PLAYROOM at 3daysofdesign shows how playing is a tool for imagination, problem-solving and creativity in Finnish design

Photo: Unto Rautio, PLAYROOM

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Address: St. Nikolaj Plads 25A, 1067 Copenhagen
Showroom open: 10. - 12.6.2026 at 9.00 - 19.00

Finns believe that play is more than recreation. It is essential to creativity, innovation, and happiness. At PLAYROOM during 3daysofdesign in Copenhagen, three Finnish brands invite visitors into an imaginative world of games, interaction, and curiosity. Created by Durat, Johanna Gullichsen, and Finarte together with Finnish Design Info and Helsinki Partners, PLAYROOM transforms its space into a colourful laboratory for creativity, social connection, and experimentation. Visitors are encouraged to touch, play, meet new people, and discover contemporary interpretations of some of Finland’s most entertaining and delightfully quirky traditional games.

“Don’t forget to play,” said the renowned Finnish architect Alvar Aalto. The idea captures something essential about Finnish design thinking. Throughout history, Finnish design has been driven by experimentation, curiosity, and a willingness to test new ideas. Finnish design turns the country’s values of democracy and equality into design. Not through hierarchy or perfectionism, but through openness and exploration.

This mindset continues to shape Finnish innovation today. In Finland, play is often understood as a serious tool for imagination, problem-solving, and creative thinking. It is no coincidence that many globally recognized Finnish innovations — from design and architecture to gaming and technology — have emerged from a culture that values independence, curiosity, and freedom to experiment.

“In Finland, children start school at the age of seven, significantly later than in many other countries. We believe that giving children time and space to play supports cognitive development, creativity, and long-term well-being,” says Hanna Harris, Chief Design Officer for the City of Helsinki. “Innovation requires imagination and curiosity. The ability to play is deeply connected to the ability to invent.”

The spirit of experimentation is especially visible in Helsinki, a city whose creative scene is shaped by accessibility, collaboration, and low hierarchies. Designers, architects, artists, and technology companies operate unusually close to one another, creating an environment where ideas move freely between disciplines. In Helsinki, creativity is rarely locked behind closed doors. It is built collectively through conversation, testing, and shared curiosity. That same atmosphere can be felt inside PLAYROOM.

“Playing together is a way to connect with one another,” says Harris. “At 3daysofdesign, we wanted to introduce some of the funniest and most unconventional traditional games while creating opportunities for people to meet, interact, and play together.”

At its heart, PLAYROOM is not only about games. It is about the Finnish belief that creativity flourishes when people feel free to explore, experiment, and enjoy themselves together.

Photo: Aleksi Tikkala, Finarte

Finarte
finarte.fi

Celebrating over 40 years of design, Finarte brings a bold world of colour, texture, and craftsmanship to 3daysofdesign. The family-run Finnish design house presents its latest collection in collaboration with fashion designer Ervin Latimer, whose graphic and expressive designs transform rugs into tactile works of art. Combining Latimer´s family roots of Northern Finland and Senegal, Angola and Democratic Republic of Congo area, circular thinking and handwoven traditions, the exhibition demonstrates how responsible production and uncompromising design can go hand-in-hand.

Photo: Christian Jakowleff,  Durat

Durat

durat.fi

The Palapeli shelf, designed by celebrated Finnish designer Harri Koskinen, is a versatile shelving unit made entirely from Durat, a Finnish solid-surface material containing up to 30% recycled plastic. Originally developed as a wooden design a decade ago, Palapeli has been reimagined in Durat, whose durability and resistance to moisture make it equally suitable for living spaces and bathrooms. Koskinen notes that Durat allows the shelf to be manufactured from production offcuts, ensuring highly efficient use of material while also offering a wide range of colour options, from elegant monochrome versions to playful multicoloured compositions. Customers can choose matching colours for all components or assemble the shelf from available offcut pieces in different hues, with colour availability varying according to production surplus.

According to Durat CEO Heikki Karppinen, Palapeli fits seamlessly into the company’s production process by transforming furniture-manufacturing scraps into premium design products, reducing the need for virgin materials while maximizing the value of pre-cast sheets. Durat itself is a Finnish material that has embraced circular-economy principles since its inception: it is made with recycled plastic, fully recyclable at the end of its life, and valued for its vibrant colours, seamless appearance, warm silky feel, durability, hygiene, and renewability, making it a versatile and sustainable choice for furniture, countertops, sinks, and a wide range of interior applications.

Photo: Nico Backström, Johanna Gullichsen

Johanna Gullichsen
johannagullichsen.com

Discover timeless textiles where Nordic design meets traditional weaving craftsmanship.

Since 1989, Johanna Gullichsen has created durable, sustainable textiles for homes and public spaces. The iconic Normandie collection is made entirely in Finland, reflecting a commitment to local craftsmanship and responsible production, while the Project collection is designed to meet the demands of high-traffic environments. Alongside fabrics by the metre, the brand offers cushions and bespoke interior pieces that bring lasting quality and timeless style to any setting.

More information & press pictures

Leena Karppinen
Senior Manager, Brand & PR
Helsinki Partners
leena.karppinen@helsinkipartners.com

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