Originally, it was the Danish cabinet maker Hans Gustav Ehrenreich (1917-1984) who designed the cheerful and cute Hoptimisten in 1968. The strong colors and round shapes that characterize his figures were very much in tune with the times. He has taken part in several international exhibitions and has received numerous awards for his handicrafts at home and abroad. The Hoptimists can make a difference. They can conjure up a smile and make you want to do something. A smile usually begins with another smile. The Hoptimists smile at you and they wait for your reaction. Maybe a smile, maybe a little slap on top of that to set the figure in motion. It thanks you for your attention and jumps on the spot with an excess of energy. Completely predictable every time. The children know this intuitively. You immediately see what the Hoptimist gives you back when you touch it. The same childlike expectation makes adults want to raise their hands and lightly press the Hoptimist. The rest is mechanics. When the energy of the hand compresses the spring, the figure comes to life. Not much, not for long, but just as we expected.