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Interview

Working Against the Grain

Founded in 2019 by four Danish designers - Lærke Ryom, Josefine Krabbe, Kasper Kyster, Kamma Rosa Schyte - Ukurant is a curated platform for emerging designers from around the world. Now in its third edition, the 2023 presentation at 3daysofdesign took the temperature of contemporary design through young creators who are working against the grain.

Photographer:
Peter Vinther
Credits:
Peter Vinther
Credits:
Peter Vinther
Interview

Working Against the Grain

Founded in 2019 by four Danish designers - Lærke Ryom, Josefine Krabbe, Kasper Kyster, Kamma Rosa Schyte - Ukurant is a curated platform for emerging designers from around the world. Now in its third edition, the 2023 presentation at 3daysofdesign took the temperature of contemporary design through young creators who are working against the grain.

Can you introduce us to UKURANT, as an exhibition for young designers who are working outside of the thrust of mainstream?

- Ukurant offers a platform for emerging designers to showcase their work and connect with a multidisciplinary community. By fostering a supportive environment that values both artistic and commercial success, Ukurant encourages designers to explore their creativity and take risks. We believe that this approach not only benefits individual designers, but also contributes to a more diverse and dynamic design industry overall. Through its exhibitions and community-building efforts, Ukurant is challenging the status quo and paving the way for a new generation of designers to thrive. Ukurant is made by young designers, for young designers.

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What is the development process like each year?

- With every exhibition, Ukurant is growing as a group and a concept. As we curate the exhibitions to present pieces that reflect current approaches, ideas, or interests by the young forces of the design industry, Ukurant is continuously evolving, as these perspectives change. As a platform for experimental design this is of course our over all theme for the exhibitions, but with the desire of wanting to se what the young designers are interested in right now: our open call is left very flexible and open, but we do look for works that are experimental, innovative, and well crafted. This can relate to technique, material, concept, form etc, and every year we are pleased to see how young creatives constantly surprise us in the applications.

Photo: Peter Vinther

How important is it to you that the diverse perspectives come together into a cohesive narrative?

- When curating the exhibition, it is very important that the final selection comes together and works in harmony. We want to show the established design scene the range of what design can be. In this way it is important for us to create a diverse exhibition that showcases pieces that are very artistic, and pieces that are commercial; pieces that are unique or ready for production, pieces that inspire for the future, or are set in their final state. Each has its own value, but together they create a picture of what design should be: inspiring, innovative, and diverse. In our experience, some interesting approaches in the field of design have been neglected in favor of low costs and fast production. With Ukurant's exhibitions, we would like to bring attention to the importance of the wide range. This is important to nurture Denmark as a design nation and for a new generation of designers to create the designs of tomorrow.

Sustainable Design Effort
At 3daysofdesign, our commitment extends beyond showcasing the latest trends in interior design and furniture. We strive to facilitate meaningful discussions, debate, and actively contribute to pushing forward a more sustainable approach within the realm of interior design and furniture business. Join us in our mission to inspire positive change and promote a greener, more responsible future for the industry.

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Ukurant encourages designers to explore their creativity and take risks.
Ukurant
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3daysofdesign is an exclusive event that's inclusive of everyone. Where the press, content creators, buyers, designers, architects and design enthusiasts, as well as the general public, are invited to experience new concepts from our curated selection of brands from Denmark and elsewhere around the world.

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Since its inception in 2013, Signe Byrdal Terenziani has facilitated the growth of the design community in her role as Managing Director. It all began as a small design event held in an old warehouse in Nordhavn, a harbour area overlooking Copenhagen’s waterfront. Four Danish brands launched the event as a joint initiative: Montana, Erik Jørgensen (now owned by Fredericia Furniture), Anker & Co, and Kvadrat. At that time, Copenhagen lacked a proper design festival, since the previous annual furniture fair at Bella Center closed down some years before.

Today, the 3daysofdesign festival extends to the entire city of Copenhagen and is considered the most significant annual design festival in Scandinavia and Northern Europe.

Each year since its inception, 3daysofdesign has grown in popularity exponentially. In 2024, over 400 brands exhibited at the festival, where over 45.000 visitors could choose from as many as 500 events to attend in various design districts across Copenhagen, such as design talks, product launches, networking, etc.

3daysofdesign takes place every year in Copenhagen mainly in showrooms and galleries during June, Wednesday to Friday. In 2025 the festival will be held from 18 — 20 June 2025.

Pack your bags, book a hotel and come to Copenhagen! 3daysofdesign is open to the general public and everyone is invited to visit the showrooms, exhibitions, workshops and design talks. All events are free of charge.

Please check the programme, which is updated on an ongoing basis, at 3daysofdesign.dk

You can look forward to seeing cutting-edge concepts from new and established names in lifestyle, design, furniture and interior design. Get a preview of new product launches. Learn about upcoming trends on the horizon. Meet the players behind forward-thinking ideas worth knowing. And network with like-minded people with a passion for design.

It's easy to get around in Copenhagen.

Rent a bike, jump on the bus or metro, catch a boat or simply walk from venue to venue. At the same time, you will have the opportunity to enjoy the architecture, restaurants, cafes, shops and Copenhagen's relaxed vibe by day and vibrant night life.

Absolutely! Don't forget to download our app on your Android or iPhone. It provides a comprehensive view of all the festival events, including a complete list of exhibitions along with their locations on our interactive 3daysofdesign map. Plus, you can use our free QR ticket system for easy access to everything the festival has to offer.

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