Since the 1990s, Kontrapunkt has played a central role in shaping the visual identity of Denmark’s public and governmental institutions. At the heart of this effort lies a surprising transformation: turning the royal crown—once a symbol of monarchy—into an icon of modern democracy. In this talk, Bo will share how Kontrapunkt embraced Danish self-irony, modesty, and a deep respect for plurality to build a decentralized design system for government ministries. The result is a uniquely Danish approach to state branding—less about uniformity, more about coherence through character—standing in contrast to the rigid, centralized systems seen in many other nations.

Bo Linnemann is design director, owner and co-founder of Kontrapunkt, the leading brand and design agency in Scandinavia, based in Copenhagen.

He has influenced Danish and international design since the beginning of the 1980s. He’s the most award winning Danish designer; has been awarded the Danish Design Prize 17 times times and has received numerous international design prizes, including 7 Red Dot Awards.

From offices in Copenhagen and Tokyo Bo has been responsible for brand- and design programs for companies and institutions all over the world, among others Mitsubishi Motors, Shiseido, Microsoft, IKEA, Dai Nippon Printing, Denso, Nissan, Tasaki, PMQ, LEGO, Carlsberg, Danske Bank, Ørsted, Danish Crown and many others.

Bo Linnemann and Kontrapunkt has exhibited in almost any part of the world, and he has lectured at many universities in throughout the world - among others Korea, China, Japan, Israel, Qatar, UK, USA, RSA, etc.

Bo has graduated from the Royal Academy of Fine Arts, Copenhagen 1981, where he later has served as Professor and Head of the Design Institute. Visiting professor at Musashino Art University, Tokyo.

In 2011 Bo was awarded the The Danish Design Council’s Annual Award and in 2012 he received the Honorable Award from The National Bank of Denmark. In 2014 he was granted the Bindesbøll Medal by the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts – the highest recognition of excellence in the fields of applied art and industrial design.
In 2016 Knight of the Order of the Dannebrog.

In 2019 he was appointed as adjunct professor at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts.