This year marks Leica Camera’s 100th anniversary, and we’re so pleased to have them as a collaborator at our upcoming edition of 3daysofdesign. Leica Camera has had a profound influence on the technological and cultural development of visual storytelling.

In our shared ambition to honour people with the courage to see the world differently, Leica will be supporting our Design Ambassadors in documenting design highlights during the festival. What will design look like through the eyes of our Design Ambassadors? You’ll have the opportunity to experience the festival from their perspective.

Originally from the UK, Copenhagen Leica Store Manager Lucan Carter, is creating a unique opportunity for you to join our 3daysofdesign photo walks at District Kongens Nytorv during our upcoming festival. Find out about our collaborative photo competition, and get to know Carter from our interview with him here.

Can you share the inspiration behind Leica’s collaboration with 3daysofdesign, and what excites you most about our partnership?

Our collaboration is rooted in shared values—design that is timeless, essential, and built on community and authenticity. This year is especially significant as we celebrate 100 years of Leica Photography. I’m particularly excited to introduce visitors, especially those new to Leica, to the activities we have planned at Leica Store Copenhagen during 3daysofdesign.

What are your thoughts on this year’s theme, KEEP IT REAL? How do you KEEP IT REAL?

It feels like we must question what is real daily these days, especially with the information and images we see. One thing in the photography world that feels real to me, is analogue photography. Film is so inherently authentic and leaves little room for manipulation or exaggeration. I love the process behind it, and the mystery of it. I have a roll of film in my camera right now that I started six months ago on a visit to the Leica Headquarters, in Wetzlar, Germany, and I have one frame left. There will be six months of memories on there for me to enjoy once I shoot that last frame, some poignant, some forgotten, but all very real and captured just as they were.

On Leica Camera's centenary, what key moments and values from the past will shape the next 100 years?

One thing stands out to me: the importance of design built to last. Many of our customers use Leica cameras and lenses that are older than they are—cameras and lenses that have lived multiple lives, capturing moments across the globe before finding their way into their hands. Recently, I met a photographer shooting with a Leica M3, a camera which celebrated its 70th birthday last year. At one point they thought it was unusable, but it has just been refurbished and serviced by Leica Customer Care, and now it’s as good as it was 70 years ago.

How does Leica build upon that sense of belonging and connection among creative professionals, which the Leica community is so well known for?

Leica fosters a strong sense of community through two key elements: our network of Leica Stores, and the Leica Akademie. Our Copenhagen Store is a gathering place for photography enthusiasts, where they exchange stories over coffee, have meaningful conversations, and join workshops. The Leica Akademie, active since 1930, offers workshops and talks in 16 countries, with Denmark becoming the 17th this summer. I hope guests during 3daysofdesign will bring new perspectives to the world of Leica. I would love to see our community here in Copenhagen expand to include all types of creatives who are appreciative of photography, design and community.

Storytelling through photography is central to how we connect with our community. The cameras we use and the design around us are extensions of our personalities. Capturing moments during 3daysofdesign will amplify the experience for those who appreciate both photography and design.

Why do we capture moments through photography?

To witness. Whether it is a moment of beauty, hilarity, simplicity, satisfaction, despair, injustice. I think we take photos to say we were there, and that this moment, no matter how big or small, was important. For me photography is a love letter to the people, objects and places around me. As a person who is still relatively new to Copenhagen, I used photography to get to know this city. I spent my first summer here approaching strangers in the street and asking to take their portrait. It’s through these photos, these fleeting moments and conversations, that I began to have a better understanding of my new home and the creative community in Copenhagen.

For those attending 3daysofdesign, what would you say to inspire them to experience the depth of Leica’s photography and design philosophy?

I would tell them to visit our store and then maybe join one of our 3daysofdesign photo walks. Then who knows where that first spark of inspiration might lead them. I think there is a misconception that you need a Leica to come into a Leica Store, but you don’t. A Leica Store is a hub for those who love photography, design and who want to be part of a creative community.

What do you hope our 3daysofdesign Ambassadors will take away from their experience with Leica this summer?

A photography experience unlike any they have had before, as each of them will be using a camera that matches their own values and the way they like to capture moments. An experience that feels authentic to them, and ultimately, real.

Experience design through a Leica lens this June

Leica will also host tailored photo walks during 3daysofdesign, offering design and photo enthusiasts from the general public attending 3daysofdesign 2025. It's a chance for you to explore the festival, while honing your photography skills. These expert—led walks will provide valuable insights into Leica’s craftsmanship, with an opportunity to document the creative processes behind the exhibits through a Leica lens.

Festival guests are invited to capture the essence of the festival with their cameras, and to showcase their creativity via a photo competition hosted by both Leica Camera and 3daysofdesign. Winners will have a visibility venue for their photos and will be awarded prestigious prizes.

We'll keep you in the loop with more information about how to participate in both the photo walks and the competition. Details will be found on Leica’s website.