Author: Camilla Green | Major: Interior Architecture : Semester: Summer 2025
Group photo of all the chairs and stools made by the first summer session furniture studio: Copenhagen, Denmark
As of May 2025, I had never left my home country (the United States), much less my home state (Arkansas). Stepping on board my first international flight, I was filled with every emotion possible: fear, excitement, hope, etc. I reminded myself that I had no experience in this phase of life, but that was okay. I would have never guessed just how okay the next six weeks would be. I set my sights on learning more about furniture design and construction logistics long before deciding to participate in the DIS Furniture Studio in Copenhagen, Denmark. I’ve studied Interior Architecture at the University of Arkansas for three years now, but my passion for furniture design actually started long before college. Growing up, I admired the wooden shelves, chests, and odd knickknacks my grandpa made for people, and I always knew I wanted to reach a point in life where I could do what he does. What ultimately drove my decision on where to study came down to one key fact: there is, arguably, no better place in the world to study furniture design than Scandinavia. After weeks and weeks of research, I also came to the conclusion that Denmark is one of the safest places for a first-time traveler. This program was the perfect combination of my interest in woodworking, my lack of travel experience, and my willingness to gain new experiences abroad.
I arrived in Copenhagen on May 21 and stayed for six weeks, departing on July 5. This really was the perfect amount of time for me to become fully immersed in Copenhagen’s culture and find a school schedule that worked for me. During the first week abroad, I felt like an alien on a new planet. From figuring out the metro system to rooming with a stranger to starting classes in a foreign country, I was almost overwhelmed by change, but I quickly adapted through a repeated process of failure and success. My daily routine became one of my favorite parts of life in Copenhagen. Most weekdays, I woke up and enjoyed a cup of tea on my apartment’s balcony, rode the metro into the city center, worked in the furniture studio from 9 to 5, ate dinner with friends, and went on a walk before dark. Weekends were dedicated to sightseeing and excursions, including a canal tour around Copenhagen, visiting Rosenborg and Frederiksberg Castles, swimming at Amagerbro, and trying new cuisines. Our studio also encouraged us to engage with design culture around the city and beyond. We visited furniture showrooms across Copenhagen and went on an extensive study tour through Finland and Sweden, where we toured works by Alvar Aalto, the showroom and factory of Carl Hansen & Søn, and many historic sites. These external learning experiences not only expanded my and my classmates’ knowledge of the design world, but also brought our studio closer as a group.
In the end, I was sad to leave but also excited to bring home the knowledge and experience I had gained. My time with DIS taught me resilience, through learning to adapt to a new country, and gave me a deeper respect for the many cultures and people I encountered. I never realized just how much traveling could expand your perspective on the world. I’ve always considered myself open to all views, but I was grateful to grow even more in my knowledge, love, and appreciation for places and people different from myself.