Now that 3daysofdesign is over, we're choosing to reflect on what stood out rather than leaning into nostalgia. Here's a closer look at the most compelling highlights from Copenhagen this year.
UNFRAMED
Normann Copenhagen
Normann Copenhagen went big, transforming their headquarters into an immersive showcase challenging conventional design thinking. Unframed spread out across multiple floors, with a dramatic blue-dominated ground floor featuring sculptural Silo Poufs and suspended Phantom Lamps and upper levels showcasing a deconstructed Knit Chair installation and polycarbonate panels. Through the presentation, Normann Copenhagen sought to make the ordinary extraordinary.
NO. 1 COMMON
Material Matters
The case for hardwood, an often-unsung hero, was made at Material Matters. And a strong case it was. Three designers – Andu Masebo, Daniel Schofield and Anna Maria Øfstedal Eng – unveiled works celebrating a more sustainable approach to material selection. Their philosophy? 'Use what nature provides.' The exhibition showcased No.1 Common grade hardwood, demonstrating how knots, colour variations and natural characteristics can become design assets rather than flaws. Wood’s natural beauty – through the lens of craftsmanship and tactility – was on full display.
DESIGN/DIALOGUE
Font Design Group
Barcelona-based Font Design Group proved the devil is in the details, presenting a curated selection of premium switches and mechanisms from its two brands: Fontini and Font Barcelona. As part of its Design/Dialogue exhibition, curated by Ark Journal at Pakhus 11, the installation was a deep immersion into materials and textures. Visitors could explore the creative and production process from concept to craftsmanship, giving them a powerful understanding of Font Design Group’s mission and brand values.
Tableau & Édition Solenne
Project Materia
Launched Project Materia, Tableau and Édition Solenne was a dive into materiality that brought together nine internationally renowned artists together in order to engage with foundational materials: bronze, marble and glass. The exhibition featured artists like Andrés Reisinger, Helle Mardahl and Laurids Gallée working across unfamiliar processes to expand the possibilities of their chosen mediums. The works, which were presented in editions of 10, reconsidered both functional and sculptural capacities.
FAST / FORWARD
Fenix x Formica
In a presentation curated by Federica Sala, Fenix and Formica bring together the glory of past eras, retracing the history of design and revealing the changes in the world of surfaces – and, of course, in everyday life. Six international designers reinterpreted decades of design history, from the 1920s to 2010s. Each designer tackled a specific era: Thabisa Mjo explored Art Deco aesthetics, while Federica Biasi revisited the aughties preoccupation with wellbeing.
GODT LAVET
Pearson Lloyd
After the positive reception of 'Well Made' at London Design Festival back in 2024, Pearson Lloyd brought a fresh installment to Designmuseum Danmark. The exhibition built on the first, diving deep into the nature of making in the 21st century. Respected voices from across Europe responded to a critical question: what does it really mean when we say something is well made today? From new production methods to materiality as a response to environmental, social and economic challenges, the contributors explored it all.
ARCHETYPES
Stine Mikkelsen
Local design powerhouse Stine Mikkelsen presented a new collection that brings artistic expression and industrial feasibility in concert. Crafted from ash wood and stainless steel, the pieces are an interrogation of contrast and tactility, as well as the near-infinite potentials of production. The star of the show? Semble: a soft, sculptural bench. Stine Mikkelsen’s presentation made a case for the evolution of conceptual ideas into commercially viable products.
Frequency
Kvadrat
Danish textile giant Kvadrat unveiled a brand-new collection called Frequency; it explored how phenomena like light and colour, motion and rhythm, are experienced through frequencies. Along with Studio Meyers & Fügmann and Studio Greiling, Kvadrat investigated the dynamic relationship between tonal and structural frequencies through advanced spinning, weaving, printing and dyeing techniques. The curtains and rugs featured regenerative materials including soft llama, plush alpaca and crisp pineapple leaf fibre.
Grounded in Nature
Muuto
This year, Danish brand Muuto presented Grounded in Nature, an immersive rooftop installation created. In collaboration with Kinda Studios, Muuto sought to reestablish connection with the natural world, inviting moments of reflection with smooth curves that embrace the body's natural shape and guide the gaze skyward. Rooted in neuroaesthetics, the installation immersed visitors in sound, scent, texture and visuals. Here, spaces were meant to be felt and experienced rather than just observed.