From its humble beginnings in 2013 as a small project by four Danish brands in an old warehouse, 3daysofdesign has grown into a significant global design festival. It has become a standout event on the international design calendar, continuing to support emerging talents, shine a spotlight on industry leaders, and ignite innovation and passion for design. The 2024 edition, held from June 12-14, featured over 350 exhibitors presenting diverse perspectives and disciplines in design. This year's focus was on sustainability and human-centred design, with stricter criteria for exhibitors to enhance their environmental impact.

In the summer, Copenhagen becomes a vibrant and energetic city, and during 3daysofdesign, it reaches new heights of excitement. The festival transforms Denmark’s capital into a bustling design hub, with a packed schedule of breakfasts, design talks, aperitivo hours and dinner parties every day. The festival organisers introduced a structure by dividing the city into distinct design districts, each offering a unique blend of exhibitions and events, with people walking, biking or riding water buses to and from these activated points.

Through the eyes of a Copenhagen-based contributor, STIR reflects on the most captivating districts, highlighting standout exhibitions and design endeavours flavoured by the city's summer energy, its locals and visitors during the annual 3daysofdesign festival.

Refshaleøen

Refshaleøen, once an industrial hub, has metamorphosed into a dynamic enclave tailored for creative minds and design enthusiasts. Its industrial roots echo through its rugged architecture of rusted steel structures and revitalised warehouses. Today, Refshaleøen stands as one of Copenhagen's most audacious neighbourhoods. It offers a spectrum of experiences, from the bustling Reffen street food market and prestigious Michelin-starred restaurants to unique attractions such as a dry ski slope atop a waste-to-energy plant. Rooted in an inclusive community spirit, it embraces an entrepreneurial ethos and champions environmental awareness, craftsmanship in design, and pioneering sustainable practices.

One of the standout features here was the exhibition White Utopia by Natural Material Studio. In response to 3daysofdesign's theme, 'Dare to Dream,' the studio reimagined a full-size house and its interior within Refshaleøen, renowned as one of Copenhagen's most dynamic spaces for creative minds and design enthusiasts. Using their proprietary bio-based materials, White Utopia aimed to embody what founder Bonnie Hvillum calls 'fluidity'—a philosophy embracing constant movement and materials in flux, offering a glimpse into a potential, future way of living.

Another notable attraction was the 360 design exhibition featuring freshly graduated designers and architects from the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts. This showcase extended the theme of the design event by inviting visitors to delve deeper into the creative processes that precede the finalisation of designs. In contrast to merely presenting finished products, the emerging designers and architects offered a peak into the productions’ journey. They challenged conventional perceptions by highlighting the iterative and exploratory phases integral to design evolution, which was quite inspiring.

Another captivating exhibition featured Noma Projects, the experimental lab founded by the renowned restaurant Noma. Rooted in a deep exploration of the natural world, Noma's ever-evolving ethos seeks constant innovation, knowledge-sharing and a dedication to hospitality craftsmanship. Established in 2022, Noma Projects extends Noma's legacy beyond its Copenhagen restaurant walls, aiming to bring its innovations, flavours and expertise to a global audience.

Driven by the same creative team and pioneering spirit, Noma Projects developed product designs allowing people to savour Noma's culinary essence in their homes, enriching everyday life with delectable experiences and creative inspiration. Visitors had the opportunity to explore the production space, where they engaged with materials, ingredients and flavours that have evolved from Noma's experimental kitchen over the past two decades. This exhibition provided a first-hand glimpse into the collaborative processes and innovative spirit that define Noma's ground-breaking approach to gastronomy and hospitality.

Amerikakaj

Amerikakaj, named for its role as Scandinavia's first transatlantic route to America, is a 700-metre-long waterfront in Copenhagen's Free Port. Once a hub for Scandinavian American Line ships, it has transformed historic warehouses into offices, restaurants and homes. Nearby, visitors can also explore the star-shaped Kastellet citadel and see the famous Little Mermaid statue on the Langelinie promenade.

The primary exhibition in this district was Design / Dialogue by Ark Journal, a pioneering showcase shaping the future of design, craftsmanship and collaborative creativity. Presented for the first time during 3daysofdesign, Ark Journal curated over 20 international design brands and artists, uniting global perspectives. Reflecting on the event, Ark Journal's editor-in-chief Mette Barfod said, "Design / Dialogue was a great success for both the exhibitors and for the many thousands of people who came out to see it at Pakhus 11. For us, as a print magazine, it took us into another realm where we could apply our expertise in another format."

A standout within the exhibition was the Turkish design house Sanayi313, which showcased its 313 lounge collection. The impeccable production quality and striking combination of ash veneer and black leather were imposing.

Additionally, cc-tapis captured attention through collaboration with renowned designers, most notably Patricia Urquiola. She designed the M'AMA NON M'AMA carpet, a whimsical and romantic collection of hand-knotted rug designs that blend artistic expression with craftsmanship. This standout piece epitomised the creative synergy between cc-tapis and Urquiola, transforming a playful romantic gesture into exquisite floor art.

Design / Dialogue emerged as a pivotal hotspot during the design event, drawing attendees with its diverse offerings. From a breakfast design talk organised by Vaarni, accompanied by coffee and Kanelsnegl, to champagne and nibbles at Sanayi313, the exhibition provided a sophisticated blend of cosy social interactions and insightful discussions.

Bibliotekshaven

Located between The Black Diamond and Christiansborg Palace is Bibliotekshaven, a tranquil oasis in Copenhagen's ‘Cultural District.’ Nearby, BLOX, a waterfront hub focused on urban life, architecture, design and sustainability, houses the Danish Architecture Centre (DAC), which hosted a special exhibition named Teenage Dreams during 3daysofdesign.

The exhibition explored the future of teenage bedrooms, highlighting how digitisation, sustainability, mental health and social media shape teen lives and personal spaces. Featuring interactive installations by studios such as Our Shift, Natural Material Studio and Krøyer-Sætter-Lassen, the exhibition merged dreams and reality, encouraging reflection on how spaces impact well-being and identity.

Senior curator Pernille Stockmarr emphasised the importance of designing spaces that resonate with teens' evolving values and future roles. Teenage Dreams also included videos where teens shared their thoughts on their surroundings and the Still Life of Teenagers photography project by Barbara Marstrand, linking futuristic visions with contemporary realities.

Nordhavn

Nordhavn blends modernity with the captivating allure of its waterfront setting. Once an industrial port dominated by warehouses, Nordhavn has transformed remarkably into a vibrant hub of creativity. Look out for the iconic Silos, unmistakable landmarks that announce your arrival in an area ripe for exploration—where you might even have the chance to take a refreshing dip in the ocean. This transformation reflects the district's evolution from its industrial roots to its dynamic present, driven by Copenhagen's commitment to sustainable and progressive urban development.

A Nordhavn staple for festival-goers has consistently been the Kvadrat Showroom, renowned for its excellent exhibitions at Pakhus 48. Each year, attendees are treated to a display of conceptual designs and inspiring talks by designers, all while immersed in a textile paradise and the stunning waterfront view. This year's highlight was the ReThink exhibition, showcasing the work of 12 emerging and established creatives from Iceland to Venezuela and Beijing to Brooklyn. These designers explored the meaning of responsible design using Kvadrat's recycled, regenerative and circular materials.

ReThink, the sixth edition of Kvadrat's Design Projects gave designers free rein to illustrate how sustainability can shape design, spark material innovation, enhance community collaboration and cultivate new aesthetic values. Njusja de Gier, Senior Vice President of Marketing & Digital, remarked, "The 12 participants responded with passion and ingenuity, drawing on diverse cultural and cross-disciplinary backgrounds. ReThink captures many different approaches to sustainability through artistry, experimental education, transparency, 3D technology, assembly, structure, and pure craft in which the creative process evolves through hand, heart and mind."

Vor Frue Kirke

Vor Frue Kirke (Church of Our Lady), a magnificent cathedral steeped in history and architectural splendour, lies in the centre of the city. The most notable exhibition here took place at TABLEAU’s new gallery. In the 300 sqm space tucked behind the famous walking street of Copenhagen, TABLEAU launched a new direction with a thought-provoking exhibition, Domestic Pleasures, which explored "what makes a place a home?" A curated group of artists and designers created bespoke works for TABLEAU, challenging conventional notions of belonging and inviting viewers to delve into the intricate emotions woven into the concept of home.

This initiative highlighted functional art's ability to reflect the intangible elements that transform a mere space into a sanctuary of belonging, encapsulating a sense of ‘domestic pleasure.’ Through the diverse perspectives of contributing artists, TABLEAU aimed to spark dialogue and introspection on the universal quest for a place to call home.

The Vor Frue Kirke district extends north towards the lakes, guiding visitors to the Dinesen showroom near Dronning Louise's Bridge. This year, Dinesen presented SMULD, an architectural material installation by Kim Lenschow and Bonnie Hvillum of Natural Material Studio in collaboration with Dinesen. The exhibition explored innovative materials based on natural wood binders and sawdust sourced from the Dinesen sawmill in Jels, offering a fresh perspective on sustainable design.

Hvillum's innovative approach to transforming unconventional materials into unique textures was captivating. SMULD invited the exploration of four biodegradable composite materials, each presented with aesthetic and technological considerations. This collaboration with Lenschow and Natural Material Studio beautifully aligns with Dinesen's vision of utilising the entire tree trunk, offering new perspectives on sustainable architecture. As Hvillum and Lenschow aptly stated, "If we are to believe that wood can be a path towards a more sustainable solution, we must be careful to utilise the entire tree trunk, from planks and offcuts to shavings, sawdust and dust."

The exhibition’s installation guided visitors through four distinct material studies, each presented as a sensory experience: the first portal, Flexible, showcased finely sifted wood plaster and planer shavings cast in natural latex, demonstrating wood's potential as a textile. The second, Insulating, highlighted a sawdust and cellulose plaster applied to wood fibre insulation, optimising wall layering both functionally and aesthetically. Translucent, the third portal, featured thin sheets of wood plaster and shavings, creating a semi-translucent surface reminiscent of traditional Japanese shoji. Finally, the Structural portal developed in collaboration with the Danish Technological Institute, presented panels cast with a lignin binder, marking the first attempt at a structural wood fibre panel with a natural binder. This innovative approach showcased the potential for aesthetically compelling and sustainable materials in contemporary architecture.

Bonus: Niko June

Nestled in the heart of the Latin Quarter, behind the iconic punk dive bar Floss, the creative workshop Niko June hosted a pop-up exhibition during 3daysofdesign this year. Despite not being listed in the official festival programme, this rogue exhibition was a refreshing surprise for art and design enthusiasts.

It showcased a new collaboration with Soft Baroque, introducing the Multi-Purpose Flower, a versatile piece that can function as a hook, key chain, or anything else one's imagination allows. The event started with a peanut butter and jelly breakfast, unveiling the brand's latest products, and concluded with a lively party at Søpavillonen.

There is a certain romanticism about Copenhagen in June, especially during 3daysofdesign, as echoed by enthusiasts worldwide. This annual event breathes life into the city, transforming it into a vibrant design hub that celebrates creativity, sustainability and innovation. Each district, from the industrial charm of Refshaleøen to the serene Bibliotekshaven, offers a unique blend of exhibitions and experiences that captivate attendees and highlight the city's dynamic spirit, like it did this year. 3daysofdesign showcases the best in contemporary design and activates Copenhagen, infusing it with a contagious energy that draws people together in celebration of design and summer.

STIR navigates through key design districts, highlights and events of 3daysofdesign 2024. Tap here to know more.