Copenhagen Legacy Lab: From events to engaging communities
The Context
As the meetings and events industry has evolved, the focus has gradually shifted from short-term financial transactions to a broader understanding of long-term value creation. Building on this trend, the Copenhagen Convention Bureau launched the Copenhagen Legacy Lab —an innovative and free initiative designed to support national agendas and strengthen the ability of associations and local stakeholders to create lasting value.
The Process
Commissioned by the Copenhagen Convention Bureau, we launched a design initiative aimed at developing a strategic and systematic process for stakeholder engagement. The process was based on the UN Sustainable Development Goals and six key drivers of economic growth and societal transformation.
The project involved in-depth interviews, facilitated workshops, and ongoing testing and iteration. The result was a cohesive set of tools and materials, including:
A workshop kit with intuitive, visual tools for effective engagement
A Facilitator Guide to help hosts lead the process
A "Potential Impact Report" template for documenting and sharing results
A clear description and illustration of the workshop format and its purpose
A publication providing insight into the background and intent behind the process
Graphic design and web content for online communication
A short film that captures the workshop experience and the essence of the process
All tools were made available both in print for in-person workshops and digitally via Miro for online and hybrid formats.
The results
The Copenhagen Legacy Lab concept was structured around a simple four-step process: goal-setting, local stakeholder engagement, co-creation, and the development and implementation of legacy activities.
The concept has enabled organizers and planners to work more systematically toward their legacy goals. Among the results are:
Utilization of the concept by major international associations in connection with conferences in Copenhagen, including WindEurope Electric City 2021, the International Water Association (IWA) 2022, ESTRO 2022, and ESPGHAN 2022.
Presentation of the Global Destination Sustainability Movement’s 2021 Innovation Award, in recognition of Copenhagen Legacy Lab’s pioneering contribution to the development of sustainable conferences and events.
For more details, visit the Copenhagen Legacy Lab Innovation Award.
The concept was developed in collaboration with graphic illustrator Julie Panton.
