http://www.londondesignfestival.com/

Review 25 October 2013

The London Design Festival is my favourite event in the UK. And it is great to see how it is growing each year with the introduction of more Design Districts each year. There is also an impressive programme of seminars, many free, at different venues. As during the Milan Design Week it is now not possible anymore to see everything. There is too much from known and unknown designers and brands. As the London Design Festival this year coincided with our pending office move, it wasn’t easy to see it all. So here is a brief overview of the week.

There were some lovely exhibitions at the V&A and it would take a good while to see all of them. Here are some images of the omes we saw and liked.

Global Design Forum

Monday 16^th September

V&A
17.45-19.15

Peter Saville in Conversation with Paul Morley

Tuesday 17 September
Purcell Rooms,
Southbank Centre
17^th September 2013
9.20 – 17.10

 

This year the Forum looked at Innovation, Urbanism, Brand and Creativity, and the realisation of the ‘Big Idea’. Following up from last year’s the Future of Design debate. Speakers at the event include Peter Saville, Brent Hoberman, Jamie Hayon, Ilse Crawford, Ross Lovegrove, Sir John Hegarty, Michael Young

Morning imagination, Innovation, application; a journey of the idea. Five by Five – Ideas to shake the world  (incl  ‘open source’ and 3d/4d printing)
Afternoon Creative City, Smart City, Successful City Designer or Brand. Chicken or Egg.

I loved the session on the 5 big ideas and the audience had to select the best one. The fairPhone idea which focused on a mobile phone where you can replace the spare parts if needed. The Smart Citizen Kit that enabled the user to control air pollution amongst others, Scanurse that enabled an individual to control one’s own health and the winning idea was about a simple filtration system of less than £10 to get clean water and the arsenic extracted from the water can be used for other applications. The judges commented that this had a win-win impact on the rest of the world.

Further information http://www.globaldesignforum.com/programme-global-design-forum-2013/

Shoreditch Design Triangle

14-22 September
http://www.shoreditchdesigntriangle.com/
Majority opening late on Tuesday 17^th September

Tent London & Superbrands

22 Old Truman Brewery
27 Hanbury Street
E1 6QR
www.tentlondon.co.uk
19-22 September 2013

Tent has been going for a long time, and developed out of an event called 100% Guaranteed, but then took on a life on its own.  Worthwhile to see, with a huge collection of known and un and coming brands, not only from the UK but elsewhere as well. Look out for Sharon Marston decorative installations at stand 32 http://www.tentlondon.co.uk/super-brands/sharon-marston

Tent had a nice selection of work.  I particularly liked Duffy London’s work which has become more monumental and impressive over the years.

Seminar Programme further information

http://www.tentlondon.co.uk/super-talks

Ceramics in the City

Geffrye Museum
136 Kingsland Rd
E2 8EA
20th-22nd September
Fri-Sat 10am-5pm
Sun 12pm-5pm
Late event Thurs 19th 6 – 8.30pm

Around 50 ceramicists from across the UK – in its 10th year. This is one of my favourite shows. I have been to all of them since it started at the Geffrye Museum 10 years ago by Karen Bunting. And 10 years on it is still going strong> If you like ceramics there is always something to find.

Further information

www.geffrye-museum.org.uk

 

SCP East

135 – 139 Curtain Road
London
EC2A 3BX
14-22 September
Further information

http://www.designdepartmentstore.com/index.php/2013/07/the-special-relationship/

Includes Design Department store with products from designers and companies from America.  

Unfortunately this year I never made it to SCP East. A pity because I love their shows. SCP was in the area long before Shoreditch became trendy and there was still many furniture suppliers in the area.

Dishoom

http://www.shoreditchdesigntriangle.com/participants/dishoom/
Dishoom is an Indian restaurant with a difference.

See our previous blog post about this amazing place. Worth a visit for breakfast, lunch or dinner

Clerkenwell Design Quarter

http://www.clerkenwelldesignquarter.com/
The Clerkenwell Design Quarter Day is Tuesday 17^th September  

Imprint

Exhibition of Printed Design
Craft Central 33-35
St John Street
EC1M
17-21 September
www.craftcentral.org.uk/imprint
30 designer-makers who use print and mark-making techniques in their work

West End Design District and Fitzrovia Now

http://fitzrovianow.com/
Special day Wednesday 18 September  

Design Junction

The Sorting Office
21-23 New Oxford Street
Wc1
18-22 September
http://thedesignjunction.co.uk/
Over 120 brands, as well as pop-up shops, seminars and eateries Those known to Hidden Art include Lindsey Lang, Kukka, Magnus Long and Aarevalo Aarevalo. Also see new work from Valentina Gonzalez Wohler.

Again this year Design Junction put up a great show and a great variety of work.  Quite a few of those are known to Hidden Art and it is a great place to catch up with them and hear the latest.

Joy of Design

www.joyofdesign.net
Well-known design writer Barbara Chandler presents her portraits of celebrated designers in the Gallery. Over 50 photographs will be on display, celebrating design personalities from across the globe.

Flash Factories

Part of the ground floor was transformed into a series of interactive Flash Factories, where the processes of industrial production wre brought to life through live demonstrations.

Seminar Programme http://thedesignjunction.co.uk/programme/

South

Endless Stair at Tate Modern

13 September – 10 October
Designed by Alex de Rijke the Endless Stair consists of a series of 15 Escher-lik interlocking staircases in wood which invites the visitors to climb and explore.
http://www.londondesignfestival.com/endless-stair

Designersblock Edition 16 in partnership with Southbank Centre

Southbank Centre
Belvedere Road
London SE1 8XX
19-22 September
http://www.verydesignersblock.com/
Designersblock organised again a great event, with a wide variety of designers and an extensive seminar programme.  The location is perfect in the Royal Festival and neighbouring building. Great to see existing and new talent her. I particularly liked the sustainable glasses from Popeye Project/

Brompton Design District

http://www.londondesignfestival.com/brompton-design-district
Late night Thursday 19^th September  

V&A
Cromwell Road,
SW7
http://www.londondesignfestival.com/va-museum

Further information

This year there is a huge variety of exhibitions and talks. The exhibitions are spread through the museum and will enable you to see parts of the museum where you might not have been before. Each day has been given a themed title, making it easier to find the topics that are of interest. Themes include the Graphics, Future, Materials, Making/Manufacturing, London, Nature and Sustainability and the Digital.

Further Information Exhibitions include God is in the Details. The phrase is from Mies van der Rohe, who encouraged his audience to live and work in a thorough manner and take note of details, no matter how small they may be.

WEST

100% Design

Earls’ Court London
18-21 September 2013
http://www.100percentdesign.co.uk/

The London Design Festival has developed at the back of 100% Design.  Hidden Art has exhibited at 100% Design since the first show until 2011, with the exception of one year. Therefore it is dear to our hearts.  and we don’t wnt to miss any of the shwows.

It was great to see the marvellous lighting of Desinature, who are also on the Hidden Art E-Shop , at stand D16.

Also great to see Trophy with the great bicycle holders to store your bike at home elegantly.

This of course is not a new design but my favourite chair Spun from Thomas Heatherwick.

This was a great exhibition of 3D, not to be missed these days.

There was also a great variety of design from other countries such as this chair from Shenshen in China.

Lastly being Dutch, I love bikes, and this copper bike was just amazing. I was told they were mostly bought by rich collectors, but you could actually ride on it.

And after having tried the electric bikes outside, we headed home exhausted but very happy to have seen so much.

 

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