Facing a challenge

Half a million more senior citizens in 2050, a workforce reduced by 150.000 people, and a double up on public expenses for welfare services in 2040. These are just some of the grim numbers the Danish economy will be facing in a near future. With that in mind DI Service (Danish Industry) gathers a number of prominent guests speakers for their annual year day the 26th of May to debate how to re-think services of the future. Among the speakers is our managing partner Michael Keissner who is going to share Hatch & Bloom’s experiences with the service design project ‘Glad for Mad’ (Happy about foods) from Holstebro. Read more at http://service.di.dk or download the program.

No … here we are

From our secret in-between-places place we have now arrived to our almost final destination for hopefully years to come. Only almost final because as the observant might notice a lot of work is still to be done. Fortunately, the well-reputed architect company Cebra, located on the floor beneath our new place, has generously offered us shelter for the next three months. In the meantime we are in an excellent position to punk the workers on the upper floor. How our final crib will look like still remains a secret …

From low baritone to high soprano

At Hatch & Bloom we’ve been waiting with much anticipation for our all-time favourite black soul mama, Angie Stone. The queen herself did an intimate concert in Århus (so the city has a somewhat international touch to it after all) and the neo-soul sista and her band were rocking the place. With sore throats from singing and burning palms from clapping Mette and Lotte were the first to get in line to get autographs and pictures with this living legend. Thought we were too old for that? Think again! When you see real talent it’s all about getting up-close and personal.

Has Hatch & Bloom disappeared?

No people? No furniture? Halloooo? Has Hatch & Bloom disappeared from this world? On the contrary – we are moving to a new location. We have been very happy about our office, but as new people are joining us, we need more space for our growing adventure. Where, you ask. And we won’t answer. Yet. By the way, phones are still working. We are still working (from a secret off the cuff location). More to come …

Food for thought

Food design is really starting to get attention in Denmark. In one of our projects –improving food service for elderly people – Danish Design Centre has interviewed Michael for their newsletter. Later this month Michael will be giving a speech on the project for an audience of business people, designers and the Minister of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries.

Read the interview (Danish only, sorry)

Note on branding (a personal experience from NY)

You might not know him. However, all New Yorkers do. In fact, most Americans do. The Naked Cowboy. Standing at the corner of Times Square you can hear the buzz when he shows up. Then you see him. A guy wearing nothing but his cowboy hat, briefs, cowboy boots and his guitar. As he starts to jam and pose people go wild. In fact, he has become such a brand that the blue M&M suddenly appeared in a commercial dressed (or not dressed) just like The Naked Cowboy. That caused The Naked Cowboy to file a trademark-infringement lawsuit against Mars Inc. (Producer of M&Ms) for no less than 6 million dollars – a lawsuit he’s likely to win by the way. That’s street level branding for you! And a lesson on the importance of branding …