Interaction Design

A weeks ago, our 2025 ZHdK Interaction Design bachelor class went on a study trip to Copenhagen and what a week it was! We were spoiled with amazing weather, inspiring design studios that welcomed us into their spaces, and fantastic exhibitions all around the city.
Over the next few posts, I’ll share a short recap of each day and some of the moments, people, and ideas that made this trip so memorable. I hope you enjoy the journey!

monday 22.06
Our first stop was Thoravej 29, where we got a tour of the building and learned about their vision for creating a different kind of workplace. What stood out the most was the building itself, designed by architect Pihlmann and built with around 95% recycled materials. It was a great example of how sustainability can be integrated into architecture without compromising on aesthetics. Beyond the building, we also discovered the community they are fostering, a place where people from different backgrounds can meet, collaborate, and learn from one another.

In the afternoon, we experienced a completely different side of design by visiting Marina Abramović’s Seven Deaths at the Cisternerne. The underground space, combined with sound, performance, and striking visuals, created an immersive atmosphere that explored themes of life, death, and human emotion. It was one of those exhibitions that stays with you long after you leave.

To wrap up the day, we all went for ramen together, a perfect way to end our first day in Copenhagen, exchange our first impressions, and (unsurprisingly) start debating which exhibition we’d still be thinking about the next morning.

tuesday 23.06
Our second day started at Natural Material Studio, where we discovered how natural and discarded resources can be transformed into biomaterials, objects, and even architectural elements. It was fascinating to see how sustainability can become a creative process rather than just a constraint. We even got to learn some of the techniques ourselves… although we were strongly advised not to eat the samples.

Later, we cycled across the city to Copenhagen Institute for Futures Studies, where Carsten Beck introduced us to the world of futures thinking. The talk showed us that while we can’t predict the future, we can explore different scenarios and better prepare for what might come.

We ended the day biking through a city full of celebrating graduates, enjoying live music, warm summer weather, and one of those sunsets that make you forget you’ve already been walking (and cycling) all day.

wednesday 24.06
We started the day at Vertigo, where we were welcomed with a homemade breakfast before hearing from Jeppe Deibjerg and Mikkel Meyer about their work. Their approach to light installation, set design was especially inspiring for us, as our class had recently put a lot of effort into the scenography and lighting for for the vernissage party (maybe we saw you there :)).

Our second stop of the day was Khora, where Simon Lajboschitz and Kathrine Fremming gave us the opportunity to get to know their company and its work a little better. They introduced us to the many different ways virtual reality can be applied. To top it all off, we even got to experience some of their projects ourselves using VR headsets. Safe to say, that was a highlight for many of us!

Our final stop of the day was the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art (highly recommended!). As a class, we enjoyed a wonderful guided tour through the museum, where we not only explored the exhibitions but also learned about the museum's history and its unique vision. The combination of the architecture, the surrounding landscape, and the seaside location is simply breathtaking. One of the highlights of the tour was seeing Alberto Giacometti's sculptures up close a perfect way to end another inspiring day in Copenhagen.

thursday 25.06
By our (already!) fourth day in Copenhagen, we had settled into the rhythm of exploring the city by bike. Our first stop was the Atelier of the Design Department at the Royal Danish Academy, where we were warmly welcomed with coffee and croissants before getting an insight into their Bachelor's and Master's programmes. It was fascinating to learn more about their approach to design education and see the inspiring environment their students work in.

Our second stop of the day was Design Systems International, and honestly... wow! We got an exciting look into some of their projects and learned more about their role in the industry. The presentation was incredibly inspiring, and it definitely had all of us fully engaged from start to finish.

Our final official stop was a visit to Christoph, a ZHdK Interaction Design alumnus, who shared insights into his current work and told us about his journey from studying at ZHdK to where he is today.

After a day full of inspiring conversations, new perspectives, and around 1.5 hours of cycling, we wrapped up the evening together at Reffen, Europe's largest street food market.

friday 26.06
And just like that, our week of inspiring experiences came to an end.

On our final day, we visited Copenhagen Contemporary, Copenhagen's international art centre. We had plenty of time to explore the exhibitions at our own pace, surrounded by impressive artworks, large-scale installations, and thought-provoking video pieces. One of the highlights for many of us was experiencing James Turrell's immersive light installation, one of those works that is difficult to describe and simply has to be experienced.

Our very last stop of the field trip was CopenHill, one of Copenhagen's most iconic examples of combining sustainability with public space. CopenHill is a waste-to-energy power plant with a year-round ski slope, hiking trail, climbing wall, and rooftop viewpoint. As fate would have it, the elevator was out of service during our visit, so we couldn't make it all the way to the top. A little disappointing, of course, but sometimes that's just how field trips go!

We still made the most of the afternoon, and some of us finished the trip with a well-deserved swim in Copenhagen's canals.

And with that, our week in Copenhagen came to an end, a week full of new perspectives, inspiring conversations, and unforgettable experiences. A huge thank you to everyone who welcomed us, shared their knowledge, and made this trip so special.

Now it's time to enjoy the summer before we head into our final year at ZHdK. Let's go!