Taking place in Copenhagen from 10-12 June, 3daysofdesign is Denmark’s official design festival – and one of the largest exhibitions of interior and furniture design in Europe. ADR speaks with two Kvadrat Group creative leads to find out why this year’s line-up has so much on offer.

Since its first appearance in 2013, with just four brands on display, 3daysofdesign has grown to over 400 unique exhibitors from all around the world. Positioned as a conference of ideas and design innovation rather than merely a sales expo, the annual design festival offers attendees a wide range of interactive, multisensory experiences and panel discussions.

One of the many brands on display at this year’s 3daysofdesign festival is sustainable textile manufacturer Kvadrat Group. Presenting its new THREE residential curtain collection in a tactile installation, creative director Isa Glink and senior vice president of marketing Njusja de Gier share their views on why 3daysofdesign continues to drive the conversation around innovative European design.  

Interiors that people want to live in for many years

Reflecting on what makes 3daysofdesign an unmissable date on the global design calendar, de Gier finds that it all stems from the right mixture of strong brands and thoughtful collections.

“What I appreciate is that the focus has stayed very much on design and interiors,” she says. “It has not been taken over by adjacent worlds in a way that changes the purpose of the event. Of course, there are dinners and event openings, but underneath it there is a serious industry platform.”

As well as a leading focus on networking and the exchange of artistic principles, another key role of the festival is to platform sustainability in the manufacturing industry. De Gier emphasises Denmark’s position as a global leader in sustainability practices, and the increased utilisation of reusable materials is a mission statement she also shares.  

“For me, sustainability is not only about materials or technical innovation – even though those are important,” she concedes. “It is also about longevity, care, and making interiors and objects that people want to live with for many years.”

This year marks something of a milestone appearance for Kvadrat, with the presentation of German designer Isa Glink’s THREE curtain collection, as well as a new rug series Loux, which underlines the brand’s ongoing commitment to adaptability and extended product life cycle.

“Again, this year we host the Kvadrat and Vitra Café with chef Mikkel Karstad,” she adds, “which brings textiles, furniture and food culture together.”

As one of the founding members of 3daysofdesign, Kvadrat has a passionate interest in protecting what makes the festival so special. De Gier proudly highlights how the event has grown in scope over the past decade without losing its soul or purpose.

Pointedly, she notes, “It is not full of noise and hype. The heart of it is still very much about the work: the craftsmanship, the creativity, the materials, the interiors and the conversations around design. I think that is quite rare today.”

Meaning, material intelligence, and emotional connection

For designer Isa Glink, 3daysofdesign represents one of the most influential meeting points in the global design scene. On a practical basis, this allows new product launches – such as Glink’s new THREE collection – to engage visitors with tactile, artistic showcase displays.

The platform offered by the festival, Glink stipulates, is what will enable attendees to explore “the textile’s potential to act as soft three-dimensional characters in space”.

“The concept behind 3daysofdesign offers something important and valuable: a meaningful access to ideas, people and spaces rather than just products. I find it very exciting that textiles are no longer treated as supporting elements to furniture only; they’ve become more central to the conversation around materiality, sustainability and atmosphere.”

In particular, the unique showroom/studio format of the design festival provides an opportunity to engage with products on a much more authentic and personal level. It isn’t hard in this setting to imagine one were in their own living room, which Glink believes allows for a greater sense of discovery and emotional connection.

Assessing the landscape of global design, Glink maintains that the direction for 2026 is unwavering in its concentration and ambition. “The focus of mainstream brands is shifting,” she says, “from novelty alone toward meaning, material intelligence, longevity and emotional connection.”

The most enduring quality of 3daysofdesign is its role as a water diviner for the global design industry, especially at a time when so many brands around the world are launching new collections exclusively at the Copenhagen festival. These three days are a vital insight into what will shape the direction of contemporary design in the future. 

“For designers and new talents,” Glink says, “3daysofdesign offers direct access to decision-makers.”

3daysofdesign takes place in Copenhagen from 10-12 June 2026. All events are free of charge. More information can be found on its FAQ page.

Top image: THREE Visual Tetra

All images: Supplied by Kvadrat.