During the 3 Days of Design 2024 in Copenhagen, Ukurant unveiled its fourth exhibition, Ukurant Unwrapped, showcasing the cutting-edge work of emerging talents in design and craft.
This year, however, the exhibition went beyond merely presenting experimental designs; it sought to amplify support for young designers by sparking crucial conversations about the economic realities of establishing a career in today’s competitive design landscape.
At its core, Ukurant Unwrapped is about empowerment and education. The exhibition featured detailed insights into the pricing and creation processes of the works on display, offering visitors a deeper understanding of the effort and craftsmanship involved. The visual elements were designed to provoke conversation, highlighting industry and consumer culture challenges that make it difficult for young designers to thrive.
Curated through an open call, the final selection was focused on sensory experiences and forward-thinking approaches to materials, production, and craftsmanship. This curation reflects Ukurant’s vision of a collective, where diverse works interact and contrast to underscore individual qualities and narratives. The exhibition included a wide variety of designs, from innovative crafts to reinterpretations of traditional materials, offering a fresh perspective on what the future of design might hold.
This year’s exhibition showcases a fascinating array of works that merge functionality with art. Notable among them is Paul Coenen, whose expertise in steel manipulation transforms rigid metal sheets into elegantly functional objects. His creations embody a delicate balance between the inherent strength of the material and the fluidity of design. Similarly, Andréa Berthet presents a series of glassblown sculptures and vases, inspired by the intricate patterns of snake skin, or exuviae. Her work captures the ambiguity between attraction and repulsion, materializing the fragile beauty of nature through the delicate medium of glass.
Adding to the diversity of the exhibition, Studio Radical Softness introduces the Organic Angel Vase, a vibrant 3D-printed object made from biodegradable PLA. This vase is not only a functional piece for floral arrangements but also a commentary on sustainable design practices. Meanwhile, Teodoro Rava’s HyperWood project redefines our understanding of wood by using reclaimed fibers to create a new, wood-like material. Through a reverse-engineered dip molding technique, Rava's work mimics the natural growth rings of wood, challenging the distinction between natural and man-made materials. Together, these contributions reflect the innovative spirit of Ukurant 2024, where the exploration of materials leads to new, thought-provoking forms of expression.
