3 Thought-Provoking Installations Seen At Denmark’s Annual Design Festival

As trade fairs and exhibitions have developed throughout recent decades, the purpose behind such events has been challenged with the environmental impact and inadvertent encouragement of overproduction being causes for concern. Traditional formats often includes aisles of booths filling an exhibition hall and, while the application of single-use set material is a primary issue within such events, is the format itself outdated and offering an over-homogenised experience for visitors?

Upon witnessing the 10th anniversary of Copenhagen’s 3DaysofDesign festival, which took place earlier this month, it was encouraging to see that no large exhibition took centre stage and instead, the city was filled with smaller, individual installations within showrooms and venues across the Danish capital. Not only did this allow each brand to create a truly individual experience, it also helped visitors to immerse themselves fully within each space without any distractions and therefore creating a stronger connection from the outset.

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This approach, which has become popular within other fairs such as Milan Design Week and London Design Festival, is one which presents the opportunity to really question the purpose behind participating at such an event. Ultimately, we don’t need another table or chair in the world so there is an onus on brands and designers to think outside the box in how we can reimagine what design means in the world today. As social and environmental challenges become ever more apparent, it is clear that design is a tool which can be applied to unearth solutions to some of these issues and, in using the platform of a design festival, brands have a chance to showcase visionary innovation and how they are contributing towards a positive future ahead.

Thinking back to Copenhagen specifically, three exhibitions stood out, each focusing on new talent and innovation, or addressing subjects of materiality and repairability. Conscious innovation is key as we tackle the impacts of climate change and, through these installations, it allowed visitors to enter into thought-provoking dialogues and future-focused discussions, each centred on a need for change.

‘Three’ by the American Hardwood Export Council

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Collaborating with an all-female trio of Scandinavian designers, AHEC (The American Hardwood Export Council) continued their case to engage audiences in the urgent need to promote responsible timber sourcing and sharing the benefits of using American hardwoods such as red oak, maple and cherry. With the climate crisis and political instability disrupting timber supply chains, the work of AHEC seeks to spotlight the application of these timber varieties within a global design scene. “Our mission is to prompt architects, designers, and manufacturers to challenge prevailing material choices,” states David Venables, the European Director for AHEC, “as well as raising awareness of this invaluable and readily available timber resource.”

For this exhibition, they presented three designers with a brief which wasn’t strict on the outcome but focused more on their own personal interpretation of the materials in question. Anne Brandhøj from Denmark, Pia Högman from Sweden, and Anna Maria Øfstedal Eng from Norway each took different routes with the materials they chose, applying their own dexterities to these unfamiliar timbers that they hadn’t worked with before. The result allowed viewers to witness the potential of the material with each creation merging the worlds of sculpture and functional design in a unique and compelling way. “Our aim was to promote three beautiful and high-performance hardwoods which, between them, make up 40% of the standing hardwood volume in these vast forests,” Venables continues. “They are not widely used in Europe but should be, so this allowed us to express the beauty and capabilities of these timbers directly.” The installation not only sparked conversation around timber supply issues but also provided a really positive additional statement in a sector that is too often male-dominated.

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Ukurant 3

Located in the historical industrial buildings of Refshaleøen, once used for the restoration and construction of ships, this unique showcase brought together a collection of 18 designs curated by the award-winning exhibition platform and creative community, Ukurant. The third exhibition from the platform since its inception in 2019 highlighted experimental design from emerging creatives across the world and provided a refreshing addition to the established Scandinavian design scene, contrasting it in not only aesthetic but also the diversity of talent and materials used.

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From an AI generated chair to a light fixture made from egg-yolk and other organic ingredients, it allowed viewers to witness innovation first-hand, all while set amongst the machines of an active wood workshop, bringing an immersive touch to the experience. Giving us a unique insight into how the future of design could develop, it gave a glimpse of hope knowing that upcoming generations recognise the power of design in responding to the rapidly changing needs of the world today.

Conversations in Sound by Bang & Olufsen

To showcase the brand’s latest speaker, the Beosound A5 designed in collaboration with Danish/Italian duo GamFratesi, this immersive exhibition allowed visitors to get an insight into the innovation behind the making of it and its component-driven design values. Championing circularity and repairability, the speaker brings such versatility to the world of home technology, with interchangeable facades allowing it to work in any interior scheme.

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Referencing the paper raffia that was used on the cover of the design in a contemporary wicker style, the brand’s gallery takeover was enveloped in the material to showcase its organic beauty while making an impactful statement upon arrival. Through the space guests witnessed the journey of its creation, from initial sketches to a fully realised product. With music playing throughout the space from the speakers themselves, all while guests handled components and witnessed its modularity first-hand, it really brought home the importance of creating a sensory experience for a product launch such as this. And, with its innovative, circular design principles taking centre stage, it was a fine example of how technology and sustainability can be married together.