Scan Design Foundation

Today, President Donald Trump, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, and Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen took part in a signing ceremony at the United Nations for an agreement that will bolster the U.S. military presence in Greenland while keeping the Arctic territory under Danish sovereignty.

Watch the signing here:
https://www.youtube.com/live/gJy9_hoImBg?si=OW3PQ-nGU_yGgurh

Follow along on all the developments around Greenland over the course of 2026 on our site: https://greenlandfacts.org/

LIVE: US, Denmark and Greenland sign deal expanding American military presence in Greenland Watch live as President Donald Trump, Danish Prime Minister Mette F...

Join in on this important conversation this Thursday at the National Nordic Museum!

Link to register below.

What is caregiving worth? Join one of the Nordic's sharpest and most widely read young voices out for a talk on the true cost of care work.

In recent developments surrounding a proposed U.S.–Greenland security agreement, Denmark and Greenland continue to emphasize that strengthening Arctic security must go hand in hand with respecting territorial sovereignty and the Greenlandic people’s right to self-determination.

The U.S., Denmark and Greenland have informed the global public that they reached a deal to allow the US to develop a significant military presence on Greenland, while prohibiting US adversaries from building their ⁠own bases on the island.

The deal is expected to be signed during the UN General Assembly this week.

🔗 Read more in this article in The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/sep/19/denmark-greenland-us-military-agreement-territorial-sovereignty

Denmark and Greenland say US military agreement will not compromise Arctic territory’s sovereignty Statement sought to clarify Trump’s announcement that US will have ‘permanent control’ over Greenland’s security

🎉 Happy 3rd Anniversary to our Northwest Trolls! It's hard to believe it has been three years since our beloved trolls first landed in our region, created by Danish artist Thomas Dambo. These whimsical trolls have become a unique part of the Pacific Northwest landscape—bringing art, storytelling, and a little Nordic- and Coast Salish-inspired magic into public spaces while inviting us to think differently about our relationship with nature and our communities.

The exhibition was presented by Scan Design Foundation in partnership with Allen Family Philanthropies. The project came to life at the hands of Thomas and his talented crew, devoted site partners, dedicated volunteers, and many generous sponsors and donors.

At Scan Design Foundation, we’re delighted to see Danish creativity making such a memorable mark here in the Northwest. 🇩🇰🌲

In case you missed it, in June, Professor Emerita Ann-Charlotte Gavel Adams, and SDF President, Fidelma McGinn, had a conversation with Vashon's Forest King, Edgar the Troll. They had an enlightening conversation on Trolls in Folklore, History, Art, and Nature. Watch the recording from the National Nordic Museum below on YouTube!

Upcoming event: The National Nordic Museum is celebrating the 3rd birthday of Frankie Feetsplinters, one of the larger-than-life Northwest Trolls created by Danish artist Thomas Dambo. More information can be found here:
https://nordicmuseum.org/events/celebrating-frankie-feetsplinters-3rd-birthday

Conversation with a Troll Video: https://youtu.be/sLbvutVo5BA?si=4xKK4Ab4aug4IK_0

Frankie Feetsplinters & Trolls of the PNW with Lotta Gavel Adams Presented at the National Nordic Museum in Seattle, WAJune 18, 202...

🇩🇰 In two weeks, we will be hearing perspectives from Denmark on the hidden value of care.

What happens when we rethink how our economies value care? Join us at the National Nordic Museum for a conversation with Danish writer and feminist economist Emma Holten, author of Deficit: The Hidden Value of Care.

Holten challenges traditional economic models that overlook the essential—and often unpaid—work of caring for others, offering a Danish perspective on how we might build economies that better value people and well-being.

📅 September 24, 2026 | Seattle
Register here: https://nordicmuseum.org/events/nordic-innovation-series-a-conversation-on-the-hidden-value-of-care

National Nordic Museum
Frederikke Møller Kristiansen

Nordic Innovation Series: A Conversation on the Hidden Value of Care Join one of the Nordic's sharpest and most widely read young voices out for a talk on the true cost of care work.

🇩🇰🌱 We’re excited to be funding the Western Washington University (WWU) Sustainable Design Experience in Denmark with their second cohort traveling to Denmark to explore sustainable, community-focused design. Their two-week study tour starts today!

Last year, ten WWU students spent two weeks in Copenhagen and on the island of Samsø, learning from Danish approaches to sustainable infrastructure, public spaces, mobility, craftsmanship and community-led design. They brought those ideas home and transformed them into three hands-on projects for Bellingham’s waterfront.

Now, the next group is taking the journey to Denmark — continuing a partnership between WWU, COurban Design Collective and Scan Design Foundation, with students once again learning through direct experience, dialogue and collaboration.

For us, this is exactly what Danish-American exchange can accomplish: ideas travel, relationships grow, and knowledge gained abroad becomes tangible change at home.

We’re proud to support this next chapter and look forward to seeing what this year’s students bring back from Denmark! 🇩🇰🇺🇸

Read the interview by Maevis Croteau with SDF President, Fidelma McGinn, to learn more about the program: https://www.thefrontonline.com/article/2026/05/sustainable-waterfront-q-and-a

Q&A: Scan Design Foundation funds WWU cultural exchange trip Last summer, 10 students from Western Washington University traveled to Denmark for two weeks to study sustainable design. After returning, they began working on three sustainable projects for Bellingham’s waterfront, which were unveiled March 20, 2026.

Hey friends of the NW Trolls..while we love all the trolls equally, today is 'Bruun Idun Day' here in Seattle, as recognized by former Mayor Bruce Harrell! Read more about it in the attached proclamation.

As part of Danish recycle artist Thomas Dambo's "Northwest Trolls: Way of the Bird King" exhibition, Muckleshoot artist Coyote contributed to the story and design of Bruun Idun and adorned her with traditional cedar and abalone shells. Watch this video by Lauren Frohne / The Seattle Times)






https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDgwu4_rgro

The Danish Windmill has a brand new website! We have been thrilled to be a part of this project. Read more about the new features in the post below and visit the website at danishwindmill.com

We would also like to give a shout-out to the web guru behind the site - Pete Nice from Nice World Industries - who also built the Scan Design Foundation website!

Windmill Partners with Scan Design Foundation for New Website A Scan Design Foundation grant in early 2026 allowed the Danish Windmill to develop its new website. The new and improved danishwindmill.com is officially…

Join our partners at Nordic Northwest on Sunday, August 9 for a free, family-friendly birthday party honoring Ole Bolle, the giant troll created by Danish environmental artist Thomas Dambo from reclaimed and recycled materials. Enjoy hands-on crafts, creative activities, lawn games, birthday treats, and plenty of opportunities to celebrate imagination, sustainability, and Nordic storytelling.

Presented by Scan Design Foundation, the 'Northwest Trolls: Way of the Bird King' project showcases how art, sustainability, and community can inspire people of all ages to connect with nature and each other.

FREE EVENT! Ole Bolle's Birthday | nordicnorthwest Inspired by Ole Bolle’s creation from reclaimed and reused materials, this special celebration will feature hands-on crafts and creative activities that encourage imagination, sustainability, and play.

This year, Copenhagen was ranked the most livable city in the world (again) 🇩🇰 Join us this Thursday to hear from five global and local voices on how Nordic approaches to livable cities are taking root in the Pacific Northwest! As part of the Nordic Innovation Series, the National Nordic Museum is hosting a conversation about designing better cities this Thursday, July 23rd at 6:30pm.

Since 2018, Scan Design Foundation has supported dozens of delegations from the Pacific Northwest to Denmark. Delegates have included city planners, architects, elected officials, community leaders, business leaders, and students, who spend time in cities in Denmark to explore first-hand the Nordic approach to human-centered design. Several of Thursday's panelists have been the leaders of these groups.
COurban
University of Washington College of Built Environments
City of Seattle Government
Gehl Architects

To join us, register here:
https://nordicmuseum.org/events/nordic-innovation-series-designing-better-cities

Frederikke Møller Kristiansen

Nordic Innovation Series: Designing Better Cities — Nordic Ideas for t... Join five global and local voices for an evening on the future of urban life, and how Nordic approaches are taking root in the Pacific Northwest.