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11 Nov 2026 / The school and employees

Design is good for business

81% of Danish manufacturing companies that use design say it has a positive impact on their bottom line. That is one of the findings of the new report Design Delivers 2026 – Manufacturing Denmark, which explores how design helps strengthen the competitiveness of Danish manufacturing companies. And the conclusion is clear: The more strategically companies use design, the greater the value they gain from it.
By Marianne Baggesen Hilger

In a time of global competition, technological advances and growing demands for sustainability, businesses need more than efficient production. They need fresh perspectives, the ability to challenge existing solutions and the courage to think differently. This is where design has a vital role to play – not just in shaping products, but as an approach to innovation, development and change.

This is precisely the potential we work to unlock at Kolding School of Design. Through education, research and collaborations with companies such as LEGO Group, Coloplast, Gabriel and Dansk Wilton, we bring design expertise and fresh perspectives to real-world challenges.

- It is encouraging to see how many Danish manufacturing companies are already using design and recognising its tangible value. But the report also shows that the potential is even greater when design becomes an integral part of business strategy. Designers can ask new questions, challenge conventional thinking and develop solutions that both strengthen businesses and help address societal challenges. As a society, we need to become much better at realising this potential, says Carina Christensen, Rector of Kolding School of Design.

Design Delivers 2026 draws on responses from 254 Danish manufacturing companies and features five business case studies showing how design is used in practice to develop products, strengthen businesses and create more sustainable solutions.

The report reinforces an important point: Design should not only be part of product development, but also of the strategic decisions that shape the future of businesses.

Explore the findings below and discover real-world experiences and insights from Kvik A/S, GN Group, KEN HYGIENE SYSTEMS A/S, Pressalit and DS Smith.

The report was commissioned by Danish Design Center and Danish Industry, with the survey conducted by Megafon.