4 design trends I spotted in Copenhagen
My cheat sheet to the best of 3daysofdesign.
Hi there!
I’ve been living vicariously through people posting about 3daysofdesign in Copenhagen, a concise design fair that wrapped last Friday. There was so much innovative and inspiring work this year! Overall, I realized everything that grabbed my attention was more quiet and intentional, asking me to take a moment longer to engage—pretty powerful, considering that was happening via my tiny phone versus experiencing things in-person.
One exhibit that stopped me in my digital tracks is FRAMA’s Structures of Living Exhibit. Featuring a scaffolding-like structure of raw, square steel tubing, the installation delineates a space within a room, including furniture, shelving, hook rails, and canopy supports—all in one continuous form. The wonderful accompanying essay (by fellow Substacker
; subscribe if you don’t already!) asks us why we are so bound to the floor as we occupy our interiors. Is creativity sparked when our spaces get smaller and we need to get more clever out of necessity? I’ll definitely have more to dig into on that front in a later post…
This week, instead of my usual format, I’m dropping the top four ideas I spotted at 3daysofdesign after sifting through many press releases and scrolling through all the social coverage. But before we begin, a chair appreciation moment:
The Blueprint Chair from Form & Refine turns joinery into a decorative element: The curve of the back (made with one piece of steam-bent oak) gently sweeps into the upright support; the simple lap joint is made visible as the seat curves away from the more rectilinear elements. Simplicity at its finest—and apparently the chair is designed for better posture. Win-win!
Okay, here’s my full debrief:
1. MODULAR SYSTEMS
We all continue to be influenced by the mid-century quest for modular design that fits perfectly within our spaces and smartly reconfigures as needed. My mind lights up thinking about the possibilities of a flexible, efficient unit that offers the opportunity to experiment over and over again. Custom, but not fussy.
This all-wood system was patented almost 70 years ago but is still, as the Italian manufacturer Agape notes, “evergreen to its very core.” The upturned “V” trestle allows it to stack with a gravity joint, so you can build everything from a day bed to a bench to a storage unit with open and closed shelving.
Likewise, Danish brand Moebe’s Shelving System is slim and timeless. Conceived around the physics of the wedge, it creates a customizable, hardware-less, and knock-down design. The transparent construction method can transform into a dresser, a room divider, a kid’s bookshelf…
Belgian design duo Muller Van Severen just unveiled their new Rasters system with BD Barcelona: A solid beech grid base with little connectors—and starring the best color palette—that lets you build endless layouts for both home and office.
2. PERFORATION
After my Behind the Design on transparency a few weeks back, I’m happy to see even more new releases feature punchy perforation.
Scandi fave Hay launched a snappy cabinet series in collaboration with Muller Van Severen (you could say their Rasters system, further up, swapped circles for a square grid) and a re-issue of the sleek X-Line chair, originally designed in the 1970s by Niels Jørgen Haugesen.
And how cool is this aged brass sconce by Mexican designer Federico Stefanovich, as part of the Basalto Collective exhibit? Usually perforated pieces come in powder-coated steel (like our new Schoolhouse Swell light), so it’s interesting to see the technique in a traditional, elegant material.
This versatile little stool and bench by Form & Refine are produced with a mix of household cardboard, plastic, and aluminum that creates a material as strong as wood. At first glance it looks like beautiful stone or playful terrazzo, which makes the discovery of the recycled content all the more exhilarating. I love how the strong cut-outs add some airiness to the otherwise blocky forms.
3. TEXTURED GLASS
You all know I’m here for a good glass moment—whether a stained glass window detail or a glass block wall. What drew me in at this year’s Copenhagen offering were pieces that gave the material some gravitas.
From the Cubist glassware at Ferm Living that casts beautiful fragmented reflections to a series of textural, gritty lamps that were artfully crafted from recycled glass by Justyna Poplawska as part of the Adorno exhibit—glass’s full range was on display.
Another standout: Finnish brand Essis by Lasilinkki, the only artisan glassmaker in the Nordics, according to the site. There’s a tension between the expectation of glass being fragile and breakable and the bold, sturdy applications: A textured door in rippled smoky glass is mysterious and moody; side tables with tinted glass slabs simultaneously appear ethereal and weighty. I love this conversation between material and perception.
4. FABRIC EFFECT
In a riff on trompe l’oeil (which is having a moment), designs that appeared to float, drape, and fold were, in fact, made with solid materials.
Take Patch Design’s exploration of the ancient handicraft of fishing net repair. Made with plastic sourced from ocean waste, the sculptural pieces speak to contemporary environmental challenges while also celebrating the preservation of coastal communities and cultures. That bright synthetic netting combined with the glossy recycled material brings sustenance to a home space!
Similarly, Manu puts playful sustainability at its core, where “the material becomes both the starting point and the guide.” Employing plastic water bottles, lemon peels, sand, or whatever else is on hand, the brand comes up with delightful creations via 3-D printing, like this pleated plastic lamp in zippy shades.
The aptly named Dream View chair by Lise Vester for Muuto makes a single plane of steel look like a silky silver ribbon. The upward-sweeping design is meant to “guide the eyes to the sky”—soft hammock vibes reimagined in metal, with the same relaxing effect.
5. BONUS! A QUICK DETOUR TO PARIS…
Since we’re on the theme of scrolling that actually leads to inspiration: Has this amazing exhibit been all over your feed, like mine? French artist Céleste Boursier-Mougenot’s installation is seemingly simple: White bowls float in a massive pool of water under the Rotunda of the Bourse de Commerce in Paris. But the overall environment creates an immersive, meditative experience grounded in the elements: The porcelain vessels produce melodic chimes when they gently come into contact, guided by currents in the water, and the round pool acts as a giant mirror, reflecting the sky above.
Have you spotted anything noteworthy from 3daysofdesign (or beyond)? Which of these ideas are speaking to you the most?
I’m headed to Mexico tomorrow (eeeeek) for a quick trip to celebrate a friend’s big birthday. I’ve got all my kaftans out, trying to decide which will get to live their fullest, floaty beach life. I’ll report back next week!
Katie xx
I loved seeing the various design firms creating modular shelving/desks/seating solutions. I share an office with my husband in our Palm Desert home, which we designed as a second home but it became a full time home. So there are not enough bookshelves for me, but he loves that because he has an allergic reaction to clutter (aka busy bookshelves). I feel like these could possibly offer a solution to both our desires/needs... also just so you know, I used to live in Portland and had a fantasy that one day I would hide before your Brick & Mortar store closed and then when everyone was gone I would live there by night. 😅 Thorouughly enjoying Design School!
This was a fascinating read and so well put! I loved Orbit by Tina Frey Designs, such a beautiful and playful set of chairs 🤩