Our inspiration to create positive change through design has to be seen in a 20th-century historical context where Danish design had welfare and democratic inclusion in scope. Once again, design used as a tool for change might give us solutions to the greatest challenge of our time: The Climate Crisis.
Since the mid 20th century, Danish design, craftsmanship, and architecture have become world known for their minimalistic, functional esthetics and high crafted quality.
From exceptional buildings and houses to beautiful furniture, bikes and hi-fi systems. Today, iconic design is seen throughout the Danish homes and cityscapes. Pioneering architects and designers such as Arne Jacobsen, Hans Wegner, and Børge Mogensen were highly inspired by the simultaneous development of the Danish welfare model evolving through the 20th century. In this regard, houses, furniture and interior were designed and price tagged to raise the living standard among the broad population.
Few things symbolize the Danish and Scandinavian way of living better than the outcomes of this period, which spread across the Nordic countries. The development of the nordic design traditions was in this period closely connected to egalitarian political aspirations. In this regard, with ideals about beauty, comfort and high quality to the people as the overall objective. Thus, the home and its related objects became symbols of the political development of the welfare state in which beauty for all was a central design guide to create better lives for the many.
History told
At STRØM Bikes we are highly inspired by this early development of Danish Design. It’s indeed comforting to know that it is possible to create big societal changes for the better, with design as a defining tool in the toolbox.
Fast forward, today we are facing a historical challenge. While having to realize and maintain high-quality lives world-wide, we are to solve the great challenges of global warming, urban pollution and the heritages of the extractive model of the past century. Facing these current threats, the biggest task of our century, is to design solutions that battle climate change in a similar democratically inclusive way. In our opinion, modern design processes must act on the required transition to a sustainable society. Ultimately, by exemplifying the behavioural changes that we all must take towards a better future for all.
We are on a mission to ensure a societal change in our chosen niche of urban mobility. To do this, we must ensure accessibility and affordability as key parts of the business and design models we bring to life. We are convinced that the e-bike, and other types of electric micro-mobility, are going to play crucial roles in transforming sustainable urban transport systems worldwide.
Ebikes – the preferred choice for inner-city mobility
With these thoughts in mind, our vision for STRØM Bikes is to make electric bikes the preferred means of transportation for inner-city commuting.
We envision the e-bike as the natural (and economically accessible) choice of urban mobility. A replacement of the car. And a convenient choice to break up with the inner-city congestion and noise. We already have the right solutions developing and maturing at rapid speed. Based on our previous experience, using design as a tool for change, we are sure that Danish Design can be facing a new golden age in the development of the sustainable society of tomorrow.
