I’m freshly back from an inspiring trip to Denmark; first to Copenhagen and then onto the country’s second largest city Aarhus before finally wrapping up the week at the furthest reaches of Skagen by the sea (more on that to come!). I work by myself, for myself, at home, without any colleagues to bounce ideas off or a commute to break up day and night. I work very much in isolation, and for the most part, I love that I have the peace and quiet to create on my own terms, in my own space. But it can get a little lonely and secluded, being ensconced in the same four walls. I need to have those moments where I get out the house and away from the computer. I can find inspiration in anything from a restaurant toilet to the colour of a doorway to the shape of a tile. I love filling my cup with new places and design inspiration that I can then weave into projects or use to help spark an idea.
Copenhagen’s design festival 3 Days of Design is my annual ticket to spark my creativity and curiosity. It’s my favourite festival. For three days every June, the city comes alive with open showrooms, exhibitions, new product launches, talks and events. 3 Days of Design started as a tiny event with just four exhibitors in 2013 and has since grown exponentially to welcome over 400 design brands, makers and designers from across the world. There is SO much to see and take in. It’s free to attend, you don’t have to be press or an industry professional or anyone fancy, the showrooms have open doors and you don’t need to register or buy a ticket. The hotels have cottoned on and are charging more, but the flights are still reasonable and if you’re even a little bit interested in design, I recommend a trip to coincide with the festival. Prepare to walk 20,000 steps a day, take hundreds of photos, and return inspired, if a little design fatigued.
What I love about 3 Days of Design is it’s approachable and accessible. Even though there’s lots to see and tick off, there’s a relaxed, unpretentious atmosphere. Unlike Maison Objet or Salone del Mobile in Milan, you’re not in a soulless exhibition centre under artificial lighting. 3 Days of Design allows you access into beautiful showrooms, residential apartments and hidden corners of the city. It’s easy just to wander the city, showroom hopping from space to space. There’s the big Scandi brands like HAY, Ferm Living and Muuto, but there’s also lesser known names and emerging talents. As well as increasingly, more international names from Europe and further afield; although it is my understanding that the organisers want to keep it a Scandinavian festival.
This year I had two days to see everything I wanted to. I didn’t have any work commitments this time, so I was free to explore at my leisure. While I class this as ‘work’, it really didn’t feel like work at all and sometimes I pinch myself that I get to do what I do; my paid work helping to cover these ‘jollies’ as my mum would call them.
In this post, I’m sharing a few things that caught my eye from the festival and the new designs to know about. First, let me cover the design trends. I hate trends. They go against my values and everything I believe in – about creating timeless spaces that last and endure and are an expression of the person who lives there. This is what I love about Scandinavian design; there’s a strong heritage, a rich history and a desire to create spaces that stand the test of time. And much of that is still true at 3 Days of Design today; you’re as likely to find a reissued classic as a brand new design. While I take trends and fleeting fashions with a pinch of salt, they are useful things to know about and have on your radar. And there were some common elements I kept seeing as I ducked in and out of showrooms. In no particular order, here’s some micro trends, which aren’t really trends at all:
Comments
Nothing yet. Say the first thing.
Sign in to join the conversation.