Jacob Jensen (1926- ) was born in Copenhagen, Denmark. He is one of the most well known designers in the world having been the mainstay behind the world of Bang and Olufsen for many years (his initial designs having been rejected by General Electric). From 1965 to 1991 he produced over 1500 design models and over 80 products. Nineteen of his works are in the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

"With regard to the actual inventive process, I have a tool which I call conscious coincidence.

The way conscious coincidence works is that I begin to draw faster and faster and faster. More and more off the track. In a way, I make a mess of it, ruining my drawings because I am back jammed. I can't get through. I make accidents on what I'm working on.

Afterwards I read these drawing, these conscious coincidences, and then I see: Ha! That, that's damn good! In some way I see the shadow, or whatever it is. That, then, becomes the foundation for the next breakthrough, the next design. And not just design.

New ideas emerge on the functional side..... New functions always bring new forms."

From the Jacob Jensen website