradition of a pan-Nordic design award has been resumed with the Forum AID Award.
The idea that beautiful and functional everyday objects should not only be affordable to the wealthy, but to all, is a core theme in the development of modernism and functionalism, but is probably most completely realised in post-WWII Scandinavian design. The ideological background was the emergence of a particular Scandinavian form of social democracy in the 1950s, as well as the increased availability of new low-cost materials and methods for mass production. Scandinavian design often makes use of form-pressed wood, plastics, anodized or enameled aluminum or pressed steel.
The concept of Scandinavian design has been the subject of many scholarly debates, exhibitions and marketing agendas during the last fifty years, but many of the democratic design ideals that were the central theme of the movement have survived and can be found resonant in contemporary design work by Scandinavian and international designers.
Prominent Scandinavian design and retail companies include:
Scandinavian fashion: H&M, Marimekko, Filippa K, Acne Jeans, Cheap Monday, Nudie Jeans, Gudrun Sjödén, J.Lindeberg.
Danish fashion stands as the 4th largest export out of all manufacturing industries in the country. Bringing in 30 billion dollars a year, fashion has become a catalyst in export, employment, and growth in Denmark. According to the Danish Fashion Institute, "Danish fashion companies have a higher shareholder value creation than any other fashion industry globally." The sixties and seventies were a period of growth of fashion in the country. From 1960–1965 the clothing industry experiences a growth of approximately 100% when their exports increased from 250 million to 500 million.
During this time, designers and manufacturers realized the need for a focus on product development and knowledge of target area. Fashion shows became a growing phenomenon, and clothing was put into mass production by new designers from the country. While exports continued to increase, and fashion design in Denmark became more popular, designers began to promote their fashion worldwide in hopes to rival top fashion countries such as France and Italy. Because Danish fashion was so unique compared to the trends at the time, the media was behind the new and fresh designs.