3 Days Of Danish Design
Hot on the heels of Milan’s Salone Del Mobile, the design pack transplant themselves to the windy shores of the Danish capital, where this year's 3 Days Of Design fair will light up Copenhagen's streets with parties, showrooms, dinners and installations. In honour of the occasion, we caught up with three of Browns’ favourite local friends, delving into the entrancing world of Helle Mardahl, the all-conquering universe of HAY, and the fantastically kitsch planet of Reflections Copenhagen.
Helle Mardahl
How did your brand begin?
I worked in fashion and as an artist for over a decade, and I felt the need to change direction. On a vacation to Malta, I stumbled upon a small local glass blowers' shop. The work was not to my taste, but the process was extremely magical. After returning to Copenhagen, I immediately contacted a glass blower to help me work with the material. We worked for hours on my very first table lamp, which is still an essential part of my work today. What’s super fascinating about making glass is that everything is so organic. The colours, the material, the process. I’m crazy about it!
What does design mean to you?
I live for design. It’s my life.
What do you hope your brand conveys?
An escape to a magical place of colours and happiness.
Do your inspirations change regularly when designing or do you have core references?
My whole universe draws on references from sweet shops from my childhood. I’ve always been inspired by Alice In Wonderland and Charlie And The Chocolate Factory. The undefinable line between reality and illusion – what’s real and what’s not. For each new project, I look for new colours and shapes, but the core references stay the same.
Do you feel that Scandinavia has inspired your aesthetic or founding principles? If so, how?
I would say that my design stands in contrast to the minimalism that the Scandinavian aesthetic is known for. However, my products match extremely well with relatively neutral environments where the art pieces stand out by adding colour to the space. It’s a dance of contrasts that I really like. Furthermore, Scandinavian design is all about sublime materials and excellent craftsmanship, and that’s definitely something I’ve taken with me as a designer.
What have been the defining moments for your brand so far?
Growing the company. This month, we got the keys to our new space in Copenhagen - a fabulous apartment. We started in a small basement a few years ago, moved to a shop, and now we’re starting a new chapter in these incredible surroundings.
Will you be participating in 3 Days Of Design? If so how?
We will be presenting our new project ‘Sweet Illusion’ in our magical new space. Our showroom will be transformed into a conceptual exhibition, like entering another world – a candy wonderland.
Mette And Rolf Hay, HAY Design
How did your brand begin?
Mette: We founded HAY in 2002 with the ambition to create contemporary furniture, lighting and accessories for modern living in collaboration with some of the world’s most talented, curious, and courageous designers. Back then, the design landscape in Denmark was rather conservative – we wanted to create products for our own generation. At its heart, HAY has always strived to make good design accessible to the widest possible audience, and our mission remains unchanged today.
What does design mean to you?
Rolf: For me, design is a tool for innovation and improvement.
Do your inspirations change regularly when designing or do you have core references?
Mette: In terms of developing ideas, the trap is when we sit in front of the computer too much. We get inspired and get ideas when we go out in the world; when we see an exhibition or meet a new person or previous collaborator. In short, we are inspired by living.
Do you feel that Scandinavia has inspired your aesthetic or founding principles? If so, how?
Rolf: Scandinavian design as we understand it at HAY mostly refers to Bauhaus. The difference between Bauhaus and Scandinavian design is that Bauhaus was always aiming to make things as simple as possible, whereas Scandinavian design is also about creating simple objects – but not too simple. It represents strong humanness, by which I mean that it has a friendly and welcoming nature. I am very inspired by the big masters of the 50s and 60s in this regard.
What was the last thing that made you excited?
Mette: I just went on a trip to LA, where Rolf and I got to spend time at the infamous Eames House and met lots of interesting people.
Rolf: It’s always been a dream for Mette and me to visit that house and our expectations weren’t disappointed – it was quite the experience.
Will you be participating in 3 Days of Design? If so, how?
We will preview our Autumn product launches across accessories, furniture, and lighting, including a very special collaboration with artist Laila Gohar, new pieces of furniture by Belgian design duo Muller Van Severen, two new projects by the Bouroullec brothers, and several new lighting projects. 2022 is also a very special year for us, as we celebrate 20 years of HAY, so we are looking forward to sharing this moment of celebration.
Andrea Larsson, Reflections Copenhagen
How did your brand begin?
It began in 2014 when Julie, former co-owner and founder of the brand, and I met. Julie had designed a few mirrors, mostly for her own needs, and I fell in love with them. I was an interiors stylist, and asked Julie if she was interested in working with me. We launched some more mirrors and about one year later a selection of the Crystal tea lights. There was such a big interest in these that it all started rolling from there.
Do your inspirations change regularly when designing or do you have core references?
It’s a mix. I have certain periods that I simply love and always get inspired from, for example Art Deco, the Memphis movement, and the colour blocking in the eighties.
Do you feel that Scandinavia has inspired your aesthetic or founding principles? If so how?
I’m not typically Scandinavian in my designs, but I think there is a fundamental look of the aesthetics I can’t run from. There is a tradition of design and architecture that we have and are brought up with, from the graphic lines to the simplicity.
What projects are on the horizon for you?
I have just started on a small porcelain collection of dinnerware. We’re starting with four plates, but the collection will definitely expand.
What was the last thing that made you excited?
I went to see an exhibition in London a few weeks ago - Francis Bacon at the Royal Academy. It was just so fantastic to see and learn about his wonderful and clever work.
Words by Isabella Rose Davey
Photography by Tine Bek
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