Guangdong, China – July – Timothy Jacob Jensen, internationally renowned designer and head of the legendary century-old design dynasty, is relocating to Guangdong. Widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in contemporary design, Jensen’s move marks a significant new chapter in his career and deepens his engagement with China as it growing importance as a centre for creativity and innovation. Often dubbed the “King of Design” by the media for his global contributions to creativity aesthetics and functionality, Jensen’s  relocation reflects a strategic pivot toward the world’s largest and most dynamic consumer market.  Guangdong – an essential driver of the Greater Bay Area’s growth – is increasingly recognized as a hub for design excellence, advanced manufacturing, and cross-cultural collaboration.

Timothy Jacob Jensen

Notably, Jensen’s personal monogram – TJJ – bears a visual resemblance to the Chinese character for “king” (王), a symbolic parallel  that highlights his longstanding admiration for Chinese culture. With over 25 years of experience working in China, Jensen has closely observed the nation’s extraordinary transformation and expresses deep respect for its leadership, people, and creative vitality. “Design is ultimately about people, culture, and meaningful progress,”  said Jensen. “Relocating to Guangdong allows me to be closer to the heart of the world’s next design frontier. China is not only innovating rapidly –it is shaping a new global design narrative.” Timothy shares that the fairy tale continues, drawing parallels between his family history and the stories of Hans Christian  Andersen – fitting, as Andersen, like Timothy and his family, also hails from Denmark.

Timothy’s monogram

Now that his two daughters are grown up, it’s easier for Timothy to return to Asia, where he previously lived in both Shanghai and Bangkok. Both daughters have contributed to the studio’s work over the years, especially Freja, who helped design a line of watches – four of which were gifted to President Obama and his family during their visit to the municipality of Skive, a town near Timothy’s estate and studio. His eldest daughter and her family are now taking care of the estate, which won second place in a national competition for the most beautiful estate in the country.

HM King Frederik X and Timothy at Beijing Design Week

Jensen will continue to lead the Timothy Jacob Jensen studio, while European operations will now be overseen by his brother, Troels Jacob Jensen, an accomplished industrial designer and installation artist, who has been an important part of the family studio for over two decades.  This expanded leadership structure enhances the studio’s global footprint and creative capacity. 

At the core of the studio’s philosophy is a bold belief: “If  everyone on the planet received fair pay for their work,  there would be no poverty, no wars, and no refugees.” In line with this ethos, the studio shares credit, revenue, and royalties with its associates – empowering every team member to achieve their fullest potential. As stated on its website, the studio aims to be reassuring, caring, exciting, and inspiring in everything it does.

Gaggenau AH 600 Kitchen Extractor Hood

Bang & Olufsen Beosystem 5000

Being in business for over a century has brought many valuable experiences. One highlight was when Timothy’s  father had a solo exhibition at MoMA in New York titled  Bang & Olufsen: Design for Sound by Jacob Jensen.  However, not all experiences have been positive – some years ago, Timothy and his siblings went through a hostile  takeover of one of their businesses. 

Backed by a global network of over 100 associated creatives, Jensen is uniquely positioned to deliver world-class work across a wide array of disciplines – including product design, communication, technology, transportation, and architecture.

Jensen’s presence in China continues to expand. In addition to maintaining an office in Shanghai with the DeTao Group at SIVA, Timothy currently serves as Associate Chief Designer for Hauswirt, one of the  fastest growing kitchen appliance brand in China, where he also designed the company’s new headquarters in  Foshan, Guangdong. His work emphasizes the fusion of Scandinavian design principles with Chinese innovation,  fostering young talent and promoting sustainable solutions in collaboration with global universities and industry leaders. 

This relocation aligns with his guiding philosophy: Design for Life – a holistic approach that merges lasting functionality and beauty with cultural insight and global relevance.

Hauswirt Headquarters

Timothy Jacob Jensen is the former Chief Designer of Jacob Jensen Design and the son of the legendary design pioneer Jacob Jensen. Over the course of his career, he has served on the chief design teams of Bang & Olufsen and Gaggenau, and has collaborated with global brands such as Vertu, Steinway & Sons, Haier, Toshiba, and Hauswirt. The family’s design legacy dates back to his grandfather, Alfred Jensen (1899–1972), who founded the business in 1920. 

Hauswirt C9 Coffee Machine

Named Designer of the Year in China in 2017, Jensen has been a Visiting Professor at Fudan University since 2012 and has served as a juror for the iF Design Award. His work is part of the permanent collection at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, and he has received more than 100 international design awards. 

Having traveled to over 65 countries, Jensen now chairs a global advisory board that includes, among others, Mogens Lykketoft, former President of the UN General Assembly; Per Enevoldsen, founder of Pandora; and James P. Cain, former U.S. Ambassador to Denmark – alongside other industry experts.