Last week, the design world gathered in Copenhagen for 3daysofdesign, and our home stylists were there to soak up all the inspiration. They spent three exciting days exploring showrooms, exhibitions, and lectures, always on the lookout for the latest trends and innovations to share with you.

Whether you’re a design professional or simply a design enthusiast, we promise you’ll find their discoveries fascinating. Let’s dive into the latest in design, as seen through the eyes of our home stylist team!

Neuroaesthetics

One of the most intriguing trends we encountered is neuroaesthetics, which explores how our brains respond to beauty. Elements like proportion, symmetry and balance trigger pleasure centers in the brain, evoking positive emotions and a sense of harmony.

Muuto, a pioneer in neuroaesthetics, hosted a panel discussion moderated by Max Fraser of Dezeen. This insightful talk delved into the evolving neuroaesthetic conversations within the design industry, offering valuable perspectives on creating spaces that deeply influence our emotions and behavior. Additionally, Muuto showcased their new outdoor lounge seating collection, Settle, designed by Norwegian duo Anderssen & Voll. Their serene courtyard, nestled among Copenhagen’s rooftops, exemplified how nature and natural materials can enhance our well-being, providing a peaceful, hidden oasis in the city designed to connect visitors with nature and instill a sense of tranquility.

(Photos: Muuto)   

Outdoors & Nature

The trend of outdoor living and al fresco dining continues to thrive, reflecting the growing importance of well-being and the health benefits of spending time outdoors. Many brands featured spaces that seamlessly blended indoor and outdoor elements, creating environments that beautifully merge nature with nurture.

Tom Dixon’s preview of their first outdoor furniture range, Groove, was a standout. The collection is set to launch next spring and it emphasizes the beauty of natural materials and innovative design, making it perfect for enhancing outdoor living spaces.

(Photo: 3daysofdesign)

Even if you don’t have an outdoor space, you can bring the outdoors in with natural materials. Vaarnii’s collection of Finnish pine furniture, including the new Maasto chair by Ronan Bouroullec made from pine plywood, is a perfect example.

(Photo: 3daysofdesign)

Another highlight was the Alder Collection by Mater, designed by Patricia Urquiola. This collection uses bio-degradable Matek™, made from coffee or wood waste mixed with biodegradable plastic derived from sugarcane. Urquiola’s designs seamlessly blend sustainability with style, showcasing the potential of eco-friendly materials in modern design.

(Photo: Mater)

Colors and Prints: Exciting Collaborations

In line with neuroaesthetics, bold colors and playful prints are definite mood boosters. This year, collaborations like Tekla & Artek, FRAMA x Toogood, and ASICS x HAY brought vibrant colors and cheerful prints to the design scene.

Tekla and Artek’s new bed linen collection, inspired by Finnish designer Aino Aalto and featuring Japanese cherry blossoms, was particularly striking. This collaboration pays homage to Aino Aalto’s admiration for Japanese art and her unique “Kirsikankukka” (cherry blossom) pattern, mixing tradition with contemporary design.

(Photo by Ola Rindal, 2024)

Exploring the intersection of art, design, food, and people, FRAMA and Faye Toogood’s London studio collaborated on COLLAGE, an exhibition at FRAMA’s Copenhagen spaces during 3daysofdesign. The exhibition, which expanded on FRAMA’s eatery Apotek 57, invited visitors to dine amidst tactile sculptures and experience Toogood’s colorful spatial interventions in the historic 1878 space. Toogood also reimagined FRAMA’s St. Pauls Apothecary collection with vibrant shapes, emphasizing the beauty of daily rituals. The collaboration featured handmade wooden objects inspired by Toogood’s children’s play, site-specific bespoke furniture, hand-painted staff uniforms, and a capsule collection of collaborative goods, making it a standout highlight of the festival.

(Photos: Toogood, FRAMA)

The ASICS x HAY collaboration re-envisioned the iconic Skyhand OG sneakers from 1994, mixing ASICS’ comfort with HAY’s aesthetic. The result was a fresh take on a classic design, available in eye-catching colors like pink, blue, and green. This partnership highlighted the potential of combining functionality with style, creating products that are both practical and visually appealing.

(Photos: HAY)

Shapes

Neuroaesthetics also confirms what we instinctively feel: we prefer round, smooth shapes over sharp ones. Research shows that smooth curves produce a pleasant sensation, making us naturally gravitate towards them. 

This explains our fascination with Tom Dixon’s new Fat & Plump sofas, chairs, and office chairs, whose rounded designs we couldn’t help but adore.

(Photos: Tom Dixon)

Light

Light holds a special place in our hearts, and this year’s exhibits did not disappoint. Vibia’s “Instantánea” exhibition invited us to appreciate the beauty of fleeting moments through light. The exhibit showcased how light shapes our perceptions and emotions, capturing the essence of everyday scenarios in a pure and abstract form.

(Photos: Vibia)

Light

Flos, in collaboration with Formafantasma, introduced SuperWire, a modular LED lighting system designed for repair. This innovative system emphasizes sustainability and the emotional connection we have with light. The designers, Andrea and Simone, highlighted how light transcends its functional purpose, creating intimate and emotional experiences through the interplay of brightness and shadow.

(Photos: Formafantasma)

Curtains 

Surprisingly, curtains were a big focus this year. &Drape’s Frame Curtain Collection by artist Ana Kraš featured panel curtains with graphic piping that completely transformed their character. This small detail made a significant impact, showcasing how simple design elements can elevate a space.

(Photos: &Drape)

ARNE AKSEL and e-Types, inspired by their first meeting at last year’s 3daysofdesign, created a fabric universe that mixed bold graphics and color with thought-provoking words, perfectly aligning with this year’s theme of the festival, DARE TO DREAM. Their collaboration aimed to inspire and provoke creativity, encouraging visitors to embrace bold design choices and dream big.

(Photo: 3daysofdesign)

Astrid, a Swedish textile company, showcased their beautiful, high-quality fabrics that can transform the atmosphere in any space. Their commitment to sourcing, designing, and producing timeless textiles emphasizes the importance of durability and sustainability in interior design.

(Photos: 3daysofdesign)

Our New Favourites

This year’s 3daysofdesign was the largest yet, featuring over 400 exhibitors. While it’s hard to pick favorites, Helle Mardahl Studio, Natalia Criado, and Kristina Dam Studio stood out for us.

Helle Mardahl’s richly colored glass designs are a delightful blend of art and functionality. Her exhibition, The Grand Suite, was a magical experience, showcasing the enchanting interplay of color, craftsmanship, and light. The studio created a dreamy universe with vibrant hues, inviting visitors to immerse themselves in a world of extravagant and whimsical designs.

(Photos: 3daysofdesign)

Natalia Criado’s tableware collection, aptly named ‘Joyas en Casa’ (gems at home), brings a strong sculptural feel to everyday objects, with natural stone accents that give the pieces a jewel-like quality, seamlessly blending with an industrial aesthetic. Whether it’s forks, spoons, knives, or cups, each piece reflects Criado’s background in jewelry design, resulting in an eclectic mix ranging from Bauhaus-inspired to decoratively intricate elements, perfectly embodying contemporary style.

(Photos: Natalia Criado)

Kristina Dam Studio’s ‘Journeys’ collection embodied sculptural minimalism, merging detailed craftsmanship with a refined aesthetic. Their use of steel brought both beauty and strength, ensuring each piece’s enduring quality. The collection showcased the studio’s passion for creating visually captivating and highly functional items that add a statement to any room.

(Photos: 3daysofdesign)

Wrapping Up

We spent three days in Copenhagen filled with inspiration and excitement. From neuroaesthetics to outdoor living, bold colors to innovative lighting, this year’s 3daysofdesign had it all. We hope our journey through the festival has brought you a taste of the latest trends and made you as enthusiastic about the design world as we are.