The Magic of Forms exhibition at Designmuseum Danmark – Courtesy of 3 Days of Design.

Design – 3 Days of Design 2023 takes over Copenhagen with exhibitions from emerging and beloved brands, talks, tours, and endless explorations of the Danish capital’s city streets. This year, the festival celebrates its 10th anniversary by focusing on connectedness. The main theme Where Would We Be Without You? highlights the propelling power of collaboration between professionals, brands and the design community at large that team up behind the scenes to bring each single product to life.

• RELATED STORIES: Read more about 3 Days of Design on Archipanic.

‘Sensory Society’ exhibition by Helle Mardahl.

“There are unsung heroes who contribute their ideas, expertise, talent and techniques. Creative minds with a shared desire for design to positively impact society and the planet at large, ultimately paving the path for a future we can all look forward to.” Explain the organisers.

‘Weight of Wood’ exhibition by Christian+Jade and Dinesen – Photo by Claus Troelsgaard.

3 Days of Design 2023 activates 13 different Design Districts throughout the city. Copenhagen itself becomes the backdrop for projects, exhibitions and products by 280 exhibitors from Denmark and around the world. We selected twelve must-visit exhibitions in the Danish capital.

House of Craft by Carl Hansen & Søn – Courtesy of Carl Hansen & Søn.

Embark on a journey through Danish design’s history, currents and inspiration. With The Magic of Form exhibition, Designmuseum Danmark features iconic designs by Verner Panton, Finn Juhl, Arne Jacobsen, and more. The exhibition is in collaboration with the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art and the Kunsten Museum of Modern Art in Aalborg.

The Magic of Forms exhibition at Designmuseum Danmark.

The Weight of Wood exhibition by Danish design studio Christian + Jade with wood flooring manufacturer Dinesen explores the life of a tree and wood as a commodity. Divided into three sections – Forest and Wood, Wood and Wood, and Human and Wood – the exhibition features tactile, balancing objects made of Dinesen wood, showcasing wood’s various weights and inviting you to touch, explore and interact with them.

‘Weight of Wood’ exhibition by Christian+Jade and Dinesen – Photo by Claus Troelsgaard.

Set in the old Mineralvandsfabrikken at the Carlsberg Byen hub, The Living City exhibition curated by design studio BRIQ in collaboration with 3daysofdesign, narrates the recent transformation of the neighbourhood thanks to the precious contribution of its inhabitants. Explore spatial installations, the relaxation area and the bar.

The Carlsberg Byen.

Staged in Copenhagen’s historic Helligåndshuset, The House of the Holy Ghost, the What a Waste! exhibition by green-tech design brand Mater spotlights excessive material consumption and the urgent need for recycling. Mater introduces its new Matek sustainable material. Walking through the space, transparent boxes are filled with pulverised waste ingredients used in producing the furniture, such as sawdust, shell waste, industrial plastic, shredded electrical equipment, and frayed appliances.

Upcycled seat by Mater – Photo via IG, follow @materdesign.

Kvadrat unveils the Sketches collection of residential curtains by the textile company’s Art Director Isa Glink in collaboration with French designer Inga Sempé. The collection brings a soft, unifying perspective to the multifaceted relationship between yarn, craft, and perception.

Multiply by Inga Sempé and Isa Glink for Kvadrat – Courtesy of Inga Sempé and Kvadrat.

Danish high-end home entertainment brand Bang & Olufsen presents Conversations in Sound, an immersive exhibition exploring the relationship between people, sound and space at Galleri Christoffer Egelund to launch the new Beosound A5 speaker by Gamfratesi. Wrapped in paper raffia like the speaker, the gallery hosts a pop-up cafe and a sound installation as well.

Gamfratesi x Bang & Olufsen at 3 Days of Design 2023 – Photo by Bang & Olufsen.

At the festival’s Refshaleøen Hub, the Ukurant platform and exhibition dedicated to emerging designers takes over a carpentry workshop to present the work of 18 talents among planks of wood and industrial machinery. Polish designer Adam Bialek mixed egg yolk with biopolymer to craft a collection of lamps. Using algorithmic technology, Norwegian designer Mathias Brask-Nilsen Malm pays homage to the mathematical representation nature with a seat blending natural growth with computing power.

UKURANT 2023 – Photo by Peter William Vinther.

Louis Poulsen invited glass artists Breanna Box and Peter Dupont of Home in Heven to reinterpret its Pale Rose Collection of table lamps. Horns, swirls and tentacles adorn the Danish brand’s iconic lamps. The pieces will be auctioned later this year, with most of the proceeds being donated to charity.

Louis Poulsen Pale Rose collection by Breanna Box and Peter Dupont – Courtesy of Louis Poulsen.

At its flagship store, Carl Hansen & Søn showcases its latest collections alongside wooden sculptures that celebrate the company’s design approach and 110th anniversary. Guests will be able to witness craftsmen at work and try their hand at creating an abstract sculpture using wooden offcuts and other materials.

House of Craft by Carl Hansen & Søn – Courtesy of Carl Hansen & Søn.

Danish designer Helle Mardahl fills a Copenhagen apartment with candy-coloured glass installations to present her Sensory Society brand-new collection featuring confetti wine glass and hand-blown pendant lamps. The Wes Anderson-ish settings include a lively bar and an elegant dressing table visitors can see, smell, feel, and taste.

‘Sensory Society’ exhibition by Helle Mardahl.

HUMAN NATURE by Danish-based design, research and art practice Natural Material Studio represents the culmination of years of research, testing and prototyping materials and design works in collaboration with the elements of nature. During 3daysofdesign, Natural Material Studio will re-frame 650 m2 of the open industrial environment of Hall 6 within Copenhagen Contemporary – the Nordic region’s largest contemporary art institution.

Human Nature at Copenhagen Contemporary – Courtesy of Natural Material Studio.

Normann Copenhagen has transformed its headquarters into the Hotel Normann, an exclusive exhibition simulating the interior of a fully functional, inspiring design hotel, where each room and area tells a different story. During the event, Normann Copenhagen will present its largest product launch to date, unveiling over 30 new designs, all integrated into the hotel exhibition.

Hotel Norman installation – Photo by Normann Copenhagen.

Vitra and Royal Copenhagen joined forces to celebrate the art of hosting: a synthesis of two iconic design legacies in a joyful table-setting experience at Royal Copenhagen’s historic location in the heart of the Danish capital.

Vitra + Royal Copenhagen @ 3daysofdesign 2023.