The Scandinavian Style: Nordic values in HCI

During the 1950s Scandinavian Design caught international attention with its minimalism, simplicity, functionalism and sophistication. Several factors rested at its heart: functionality, democracy and affordability. Aesthetic styles connected to international minimalist, modernist and functionalist movements, which were also symbolically connected to education, political and social movements, and the Nordic welfare model. Studies have shown how social and political values from this period connect with Nordic interaction design from the past three decades. How these are represented in contemporary interaction design discourse, and design form and expression is a perspective under represented. This paper presents the results of a three-tiered content analysis of the proceedings of NordiCHI years 2000-2014: categorization of titles according to emphasis; content analysis of Scandinavian value constructs overall; and thematic connection of the results to conference theme and site. Results are then discussed with reflection on form and process in the Nordic interaction design industry.