Counterpoint

LABORATORIUM invites the public deep into the creative engine room of a designer or artisan. In the series' fourth exhibition, visitors get a unique opportunity to get up close to the design processes behind selected projects created by the creative agency Kontrapunkt.

For four decades, Kontrapunkt has left a significant mark on Denmark. With roots in classic design craftsmanship, the agency has shaped brands and transformed communication for banks, ministries, and museums, among others. Their work influences public spaces with respect for culture and context, where each solution balances heritage and renewal. In this exhibition, we meet an agency that, through its practice, helps design Denmark – and whose influence today extends far beyond the country's borders.

DSB's hexagon on the S-train, the pharmacy's 'a' on the facade, and TV2's circle on the screen are all well-known brands that Danes encounter daily and that have become part of our shared visual culture. But how do you create a brand or visual identity that people remember and that is long-lasting? In a world saturated with brands competing for attention, standing out has become a goal in itself. The LABORATORIUM exhibition presents seven cases from Kontrapunkt's four-decade-long practice. They range from state institutions and infrastructure to sports and business, from the royal to the everyday. The seven cases are very different, but all express the same conviction: that visual identity is not decoration, but instead proof of something real.

The exhibition, which is Kontrapunkt's first museum exhibition, provides an interesting insight into how the agency works and the process behind the development of the selected brand identities. Curiosity and a respectful understanding of culture and context are fundamental principles in their practice. Because, in Kontrapunkt's view, the strongest identities rarely arise from scratch. It's about building on something that is already there – like a symbol with 150 years of history, a letterform from Renaissance pharmacy glass, or a city's lions.

The LABORATORIUM series is a series of changing special exhibitions that focus on innovative and exemplary design from our time. At the same time, the exhibitions offer a rare insight into the design process – from the initial idea to the finished result. The series presents both established, renowned designers and new, up-and-coming designers and artisans who, through visions and experiments, help shape the design of the future.

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