3 Tage Design Inspiration | Royal Copenhagen

Design Talk during Three days of Design in Copenhagen

HERITAGE IN MOTION: GOING BACK TO MOVE AHEAD?

How do you honour a legacy brand without becoming confined by it? This was the central question explored in a panel talk hosted by Royal Copenhagen during 3daysofdesign. The conversation featured Jasper Toron Nielsen, Creative Director at Royal Copenhagen, Paula Gerbase, Creative Director at Georg Jensen, and Tiina Karjalainen Kierysch, Head of Design at Bang & Olufsen. Moderated by design and lifestyle writer Becky Sunshine, the discussion centred on how each of them navigates heritage, innovation, and emotional connection in their work.

250 Jahre Handwerkskunst und Design

In diesem Jahr feiert Royal Copenhagen 250 Jahre beispiellose Handwerkskunst, Design und Innovation. Im Rahmen der 3daysofdesign vom 18. bis 20. Juni 2025 lädt Royal Copenhagen Besucher zu einer immersiven Ausstellung ein, die sein reiches Erbe und seine zeitlose Kunstfertigkeit würdigt.

Tiina Karjalainen Kierysch echoed this, saying "Heritage is a mindset. At Bang & Olufsen, we're constantly pushing boundaries, but always learning from what came before. Often, we find past designers have already attempted what we're trying now."

For Paula Gerbase, heritage means being a guardian of the brand’s full expression. “People have been surprised by some of the things I’ve brought forward, saying, ‘This isn’t Georg Jensen.’ But it is, it’s just not from the past decade - it reaches further back. It’s about allowing the house to reveal itself to you, embracing its entire history, and not being confined to a narrow timeline,” she explains.

“We want the exhibition to be a truly immersive experience, bringing our Flagship Store to life through a dynamic mix of events and workshops. Personally, I love it when a brand goes beyond simply showcasing a product and instead invites people into the creative process—that’s exactly what we aim to do.” says Jasper Toron Nielsen, Creative Director of Royal Copenhagen.

Crafting connection through emotion and storytelling

All agreed that heritage is ultimately emotional. "People feel very connected to our brands," Jasper Toron Nielsen noted. "They care deeply. That’s why reactions can be so strong - positive or negative. That’s part of building a legacy."

Paula Gerbase added, "Our customers are our defenders. If they care enough to disagree, we’re doing something right. The real enemy is indifference."

Tiina Karjalainen Kierysch spoke about the challenge of creating designs that can be passed down for generations in a fast-moving tech landscape. “When we begin the design process, we

always consider which parts might need repair 30 years from now. We design with longevity in mind, making it possible to upgrade our products as technology evolves. I believe that if we put love and care into the product, the customer will feel it.”