This August I visited a design trade show, northmodern, in beautiful Copenhagen. Previously named ‘DesignTrade’ this trade show has been regenerated and reborn into a new innovative, more stylish and sharply curated design show. Based in the Bella Centre, Scandinavia’s largest exhibition and congress centre, a huge space, also boasts a huge hotel too! The Bella Centre area is being developed into a new neighbourhood for Copenhagen, with the urban planning focussed on sustainability, considerate city planning and liveability. An exciting space and location for a cool new show (well the second northmodern show to be exact).

Starting off the day I attended a press breakfast at the Reform kitchen stand, a cool new concept for hacking Ikea kitchens by a selection of incredible architects such as Henning Larsen Architects and Norm Architects. They were there to discuss the designs and concept which was a very inspirational start to the day. Ikea hacks have become increasingly popular but to see them done in a high end designs at affordable prices is super exciting.  Read more about Reform design here.

As part of the press tour we visited a number of stands where their designers and reps kindly gave brief presentations about what they were exhibiting. It was so inspirational and gave great insight into each company, a big thanks to Reform, Pautisan, Hagedornhagen, Georg Jensen, Artek, Danish TM, Friends & Founders, Playtype and Brigit Tarp from Design Circus.

I’m happy to see a growing trend for minimalism, simplified forms and considered design, graphic influences and clever uses of colour that can fit into a minimalist’s world. Materials are celebrated in their purest forms with sustainability being key. Monochrome is dominant but the introduction of nude shades, inky blues, leafy greens and deep aubergine shows that the scandi’s do play with colour successfully and can be bold too.

With this show being so inspirational showing the best of scandinavian minimalism, clean line design and developing trends, I’m sure that I’ll be talking about this show for a long time.

For more information on northmodern and the future fairs

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