As someone who has spent countless hours poring over design magazines and attending industry events, I must say that this year’s London Design Festival lineup is nothing short of exhilarating! The diverse range of exhibitions and installations promises to showcase not just established names like Jesse Butterfield and Thomas Wheller, but also introduce us to fresh, promising talent.
In September, we experience shorter days, a shift in seasons, and undeniably, the arrival of the London Design Festival.
This week, our program begins in the capital city and is organized into 11 distinct areas: starting with Park Royal in the northwest, all the way to Greenwich Peninsula, situated south of the river.
Experiencing all there is to see at a festival like London Design Festival (LDF) can be an unattainable goal, yet this very challenge is what makes the event so exceptional. Unlike numerous design events that occur throughout the year, LDF caters not only to industry experts but also to the broader public.
In this year’s lineup, you’ll find numerous instances of collaboration among designers, where they participate in one another’s fashion shows. This creates an atmosphere that underscores the value of teamwork, along with embracing diverse paths and investigating uncharted results.
After some difficulty, we’ve successfully made our selections. You can find more information about them, including detailed descriptions and maps of the top spots, in the sections provided below. Enjoy your exploration!
Cafe Tolerance
Mitre & Mondays
Without a permanent location, Cafe Tolerance will travel to various spots throughout the festival, all from a Rascal van. Starting in Shoreditch, Mitre & Mondays will utilize their mobile exhibition to highlight the idea of tolerance, not only in design but also in a broader social sense. Coffee service will be provided at a custom-made table that unfolds onto the street to stimulate discussion. Throughout the week, there will be a live program of workshops, recordings, and talks taking place. Learn more about it here.
Making Room
Andu Masebo & Mikey Krzyzanowski
In Brompton, an exceptional gathering known as “Making Room” is being organized. Curated by Andu Masebo and Mikey Krzyzanowski, this event will transform into a communal space over the span of a week. Notable participants include Mac Collins, Bafic, Alaska Alaska, Seetal Solanki, among others. Additionally, workshops and discussions are planned to encourage collaboration. Explore more details here.
Reading Design
Grymsdyke Farm
Grymsdyke Farm serves as a research facility and an innovative production studio nestled in the picturesque countryside of Buckinghamshire. Established by Guan Lee, it frequently welcomes designers exploring fresh methods to manipulate materials. An upcoming exhibition at Brompton will display the outcomes of four such designers: Attua Aparicio, Marco Campardo, Glithero, and Lee himself. As Lee explains, “Reading Design” showcases the connection between the process of creation and the physical manifestations of the work produced. To learn more, click here.
Re Bar
Hotwire Extensions and Max Radford Gallery
Max Radford Gallery, located at Cromwell Place, will be hosting Hotwire Extensions. The exhibition, named “Re Bar”, features a collection of fresh works spearheaded by Fabio Hendry’s studio in Zurich. This body of work takes inspiration from the intricate metal framework hidden within building concrete walls. For more information, click here.
POWERSHIIFT
Power Out of Restriction (POoR)
Last year, POoR’s initial presentation of POWERSHIFT was a standout event at the festival, and we’re thrilled it’s coming back! This show will gather artists, designers, and architects in one place, aiming to spotlight some of the industry’s promising newcomers and demonstrate what the London design scene truly embodies. Discover more details here.
V&A
Various Designers
Yearly, the V&A Museum is a must-visit destination on any LDF tour, hosting numerous exhibitions throughout the week. This year, you’ll find an engaging seating series by Modular by Mensah, the V&A Emerging Designer Commission featuring Arjun Singh Assa, Liang-Jung Chen, and Angela Ford, a project called Craft x Tech Tohoku that delves into the fusion of traditional Japanese craft with technology, the SIM Project utilizing SIM cards to generate value in virtual networks, and finally, “Communion,” a pounding table designed by British-Ghanaian creator Giles Tettey Nartey, which investigates the rituals of daily life in Ghana. Discover more here.
Oku
Kathleen Reilly
For some time now, we’ve been keeping an eye on Kathleen Reilly, so it’s thrilling to learn she’s showcasing her own solo exhibition during the festival. In Shoreditch, she will display a collection that delves into “Oku” – a knife she co-designed with artisans in Tsubame-Sanjo, a metalworking hub in Niigata Prefecture, Japan. Discover more details here.
Collection Two
Relay Design Projects
Relay Design Projects, a platform for collaborative design projects, is establishing itself within Netil House. It will be displaying its second series of joint designs from designers and studios such as EBBA, HAHA studio, Jihyun Kim, Silo Studio, Niveau Zero Atelier (based in the UK, South Korea, and France respectively). Learn more about this diverse group here.
Blond Laboratory
Blond
After making its first appearance in Milan earlier this year, Blond is returning its Laboratory show to its original location in London. This event aims to offer insights into the creative methods used by the studio’s designers. They invite external creators to reimagine an item that is no longer being produced (known as “Artefacts”), which are later gathered by the Blond team. Learn more about it here.
Proof of Concept
Various designers
10 versatile designers, each specializing in various fields such as furniture, product design, ceramics, textiles, and architecture, will exhibit their completed designs along with their creative processes at a Shoreditch exhibition happening from September 20-22. This event, named Proof of Concept, offers an insight into the workings of designers like Daniel Schofield and Jan Hendzel Studio. Additionally, don’t miss the temporary restaurant by Cook House and Long Friday. To learn more, visit the link provided.
Off the Bench
POINT TWO FIVE
Point Two Five is a fresh jewelry label hailing from Birmingham, with a mission to enlighten their followers about the vital role of the city’s Jewellery Quarter. They emphasize that this district accounts for 40% of all the jewelry produced in the UK, but the number of jewelers in the area is dwindling due to rising rents as it gains popularity as a residential destination. To bring attention to their cause, they are inviting international designers and artists, none of whom have previously worked in jewelry design, to create a wearable piece. The roster includes Theodora Alfredsdottir, Wendy Andreu, Sebastian Bergne, Daniel Eatock, Harry Grundy, Jamie Wolfond, and Studio 0.25. Discover more details here.
Chair of Virtue
Various designers
The “Chair of Virtue” event is happening at One Hundred Shoreditch, featuring an assortment of chairs designed by UK-based designers. These creators had the opportunity to submit their work for display during the festival’s run. Previous years have featured impressive pieces from designers like Jesse Butterfield and Thomas Wheller, so this year we’re eager to discover who will be showcased and perhaps uncover some fresh talent! Learn more about it here.
Design Everything
Kindred
The cultural hotspot and record store known as Kindred is preparing for a transformation, thanks to the collaborative efforts of 19 talented designers. Each designer was given the freedom to select an item from a curated list that they believed would enhance the space, and were encouraged to engage with the atmosphere and values of Kindred by fostering collective creativity and social engagement within the community. Learn more about this exciting project here.
Toogood Openhouse
Faye Toogood
Instead of saying “Who doesn’t love a good nosy?”, we can rephrase it as “There’s nothing like curiosity, right?” In this context, Faye Toogood is inviting you to come take a look at the studio’s newly established space in Camden during their open house event. At the open house, you will have the opportunity to see prototypes and experiments, along with a new line of GUMMY designs that are part of the Assemblage 08: Back and Forth collection. Learn more here.
Protest by Design
Praxis
2021 marks the first appearance of the “Dalston Stokey Design District”. Among the events listed, “Protest By Design” showcases the connections between visual culture, public spaces, free speech, and social change. This exhibition will feature activist art and protest-related objects, along with workshops led by artists, screenings, and discussions. Discover more about it here.
Vert
Diez Office, OMC°C & AHEC
It wouldn’t be LDF without a showstopper commission, and this year – the honor was given to Diez Office. In collaboration with OMC°C & AHEC, the studio has created “Vert” – a structure-cum-living ecosystem created from red-oak glulam filled with around 20 plant species. Head to the grounds of Chelsea College of Art to see it, and find out more here.
Off the Shelf
Rio Kobayashi, Webb Yates & Cynthia Fan
This show, as Sabine Marcelis herself mentioned, is the one she’s most eagerly anticipating. We concur – Rio’s work never fails to intrigue us, and this time is no exception. “Off the Shelf” marks Marcelis’ first significant installation project, collaboratively created with Webb Yates, and featuring sculptures by Cynthia Fan. Located at Olympia, it may be a bit of a journey, but we promise it will be worth your time – trust us. Learn more about it here.
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2024-09-10 18:26