Copenhagener provides Bill Gates with 700 icons

The little design company Studio A320 is the perfect example of how Denmark can play with the big boys


Flemming Rasmussen is the man behind the 700 icons that appear in Microsoft's business software, Microsoft Dynamics AX.

Microsoft needed a large number of icons for their new business software, and after hearing of Rasmussen and his design company, A320, the Seattle-based company decided to award him the commission.

In the course of two months, Flemming Rasmussen designed 700 icons that are now integrated into the world-famous computer programme.

'It was an exciting assignment,' Rasmussen told daily newspaper Nyhedsavisen. 'I wasn't just sitting around and playing with icons. I had to think globally and culturally because the programme had to apply to all regions. Different countries may regard icons in completely different ways. If you take monetary units as an example, you can't just use a '$' icon because it would confuse people in China.'

Flemming Rasmussen's success story has had an impact on the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where there are plans to use the case history to promote 'Creative Denmark', another directive aimed at bringing foreign companies to Denmark to work in the area of Danish design.

'It's true that you don't have to be one of the big boys in order to play with the big boys,' Hansen said.

The Copenhagen Post.