The idea to create visual images of Danfoss’ Core Values by launching an art competition for young art students came from some employees and the board of the Danfoss Art Foundation. Together, they make up the steering group of the project which has prepared the concept and summary of the Danfoss Art Award.
“The project invites a new and different way to communicate. We usually communicate in a technical and rational way. With this project, however, where works of art will make Danfoss’ Values visible, we wish to express the company’s identity in a different way. We will be excited to see how the art students deal with the task,” says Henning Wendelboe, chairman of the project’s steering group.
Extra dimension for change culture
“When we selected art, design and architectural students to work with us – and not established artists – it was a natural continuation of Danfoss’ long-standing tradition of cooperating with educational institutions. We have learnt that this is an incentive to our innovative change culture and, with this project, we will be adding an extra dimension by communicating via channels which are new to us,” says Torben Fich, the head of the project Danfoss Art Award.
The project is based on Danfoss’ whole identity and the works on show will help communicate the Danfoss Values:
• Our business is trust
• A very safe and reliable choice
• Passionate about technology
• Global culture, local representation
• Environmentally and socially responsible
International jury
This is a groundbreaking project, both in terms of the competition's global dimension and the task itself: challenging art students to visualise the company’s values. For the job of evaluating and selecting the best works, Danfoss has managed to bring together an international jury, consisting of three Danish and four foreign artists and professors, all of which are highly respected:
- John Heskett, professor, The Design School, Hong Kong’s Polytecnic University
- Jytte Høy, rector, The Art Academy of Jutland
- Lars Thøger Christensen, professor, Marketing & Leadership Faculty, University of Southern Denmark
- Heather Martin, interaction designer, Copenhagen Institute and Interaction Design
- Peter Kjær, head of Institute, Architectural School, Århus, Denmark
- Sergei Sviatchenko, painter, curator and founder of Senko Studios
- So Yan Kei, painter and teacher, Hong Kong.
The best works will be awarded a prize; then acquired and exhibited in Danfoss’ headquarters in Nordborg, Denmark.
Time schedule of the competition:
September 7, 2007: Deadline for submitting sketches
Beginning of December 2007: Physical works should be forwarded to Danfoss
January 2008: Final nomination, awards and preparation for publication
February 2008: Launch of exhibition
For further information:
Further information about the Danfoss Art Award is available via the link below or by contacting:
• Communication advisor Nikolaj Stig Nielsen, tel. +45 2374 1071,
e-mail: nsn@danfoss.com
• Chairman of the steering group Henning Wendelboe, tel. +45 7488 4399
• Project leader Torben Fich, tel. +45 4018 5710, e-mail: T_FICH@danfoss.com
