LABORATORIUM: Kontrapunkt

For four decades, the design agency Kontrapunkt has made a distinctive mark on Denmark, shaping the visual narrative of banks, ministries, and museums alike. In a new exhibition opening at Designmuseum Danmark during the design festival 3daysofdesign, visitors can explore selected brand cases up close and gain unique insight into the stories behind the visual identities of well-known institutions.

The hexagon of DSB, Denmark’s national railway operator, the distinctive “a” of Denmark’s pharmacy network, and the circle of TV 2, one of Denmark’s leading television broadcasters, are all familiar visual symbols encountered daily by Danes. Over time, they have become part of the country’s shared visual culture. But how do you create a brand or visual identity that people remember and that stands the test of time? A new exhibition in the LABORATORIUM series at Designmuseum Danmark takes a closer look at the long-standing practice of Kontrapunkt through a selection of landmark projects. Rooted in classical design craftsmanship, the agency has shaped brands and transformed communications for a wide range of prominent institutions and companies. Its work has helped define Denmark’s public realm, where Kontrapunkt consistently seeks to balance heritage and renewal in every solution. The exhibition tells the story of an agency whose practice has contributed to the making of contemporary Denmark and whose influence today extends far beyond the country’s borders.

Seven cases, four decades, one practice
In a world saturated with brands competing for attention, standing out has become a goal in itself. Since its founding in 1985, Kontrapunkt has taken a different approach. The LABORATORIUM exhibition presents seven cases from the agency’s four decades of practice. These range from government institutions and infrastructure to sports and business, from the royal to the everyday. The seven cases are diverse, yet all express the same conviction: that visual identity is not decoration, but evidence of something real.

Insight into a distinct design philosophy
This is the first time Kontrapunkt is exhibited in a museum, and the exhibition offers a valuable insight into how the agency works and the processes behind the development of the selected brand identities. Curiosity and a respectful understanding of culture and context are core principles of their practice. In Kontrapunkt’s view, the strongest identities rarely emerge from scratch. It is about building on something that already exists: a symbol with 150 years of history, a letterform from Renaissance apothecary glass, or the lions of a city.

Fourth LABORATORIUM exhibition
The exhibition is part of the museum’s LABORATORIUM series, which explores the design process from within through a programme of changing exhibitions focusing on innovative and exemplary contemporary design. The series presents both established, renowned designers and emerging talents who, through vision and experimentation, help shape the design of the future.

LABORATORIUM Kontrapunkt, on view from 12 June to 18 October 2026, is the fourth exhibition in the series.