By Ruth Price. Photos courtesy 3daysofdesign.
This summer, I attended 3daysofdesign in Copenhagen. As the founder and creative director of Desert Design Week, I’ve always looked up to this festival as one that gets it right. It engages the city, draws visitors from around the world, supports regional talent and blends emerging voices with major brands.
It’s no surprise that the country that helped democratize design is able to create a festival that feels so accessible. For me, the most memorable moments were the immersive brand experiences that created an entire world around their stories. From Vipp’s playful take on a guesthouse, to Vibia’s contemporary lighting installation inside a centuries-old church, to Dusty Deco’s apartment takeover mixing new and earlier works with bold art and collectible objects, each experience felt completely its own.
Here are three that stood out.
Dusty Deco
Dusty Deco’s exhibition inside a 250-year-old building in Christianshavn was one that I returned to three times. New introductions, updated pieces and earlier works were paired with art and collectible objects, creating a brand experience that completely drew me in.
The apartment’s wood paneling, soaring lattice-clad ceilings, wide plank hardwood floors and unmistakable Danish design character were everything I hoped to experience in Copenhagen. The art, curated from the brand’s artist roster, was bold and original, and every object reflected a sense of craftsmanship. Nothing felt overly styled. Instead, the apartment felt layered, collected and genuinely lived in.
Vibia
If Vibia exists to create beautiful atmospheres, it was taken to another level with the help of Note (design studio).
Inside Helligåndshuset Church (House of the Holy Ghost), a dramatic dark wooden table anchored the installation while light moved across the centuries-old architecture in a way that felt powerful yet visually soft.
What made the installation so compelling was the tension between old and new. Contemporary lighting inside a historic church could have felt unexpected, but instead felt completely natural. The installation wasn’t only about the products themselves, but about how light interacts with architecture over time, shifting not only how a space looks, but how it feels to be in it.
Vipp
Vipp is one of those brands that understands how to turn practicality into something iconic. I explored the Vipp Loft, a guesthouse showcasing the brand’s furniture, lighting, accessories and kitchen designs. A chef prepared a Spanish-inspired meal while the light-filled space embodied the simplicity of Danish design with a muted palette of creams, grays, browns, and caramels.
Tucked behind the courtyard, a former 1950s auto garage has been transformed into a cultural space. Here, Barcelona-based architecture and design studio Mesura reimagined the Vipp guesthouse through the lens of Danish Midsummer. “From Guesthouse to Playhouse” featured an oversized conversation pit that encouraged communal gatherings. Instead of a quiet retreat, the installation became something more social, playful and memorable.
Ruth Price is the founder and creative director of Desert Design Week, celebrating design, architecture, interiors, art and creative culture across the Southwest through curated events, editorial storytelling, home tours and creative collaborations. desertdesignweek.com, @DesertStyleAz, @DesertDesignWeek.
