useful + beautiful: Contemporary design for the Home

useful + beautiful showcases a selection of the best cutting edge design for the home by both well-established industry figures and emerging talent.

Last Chance to See

REVIEW

Updated Wednesday 14 May 2014

Tuesday 29 April – Monday 25 August 2014
136 Kingsland Road
London E2 8EA

Geffrye Museum
£5/£3 concessions

Useful + Beatiful is a great exhibition and worthwhile a visit. It showcases a selection of the best cutting edge design for the home by both well-established industry figures and emerging talent.  A broad range of domestic products, from furniture to wallpaper and textiles, lighting to technology, will be on show, spilling out into the museum’s gardens with a display of the best in garden furniture design.  As well as highlighting local design from Hackney and London, the exhibition will look further afield and include work by leading national and international designers.

 

Despite the tube strike the private view was well attended. David Dewing, director of the Geffrye Museum welcomed all saying that “where better to explore the ways in which designers are engaging with the home than here at the Geffrye, Museum of the Home, in the heart of Shoreditch and Hoxton where creativity and the new digital industries sit side by side?

2014 is the Geffrye’s Centenary and David Dewing reminded us that “this exhibition particularly speaks to the Geffrye’s  original purpose, which was to inspire the local east London furniture industry.  As the industry has grown so the Geffrye’s interests have widened to embrace all aspects of home, past and present.  Design has never been so high on everyone’s agenda, it’s in every form of media and as consumers we have become used to high standards in innovation, functionality and materials.”

The Geffrye Museum specialises in 400 years of urban middle-class interiors and has a strong track record in spotting and showcasing the most exciting makers and domestic style trends today.  The exhibition coincides with the museum’s centenary year and celebrates one of its original purposes – to inspire the local furniture-making industry.

A programme of events highlighting contemporary domestic design will run throughout the show, including talks by the curator and featured designers, a debate on the future of design, workshops and activities for children.

• Lunchtime Design Talks at the Geffrye, June, July 2014
• East End Design Studio Walking Tour, Thursday 10th July 2014

Read here for more information on Geffrye’s new developments.

Further Information:
www.geffrye-museum.org.uk