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.
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.
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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