After five months as a creative consultant in the Philippines, Filipino-Danish creative Rebecca Lozano Petersen returns to 3 Days of Design, Copenhagen’s premier design festival, with fresh purpose. From exhibitions to street parties, here’s how one insider navigates three days of Nordic inspiration.
Sleek showrooms displaying the latest furniture collections, intimate talks with design legends, and impromptu street parties spilling onto cobblestone streets. Each June, the Danish capital becomes the epicenter of Nordic creativity for the annual 3 Days of Design festival. The festival, now in its twelfth year, has evolved from a local industry gathering into one of Europe’s most influential design events, where architects, designers, curators, and global tastemakers converge. Beyond the hundreds of exhibitions, the festival also invites guests to navigate the city landscape of aesthetic innovation and engage in spontaneous conversations that stretch from form to philosophy.
In an exclusive account for Lifestyle Asia, here’s a look at navigating this creative marathon from an emerging Filipino-Danish creative.
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My favorite time of the year in Copenhagen has arrived. Summer has officially set in, and with it, the city once again becomes a creative hub where design, art, and culture collide. After spending five months in the Philippines working as a creative consultant, where I collaborated with architects and interior designers, I’m focusing on getting more brand awareness, fresh inspiration, and building my network. Together experience designer and interior design consultant Isabel Lozano, I recently launched @DesignzDossier, a new platform dedicated to showcasing curated design stores through extraordinary content from around the world.
But first, Copenhagen for 3 Days of Design. With a packed schedule, countless exhibitions, and spontaneous moments throughout the day, here’s a glimpse into one of my days at Scandinavia’s most inspiring design event.
08:00: I’m slowly waking up, maybe a little too early after last night’s Design Award show and Dezeen x A-N-D opening party. First, celebrating the finalists for the award show of the most groundbreaking design solutions, then cheering A-N-D’s new lighting series.
Somehow, I’m surprisingly alert, and a shower will help clear my mind. Sleep was fleeting. My mind raced with anticipation, like the night before a long-awaited trip. Today marks the beginning of 3 Days of Design, and my mental checklist is already overflowing. With so many events saved on the app, the challenge is clear: how do I experience it all when time and distance conspire against me?
09:45: The bag is packed (overpacked, as always) and I’m out the door–prepared for a day that will stretch into night. I went for an outfit that has a balance between practical and polished, knowing there’ll be no chance for a wardrobe change. Layers are always my go-to, plus a backup pair of shoes (because I know these boots might betray me). I head to the metro just across from my apartment: five stops, about eight minutes. I know, very un-Danish of me not to bike, but I’m embracing a no-stress start while quietly justifying my day and answering texts without sweating off my makeup or messing up my hair (not just yet; I know it’s only a matter of time).
10:00: The first stop sets the tone: Tom Dixon’s pop-up welcomes with coffee, croissants, and sunshine–honestly, the best way to ease into the day. I stroll through the showroom checking out the new lighting pieces and accessories, and conversations flow easily. Feeling inspired and caffeinated already.
11:00: At &Tradition, I settle into “The Daily Talk: Legacy and Design.” Three icons of Danish design share their stories, shaped by tradition, craftsmanship, and how history informs the future. It’s thoughtful, inspiring–a reminder of why this festival matters. Totally worth 45 minutes of standing, even with numb legs.
12:00: Now it’s time to wander around, letting the city guide me. Around every corner: another exhibition, another unexpected discovery. Some stops are on my list; others draw me in spontaneously–meeting designers, capturing content for my profile, and simply letting inspiration find me. Every space tells its own story, and I’m here to soak it all in. The small bites and coffee from each showroom fuel the journey.
13:30: At Botané, I join a floral workshop, crafting a bouquet with their lifelike artificial flowers. There’s something meditative in arranging color and form–I can’t take full credit for the final bouquet, but it turned out cute, and we savor the simple pleasure of creating together.
14:00: Lunch at Soho House’s restaurant Cecconi’s: a sunlit table with a view of the water, plates of seafood, creamy burrata, wood-fired pizza, and a bloody mary (extra spicy, just as I like it) in hand.
15:00: More exhibitions, more talks, more wandering, and getting way beyond the usual recommended steps for the day. Just going with the flow. More snacks, and the coffee has officially been swapped for wine (knowing myself, I’ll have to take it easy now to make sure my content and conversations stay on point).
18:00: After a full day of design discoveries, a proper dinner is definitely in order. We hit Fishmarket for another seafood feast–oysters, mussels, crisp rosé wine–the perfect reset before the evening.
19:30: Frama’s street party is always in full swing. I stop by their store, which is always such a beautiful, calm space with that effortless aesthetic that somehow feels both raw and refined. I wander through, taking in the details, before grabbing a beer and stepping back outside. The street is filled with people, music playing, everyone just vibing. It’s the kind of laid-back mingling that Copenhagen does so well.
20:30: The final stop: Noura Residency. I step into Home from Home, an exhibition that feels like beautifully curated chaos, the kind that makes you connect to design on a personal level. Outside, it’s as if my sweetest dream has come to life: a long table tiramisu gathering (my all-time favorite dessert). It’s like the city saved the best for last.
23:00: Social battery nearly empty and legs worn out, I skipped the afterparty at Copenhagen Contemporary. Slight FOMO, but tomorrow promises another full day, and I’ll be grateful for a good night’s rest. Finally home. Exhausted, happy, and so ready to lie under my comforter. Scrolling back through my pictures, grateful for such an inspiring and rewarding first day. Ready for whatever day two has lined up for me.
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Rebecca Lozano Petersen is a driven fashion professional from Copenhagen with Filipino roots. Combining her passion with a keen creative eye and strategic thinking, she provides styling services, contributes to Copenhagen Fashion Week, and serves as a luxury retail brand ambassador, and has co-founded a sustainable high-end fashion brand.
