FUTURE TRENDS: Beyond Minimalism: The Evolving Language
Written By LE BOOK
This August, CONNECTIONS Copenhagen hosted a morning talk that went far beyond surface-level Scandinavian design. In a city known for clean lines and calm palettes, five voices from across fashion, design, and publishing came together to discuss where Scandinavian aesthetics are heading and what it means to evolve without losing your roots.
Moderated by Fatine Layt (Publisher & CEO, A CURATED BY GROUP), the panel brought together a powerhouse of creative voices:
Cecilie Bahnsen | Founder & Designer
Bjørg Finsen | CEO & Managing Partner, CARO EDITIONS
Mads Pedersen | PR & Social Media Manager, 101 CPH
Andreas Ibsen | Creative Director, FRAME
Here’s what we took away from an hour of sharp insights, layered thinking, and a collective desire to move beyond minimalism.
1. Heritage That Moves with You, Not Against You
Scandinavian design isn’t just what you see, it’s what you feel.
For Cecilie Bahnsen, the essence of Scandinavian aesthetics is rooted in emotion, not trend:
“For us, it's a timelessness… caring about objects and memories you connect to them.”
— Cecilie Bahnsen
She’s not designing for the moment, she’s designing for memory. Clothes that, like a family heirloom or hand-thrown ceramic, become part of your personal story.
“It’s not something that owns you - it’s something you make your own, simply by wearing it.”
— Cecilie Bahnsen
2. Functionality Meets Personal Expression
Scandi and soulful are finally synonymous.
While functionality remains a backbone of Nordic design, the conversation is shifting. Mads Pedersen described it simply:
“For us, it’s really about functionality and longevity… we want to make furniture that lasts for generations.”
— Mads Pedersen
But timeless doesn’t mean soulless. For Cecilie, utility and emotion go hand in hand:
“It’s about creating something that lasts but also something that you can add your own impression to.”
— Cecilie Bahnsen
The new Scandi spirit? Quiet strength with room for individuality.
3. Minimalism Is Real, But Not the Whole Story
Calm is cool: but boldness is welcome.
Minimalism might be the global shorthand for Scandinavian aesthetics, but that’s far from the full picture. As Bjørg Finsen put it:
“It’s funny because none of you is speaking about minimalism… for non-Scandi people, it would probably be the first idea about Scandinavian codes… it’s part of our history, but I think we’re much more than that.”
— Bjørg Finsen
The architecture, the neutral tones, the restraint - yes, it’s there. But the creative energy on the streets tells a different story. Fatine observed:
“When you are in the street now in Copenhagen, you can see people in pink... there is a new narrative of the Scandi codes.”
— Fatine Layt
A quiet evolution is underway: Minimalism is no longer the boundary - it’s the base layer.
4. Sustainability Isn’t a Buzzword - It’s a Way of Being
Mindful choices matter more than marketing claims.
For a region often praised for its ethical leadership, the panelists were refreshingly honest about the messiness of sustainability.
Cecilie Bahnsen spoke openly about the difficulty of sustainable design:
“Every time you make a choice, it makes your process way more complicated... we have a lot of things to still do better.”
— Cecilie Bahnsen
One of her answers? Upcycling with intention. Her studio creates one-of-a-kind dresses from archived fabrics across multiple seasons - unique, layered, and deeply personal.
5. Clarity Meets Narrative in 3D Design
Even pixels deserve purpose.
As the only panelist working in digital media, Andreas Ibsen of Frame brought a fresh perspective on Scandinavian aesthetics in the age of screens.
Even without material form, Scandinavian principles remain foundational:
“Form follows function… everything has to communicate clearly.”
— Andreas Ibsen
For Andreas, 3D and CGI carry their own Scandinavian values but expressed differently. In a digital world defined by speed, he emphasized the importance of designing with longevity in mind:
“We try to be very aware of the fast-moving nature of technology and work with longevity instead.”
— Andreas Ibsen
Final Takeaway
Scandinavian design is still defined by functionality but now it pulses with emotion, narrative, and global relevance. From Andreas’s clarity, Cecilie’s emotional craftsmanship, Bjørg’s cultural openness, to Mads’s call for integrity over trends, the panel didn’t just outline the future of Nordic creativity - they embodied it.
Minimalism may still be in the frame, but it's being reframed.
This is Scandinavian design with soul.