Design By Them’s Copenhagen Debut Showcases Two Decades of Australian Excellence.

Kiln coffee tables and Alum dining table by Tom Fereday. Twil chair by Gibson Karlo. Ribs bench by Sefan Lie. Photo by Heidi Lerkenfeldt.

Press Lounge by Studio Truly Truly. Swage by Angus Easthope. Photo by Heidi Lerkenfeldt.

Sundae modular lounge by Jason Ju and Danielah Martinez. Felix vase by Rhys Cooper. Lamps by Daniel Emma. Photo by Heidi Lerkenfeldt.

Designer Tom Fereday. Portrait by Tonya Matyu.

Nicholas Karlovasitis and Sarah Gibson of Gibson Karlo. Portrait by Tonya Matyu.

Australian furniture brand Design By Them marked a significant milestone this June with its inaugural showing at 3 Days of Design in Copenhagen. The EXPANSE exhibition, held within the historic halls of Galleri Susanne Ottesen from 18-20 June 2025, showcased the studio’s evolution from local Sydney favourite to internationally relevant design force.

Founded nearly two decades ago with a philosophy grounded in playfulness, originality and longevity, Design By Them has consistently championed Australian furniture and object design with a distinct voice that bridges regional authenticity with global appeal. EXPANSE represented both celebration and progression—a journey through new releases alongside established collections that define the brand’s aesthetic DNA.

On display were upcoming releases by Tom Fereday, Angus Easthope and Daniel Emma, alongside collections by Studio Truly Truly, Gibson Karlo, Rhys Cooper, Elliat Rich, Danielah Martinez, Daniel Tucker, Christina Bricknell, Jason Ju and Stefan Lie.

The exhibition’s standout pieces demonstrated Design By Them’s expanding design language. Studio Truly Truly’s Press Collection is a masterclass in balance, combining soft upholstered forms against solid timber frameworks to create sculptural seating that prioritises both comfort and visual simplicity. Alongside Press, Jason Ju’s Sundae Modular Lounge expanded the brand’s offerings in modular soft seating, reflecting contemporary living’s demand for adaptable furniture solutions.

Design By Them’s venture into ceramics with Rhys Cooper’s Felix Vase is particularly exciting—the brand’s first foray into this medium, alongside their much-anticipated lighting collaboration with Daniel Emma. These pieces signal strategic diversification while maintaining the design integrity that defines the studio’s output.

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Interview: Sarah Gibson & Nicholas Karlovasitis of DesignByThem.

Dana chats to OG Australian Design hustlers who established their business as two recent graduates working out of an apartment in Newtown, with an audacious goal of becoming net exporters of Australian design—something they're well on their way to achieving.

Another upcoming release is Swage by Angus Easthope, a seating collection featuring structured silhouettes and soft contours. Drawing on traditional swaging techniques, the collection features tapered metal components that reference timber joinery methods, creating pieces that appear visually light despite their structural integrity.

Tom Fereday contributed two collections that exemplify material-focused design thinking. Kiln, a refined series of architectural coffee tables crafted from recycled glass and aluminium, demonstrates sustainable design practices without compromising aesthetic appeal. His Alum dining range, shaped from raw aluminium, celebrates the material’s inherent lightness and beauty through minimal intervention.

The collaboration with Galleri Susanne Ottesen added cultural depth to the furniture presentation. Established in 1983, the gallery has supported successive generations of artists with radical approaches to contemporary art. Works by Nanna Abell, Olav Christopher Jenssen, Pernille With Madsen, and other gallery artists created dialogue between furniture design and fine art, positioning Design By Them’s work within broader creative conversations.

This Copenhagen debut positions Design By Them strategically within international design discourse while maintaining its distinctly Australian perspective. EXPANSE has proven that regional design voices can achieve global relevance without sacrificing authenticity—a lesson particularly relevant as Australian design continues to gain international recognition.

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Exhibition view at Galleri Susanne Ottesen. Photo by Heidi Lerkenfeldt.

Designer Rhys Cooper. Portrait by Tonya Matyu.

Designer Joel Booy, one half of Studio Truly Truly. Portrait by Tonya Matyu.

[Images courtesy of Design By Them. Exhibition photography by Heidi Lerkenfeldt. Designer portraits by Tonya Matyu.]