Every June, Copenhagen becomes the centre of the design world as brands, designers and manufacturers gather for 3 Days of Design. The city opens its showrooms, galleries and historic buildings to celebrate contemporary furniture, lighting and interiors, with exhibitions that explore not only new products but also the ideas shaping modern design.

Although we didn't attend this year's event, we deliberately plan our visits to Copenhagen a little later in the summer. Visiting after the fair allows us to spend more time with the collections, explore the showrooms at a slower pace and experience the furniture as it was intended, away from the crowds.

Looking through this year's exhibitions, a number of themes stood out: craftsmanship, materiality, longevity and thoughtful living. Here are some of the collections and exhibitions that particularly caught our attention.

 

&Tradition – Traces

For this year's exhibition, &Tradition presented Traces, an exploration of the marks left behind through design, craftsmanship and culture.

Rather than focusing purely on new products, the exhibition looked at how every object carries a history through its materials, production and making. It explored the relationship between classic and contemporary design, showing how heritage and innovation can comfortably exist together.

One of the highlights was the celebration of Verner Panton's centenary, with &Tradition unveiling a special anniversary edition of the iconic Flowerpot lamp in its most elemental form. Alongside this came new additions to Hee Welling's Rely collection, demonstrating the principles of circular design, together with a new lighting series by Teruhiro Yanagihara inspired by the simplicity of a straight line.

The exhibition perfectly reflected what &Tradition does so well combining contemporary design with a deep respect for Scandinavian design heritage.

 

 

Vitra – Innovation Through Movement

Vitra's presentation introduced Bascule, a new lounge chair developed with Studio Œ.

Named after the French word for "seesaw", the chair features an innovative reclining mechanism concealed within the armrests that automatically responds to the sitter's weight, allowing smooth movement between upright and reclined positions.

Equally interesting was the way the upholstery was developed. Drawing inspiration from tailoring techniques found in fashion, the textile cover drapes naturally over the frame, creating folds and movement as the chair reclines.

Alongside Bascule, Vitra also presented new versions of Verner Panton classics, additions to the Anagram Club sofa system and new variants of the Mynt and Mikado chairs.

 

 

Fritz Hansen – Experiencing Design Through Sound

Rather than launching a collection of new products, Fritz Hansen explored something less tangible: how sound influences the way we experience furniture and interiors.

Created in collaboration with Japanese audio specialist Technics, Sound Club transformed the Copenhagen showroom into a series of listening environments where visitors could slow down and experience furniture through music, podcasts and carefully curated sound.

The installation featured listening lounges, live DJ sessions and a specially produced vinyl record, encouraging visitors to spend time within the spaces rather than simply passing through them.

Celebrating the 90th anniversary of Christian Dell's Kaiser Idell lamp, the exhibition highlighted the relationship between light, furniture and atmosphere showing that great interiors engage all the senses, not just the eye.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Carl Hansen & Søn - Balanced Priniciples

Carl Hansen & Søn's exhibition, Balanced Principles, explored the thoughtful process behind enduring Danish design. Held within the brand's flagship showroom, the exhibition reflected on how material, form and function come together through careful craftsmanship and a deep respect for tradition.

Rooted in the design philosophy of Hans J. Wegner, the exhibition invited visitors to slow down and appreciate the quiet details that define timeless furniture. Rather than focusing solely on finished pieces, Balanced Principles celebrated the journey from concept to craftsmanship, highlighting the balance between heritage, innovation and the enduring principles that continue to shape Carl Hansen & Søn's collections today.

 

House of Finn Juhl – The Deviation is in the Detail

House of Finn Juhl presented The Deviation is in the Detail, an exhibition inspired by one of Finn Juhl's best-known quotes.

The exhibition explored how subtle details transform furniture from functional objects into works of art, placing some of Finn Juhl's most celebrated pieces alongside works by artists who helped shape his creative thinking.

Designed by architectural studio Mentze Ottenstein, the exhibition highlighted the close relationship between architecture, furniture and modern art, while also introducing an exclusive collaboration with New York fashion brand Sea New York, bringing embroidered textiles to the minimalist Japan Series.

It was a thoughtful reminder that many of Finn Juhl's most enduring designs were influenced as much by sculpture and art as by traditional cabinet making.

 

 

HAY – A Conversation Between Past and Present

HAY transformed 1,500 square metres of exhibition space in Copenhagen's Christianshavn district into an immersive installation that brought together past, present and future designs.

By removing furniture from its everyday context, the exhibition encouraged visitors to experience familiar and new pieces in different ways, creating conversations between collections and designers.

Alongside existing favourites, HAY introduced new work by Jasper Morrison, Philippe Malouin, Gudmundur Ludvik, Andreas Bergsaker, Julien Renault, Claire Lavabre and Leclercq Viallet.

 

 

Normann Copenhagen – The GRID

Normann Copenhagen's exhibition, The GRID, explored the invisible structures that shape the way we live.

Inspired by the patterns found in architecture, cities and everyday routines, the exhibition transformed its Copenhagen showroom into a series of immersive spaces that reflected the rhythms of contemporary life.

Through repetition, texture, colour and carefully composed interiors, classics sat alongside new designs to demonstrate how furniture gives meaning to space and helps shape the atmosphere of everyday living.

Alongside the exhibition, Normann Copenhagen introduced several new pieces, including the reissue of Niels Bendtsen's 1974 Limit Lounge Chair, the Pap Bookcase, new additions to the Rope Sofa and Bit Stool collections, and a selection of sculptural accessories exploring geometry and materiality.

 

Looking Ahead

One of the reasons we enjoy visiting Copenhagen after 3 Days of Design is that it gives us the opportunity to experience these collections in a quieter setting, spend more time with the furniture and appreciate the details that can easily be missed during such a busy event.

We're hoping to make our annual trip later this summer and look forward to seeing many of these exhibitions and new collections in person.

We'll be sharing more from Copenhagen when we visit. Read about our last trip to Copenhagen on our journal.