A 3daysofdesign Symposium on the power of the present in shaping the future

This June, 3daysofdesign’s Symposium “Entering the Now” invites the global design community to reconsider its relationship to time — with an imperative to actively engage in the present.

Curated by AI expert Tey Bannerman and social entrepreaur Veronica D'Souza, the Symposium reflects the 2026 festival theme: Make This Moment Matter. Together, they propose a critical shift from designing what’s next to engaging deeply with what’s now.

 “Entering the Now” positions the present as an impetus for having a sense of agency, where responsibility is felt, decisions are made, and design holds the power to enact meaningful change across ecological, technological, and social dimensions.

“At 3daysofdesign, we’ve never limited our focus to design alone, as such, but rather design’s potential as a catalyst for change — meaningful change. With “Entering the Now,” we’re encouraging our community to recognise the present as both an opportunity and a responsibility. People often search for the essence of design in the past or the future, but it lives here, in this moment. The legacy we leave behind starts now. By the choices we make today. Join us in creating a blueprint for a better future — in the present. It can only take shape through our collective action in the now.”

^{— Signe Byrdal Terenziani, CEO & Managing Director of 3daysofdesign}

Leading international voices join our roster of speakers at “Entering the Now”, featuring headline talks by Paola Antonelli, Yinka Ilori, Alice Rawsthorne, Natsai Audrey Chieza, and Anupama Kundoo. Each brings a distinct perspective to how design can function as a cultural, social, and environmental force.

The programme unfolds across five sessions hosted at KLUB, located in the heart of Copenhagen. Each session focuses on a different facet of our festival theme, and promises to be a truly eye–opening and illuminating experience:

• Being Present: Exploring awareness as conducive for change
• Things That Matter: Examining value beyond accumulation
• Purpose: Embracing intention as a creative compass
• Waste: Rethinking and repurposing excess, why less is more
• The Ripple Effect: Seeing the broader impact of individual actions

The sessions offer an intimate framework for attendees to question assumptions, exchange knowledge, actively engage in dialogue, debate — and collectively shape new narratives for design.

“At a time when the world faces overlapping crises and rapid transformation, design cannot remain speculative or detached. It must engage with the present as a condition of responsibility, and as an opportunity for meaningful action.”

^{— Tey Bannerman and Veronica D’Souza, Curators}

The Symposium is further enriched by collaborations. Marking 35 years of service to Copenhagen, Delta Air Lines will create a dedicated “Flow State” lounge in collabiration with 3daysofdesign at KLUB's Copenhagen courtyard offering guests a space designed to help guests enter their “flow state” with space to pause, connect, and reflect between sessions.

In addition, Anthropic will host a free, hands–on workshop examining the intersection of artificial intelligence, ethics, and design practice in a rapidly–evolving technological landscape.

You can look forward to an illuminating experience, with space for reflection as much as action. Where we don’t just observe design, we actively participate in defining its role in our lives — and in society at large. Book your tickets here.