#LDF16
LONDON DESIGN FESTIVAL
17-25 SEPTEMBER 2016
PRESS RELEASE: 04 MAY 2016
London is the creative capital of the world; a city where homegrown talent
and international perspectives blend to create a dynamic and forward-thinking
environment where design thrives.
Established in 2003, the London Design Festival is a citywide celebration that
brings together a global community of designers, artists, architects, and retailers to
activate projects responding to the transformative power of design.
In 2016 over 400 events and installations will take place, from an engaging
programme at the Victoria and Albert Museum to large scale installations across
landmark locations. These interventions reflect the stimulating diversity of creative
thinking, and are all united in their ability to inspire, entertain and arouse curiosity.
LONDON DESIGN
FESTIVAL 2016
The Festival is a platform for innovative design initiatives, showcasing ideas from
more than 300 partners who represent the best of London’s design community.
Widespread participation reflects the role of creative businesses as a leading force
in the city’s economy, which represents the UK’s fastest growing sector.
“Since the London Design Festival started in 2003 it has always welcomed
the world to our great city but has also inspired over 100 other cities to
produce their own annual design event.
If you believe in design you know it can make the world a better place and
I say the more international design dialogue the better!
So, I am excited that this year’s Festival will run parallel with the inaugural
London Design Biennale, which will bring 40 countries to London to
present design installations at Somerset House, based on the theme
Utopia by Design.
The Biennale will overlap with our city wide Festival programme and the
unique combination of these two events will offer a world wide window on
design - a must see design experience for design lovers from all over the
world.”
Sir John Sorrell, Chairman, London Design Festival
ANNOUNCING THE
FESTIVAL’S FIRST
HEADLINE PARTNER
This year, the Festival welcomes British Land as Headline Partner for the first time.
The company has a long history of working with leaders in architecture, art and
design to enhance and enliven places and environments in tune with modern
lifestyles.
THE BRITISH LAND
CELEBRATION OF
DESIGN
British Land and the London Design Festival will work together for the second time
to host the prestigious awards evening, The British Land Celebration of Design.
British Land CEO, Chris Grigg, said:
“Our vision is to create Places People Prefer and design forms an integral
part of delivering buildings and environments that make a positive
difference to people’s lives. Our partnership with the London Design
Festival celebrates the world’s leading designers across different design
disciplines. It’s a great partnership for us; at the heart of good design
is the challenge to deliver the most impact and best outcome for the
user whether it is an individual product, a single building or the wider
environment.”
This year’s awards for design will be again chosen by an illustrious selection board
of established designers and previous winners including Dr Martin Roth (Director,
V&A), Paul Thompson (Rector, Royal College of Art) and Justine Simons (Head of
Culture, Mayor of London). Winners will be selected from a wide range of design
disciplines, chosen for their exceptional contribution to their design field.
A dinner to celebrate the winners will be held during the Festival at the iconic new
development at the Tate Modern.
This year there will be four categories including Headline Support from Panerai
who are supporting the Panerai London Design Medal, as well as the Swarovski
Emerging Talent Medal, the Design Innovation Medal, and the Lifetime achievement
Medal.
LANDMARK PROJECT:
THE SMILE
By Alison Brooks, Alison
Brooks Architects
Supported by
the American Hardwood
Export Council in
collaboration with ARUP
The Festival has worked closely with the American Hardwood Export Council
(AHEC) for several years on creative projects, resulting in successful collaborations
such as Timber Wave, Endless Stair and The Wish List, all exhibiting the versatility
and potential of sustainable timbers. This year AHEC, award-winning firm Alison
Brooks Architects, Arup, Merk and the London Design Festival collaborate to create
a new installation, The Smile.
Alison Brooks has designed an urban installation for this year’s London Design
Festival that showcases the structural and spatial potential of cross–laminated
hardwood, using American tulipwood. The Smile is a structure that can be inhabited
and explored, and which offers a new way of looking at the city.
Using construction sized panels of hardwood CLT for the first time, Alison Brooks’
concept is of a 3.5m high and 36m long curved rectangular tube - a very pure and
efficient structural form, and the first ever mega-tube made of timber.
The timber tube is curved into a long upside down arc – hence its name – which,
like a wheel, only touches the ground at one point. The, curved form allows the
Smile to cantilever out from its centre point to reach out into space. The cantilevers
hover above the ground, creating sheltered outdoor spaces. Each end of the tube
is open to the air; cinematic apertures that offer balcony views to the landscape. At
night these apertures will project light from each end, creating an endless smile.
The curved floor, curved ceiling and curved walls create a dynamic and unfamiliar
internal space. It is an undulating environment, something between a landscape, an
adventure playground, a bridge and a diving board.
Arup’s engineering team are working with us to derive the most efficient structural
form, using only 80 cubic metres of wood to create a 180 square metre space.
The forces of tension and compression working in the timber CLT walls will be
expressed by perforations in its elevations. These will generate patterns of light
across the Smile’s interior spaces during the day, to become an urban lantern at
night.
“AHEC, in collaboration with ARUP, has been on a 10 year journey of
exploration, innovation and research to prove that hardwoods have
a role to play in the timber construction revolution. All our previous
Festival projects – Timber Wave, Endless Stair and Wish List – have
been significant projects. The Smile is important because it will create
the first-ever use of industrial-sized panels of hardwood CLT (cross
laminated timber). This is the creation of a brand-new product and a new
use of hardwood that could transform the way architects and engineers
approach timber construction.”
David Venables, European Director of the American Hardwood Export Council
LANDMARK PROJECT:
MINI LIVING
Supported by MINI
In our increasingly globalised and digitally connected world, ‘third places’–
those that blur the boundaries between work and home – are growing steadily
in importance. Third places occur as a result of shared or compact living
arrangements and the changing work environment; they allow people to come
together for professional and personal reasons within multifunctional spaces. As
households become smaller, workplaces become decentralised and mobile creative
entrepreneurship flourishes, merging all aspects of our lives into the cityscapes
around us becomes a necessity.
As an urban brand, MINI is familiar with the challenges faced by city-dwellers.
The installation seeks to engage with today’s discourse surrounding the future of
habitation and the urban experience, developing themes first explored in their MINI
LIVING – Do Disturb installation at this year’s Salone del Mobile in Milan.
MINI LIVING reveals the brand’s vision of ‘spaces between spaces’. which
have been conceived with multiple purposes in mind. Intelligently designed and
interconnected, they are both versatile and still able to meet individual needs.
A variety of third places will be presented around the city during the London Design
Festival, each has been tailored to the needs of urban society. Visitors will be able
to explore places to relax, places to meet and places for productivity. The MINI
LIVING installations will showcase an entirely new category of urban area: previously
unused spaces become places that are made accessible to the public, morphing
temporarily into personalised environments. These third places will be designed for
adaptability and the enjoyment of one and all; a concept of the city as an extension
of our personal space.
LONDON DESIGN
FESTIVAL AT THE V&A
The Victoria and Albert Museum was established in 1852 as the Museum of
Manufactures, founded with the aim to promote a more democratized engagement
with design and technology. Today, the V&A is one of the world’s leading art and
design museums, and is continuing its collaboration with the London Design
Festival, with their partnership now in its eighth year. As the core location of the
Festival, the V&A will again house a broad range of commissioned activity across
the Museum. Installations, events, talks and workshops will take place, including the
hugely popular weekend events, Graphics and Digital Design.
“Each year, London Design Festival opens up the city to the best of
contemporary design, inspiring debate and creativity and bringing
together the industry, designers and the public. As the established
Festival hub, we look forward to encouraging contemplation and dialogue
between a series of remarkable installations in the Museum and our
world-renowned collections, showcasing new ideas, technology and
materials and hosting an eclectic programme of talks and workshops
during this 9-day period of discovery.”
Dr Martin Roth, Director, Victoria and Albert Museum.
THE GREEN ROOM
By Glithero
Supported by Panerai
The Italian luxury watch maker Panerai are collaborating with the London-based
design duo Glithero, founded by British designer Tim Simpson and Dutch designer
Sarah van Gameren, known for creating mesmerising, time-based mechanical
installations. The designers’ installation The Green Room at the V&A will be located
in a stairwell in the Museum.
Emulating the circular motion of the arms of a clock, The Green Room is both
interactive and performative. The space will be delineated by veils of colourful
strings, with hues blending into each other, creating an optical effect. The strings will
be lifted and then dropped by a motorised revolving CAM arm, prompting visitors to
methodically travel through the immersive installation. Conceptually responding to
the passage of time, the piece will be in a constant state of transformation through
these slow, choreographed movements.
The Green Room will take over a stairwell in the Museum, which will be transformed
by designers’ intervention for the first time. The raking light that streams in through
the large round windows creates a telescopic feeling; enhancing the cinematic
experience.
FOIL
For the last six decades, design has been a core focus for Braun. The values
of quality, functionality and timelessness have been integrated into their design
philosophy. This is epitomised by the statement ‘less but better’ as once written by
Dieter Rams, their legendary former head of design.
By Benjamin Hubert, Layer
Supported by Braun
Foil will comprise a 20-metre-long undulating ribbon comprising 40,000 individual
metallic elements which will run down the entire length of the room. The ribbon will
move continuously and dynamically in a wave formation, reflecting and scattering
light around the gallery.
The profiles of the metallic elements echo the precision-engineered shape of the
Braun shaver foil, with the specific movements inspired by the 360-degree rotation
of the Braun shaver head. A custom system of LED lights will be directed onto
the undulating metal foil: which will reflect, amplify and trace the light as it dances
across the space.
Benjamin Hubert, Director, Layer commented:
“Together with the Braun design team we saw an opportunity to create
a large-scale installation for the for the London Design Festival at the
V&A to communicate the brand’s commitment to design and deliver an
engaging and meaningful experience to a wide audience that embodies
the values of excellence, engineering and quality that are imbued in every
Braun product.”
LIQUID MARBLE
By Mathieu Lehanneur
Mathieu Lehanneur is known for his innovative approach, combining design,
science, technology and art to create humanistic projects. His installation for
the Festival, Liquid Marble, will be a variation of his ongoing series exploring the
materiality of marble, displayed in the V&A’s galleries.
Liquid Marble is a sculptural piece created combining advanced digital and manmade methods of construction. Designed using 3D software, an expanse of black
marble is digitally sculpted and then polished by hand to achieve a highly reflective
surface. The piece is intended to evoke waves with a liquid appearance that
resemble fossils in solid marble.
DESIGNER SOUVENIRS
V&A SHOP
Various designers
V&A Shop
The Festival has commissioned a number of leading architects and designers
including AL_A, Kellenberger-White and Pentagram to create their own souvenirs of
London. The objects will range from coasters inspired by Cockney rhyming slang,
to a clock that tells time with postcodes. This collectable range will be available for
purchase in the V&A Shop.
The London Design Festival Shop, which was launched last year, will return in
2016, offering a curated selection of design-related products alongside Festival
merchandise. The stand-alone shop was designed by London-based design
studio Loris&Livia and constructed out of DuPont™ Corian®.
Image: Proposals from
Kellenberger-White (left) and
AL_A (right)
V&A TALKS AND
WORKSHOPS
PROGRAMME
THE GLOBAL
DESIGN FORUM
The unique collaboration between the V&A and the London Design Festival began
in 2009 and has offered a packed programme of lunchtime lectures, gallery talks,
hands-on workshops and provocative debates every year.
Each day of talks at the V&A is themed, helping visitors and participants to make
the most of their time and interests during the Festival.
This year, the themes are: Graphics (the weekend of 17 and 18), Future / Liveable
Cities (Monday 19), Makers (Tuesday 20), International (Wednesday 21), Engineering
(Thursday 22), Working in Design (Friday 23), and Digital Design (the weekend of
24 and 25). On Friday 23 September the Museum will remain open until 10pm, with
activities including music, talks and tours.
The Global Design Forum is the Festival’s annual programme of talks and
discussions exploring the role of design in a sustainable and prosperous future.
Returning for a fifth year, and the second year at the V&A the Forum will for 2016
focus on profiling the industry’s pivotal figures who will each discuss their work
against the background of a particular topic through Masterclass sessions and will
provoke debate through daily panel discussion.
Continuing from the success of last year and in addition to the talks programme,
there will be free daily tours within the Museum of the installations and displays.
V&A PROJECTS
The V&A Engineering Season will highlight the importance of engineering in our daily
lives and consider engineers as the ‘unsung heroes’ of design, who play a vital and
creative role in the creation of our built environment.
ENGINEERING SEASON
A newly-commissioned Garden installation by experimental architect Achim
Menges with Moritz Dörstelmann, structural engineer Jan Knippers and climate
engineer Thomas Auer will launch the Season. Their first ever public commission
in the UK, Elytra Filament Pavilion (18 May – 9 October 2016), will explore the
impact of emerging robotic technologies on architectural design, engineering and
making. Inspired by a lightweight construction principle found in nature, the fibrous
structures of the forewing shells of flying beetles known as elytra, the Pavilion will
be an undulating canopy of tightly-woven carbon fibre cells created using a novel
robotic production process. The Pavilion will grow over the course of the V&A
Engineering Season in response to data on structural behaviour and patterns of
inhabitation of the Garden that will be captured by real-time sensors in its canopy
fibres.
18 May – 6 November 2016
Media Previews
Elytra Filament Pavilion:
18 May
Ove Arup and the Philosophy
of Total Design: 16 June
The first major retrospective of the most influential engineer of the 20th century,
Engineering the World: Ove Arup and the Philosophy of Total Design (18 June – 6
November 2016) will focus on the design philosophy of Ove Arup, the pioneer
of a multidisciplinary approach to design that has defined the way engineering is
understood and practiced today. On display will be objects relating to Arup’s early
projects, such as the Penguin Pool at London Zoo, as well as renowned projects by
the firm including Sydney Opera House and the Centre Pompidou in Paris, including
previously unseen archival materials. These will be shown alongside recent projects
by Arup, the global engineering consultancy, represented by large-scale prototypes
and building components as well as digital animations and models.
The Engineering Season will also encompass displays, events and digital initiatives
dedicated to global engineering design.
Image: Elytra Filament Pavilion
by Thomas Auer, Moritz
Dörstelmann, Jan Knippers,
and Achim Menges,
John Madejski Garden
YOU SAY YOU WANT
A REVOLUTION:
RECORDS & REBELS
1966-70
10 September 2016
– 26 February 2017
Media Preview:
7 September 2016
This major exhibition will examine the optimism, ideals and aspirations of the late
1960s, expressed through music, fashion, film, design and political activism, and
their relevance to contemporary life. It will investigate the cultural upheaval of the
period, the explosive sense of freedom expressed, and the legal changes that took
place during those five revolutionary years as the foundation for the way we live
now.
The spine of the exhibition will be a musical odyssey through some of the greatest
music and performances of the 20th century from Sam Cooke’s ‘A Change is
Gonna Come’, to The Who’s ‘My Generation’, to Jimi Hendrix at Woodstock; and
will focus on particular moments or environments that defined the cultural and social
vanguard of the period, including clubs and counterculture, the Paris protests of
May 1968, World Fairs, the Woodstock Festival of 1969 and communes on the
West Coast of America. The exhibition considers how the finished and unfinished
revolutions of the 1960s changed the way we live today and affect the way we think
about the future.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTS
OF DESIGN
17 – 25 September 2016
Gallery 44, China
Unidentified Acts of Design will highlight instances of design intelligence occurring in
Shenzhen and the Pearl River Delta outside of the conventional notion of the design
studio. The project aims to show how in a region of unprecedented growth, which
has long served as the factory of the world, design acts can take on unconventional
forms and occur in unpredictable places.
The content of this display, originally presented at the 2015 Urbanism\Architecture
Bi-city Biennale (UABB) in Shenzhen, was drawn from an on-going and long-term
research undertaken in preparation to the opening of a V&A Gallery of 20th and 21st
century international design, part of a pioneering collaboration between the V&A
and China Merchants Shekou Holdings in Shenzhen, China. The gallery will open
in 2017 within Design Society, a cultural hub positioning design as a social catalytic
force.
Image: Seeeduino, Seeed
Studio, 2015
L’EDEN BY PERRIERJOUËT
For the duration of the Festival, selected visitors will be invited to enter L’Eden by
Perrier-Jouët, an enchanting immersive experience located in the heart of Soho.
Curated by a leading international designer to include their own installation of a
‘living’ room inspired by nature, as Emile Galle was when designing the iconic
Perrier-Jouët Belle Epoque bottle in 1902.
L’Eden by Perrier-Jouët will also be programmed with a variety of events open
to the public around design and Perrier-Jouët champagne. The name L’Eden is
taken from the name of Perrier-Jouët’s most exclusive cellar in Epernay for its top
vintages, where the Cellar Master keeps his best secrets.
LONDON DESIGN
BIENNALE:
7 – 27 SEPTEMBER
A new global exploration
of design and its role in our
collective futures launching
in 2016
The first ever London Design Biennale will take over the entirety of Somerset House
this September (7 – 27 September), bringing together some of the world’s most
exciting and ambitious designers, innovators and cultural bodies for an exhibition
exploring the role of design in our collective futures.
A group of more than 36 nations from six continents are developing presentations
that will explore the Biennale’s inaugural theme Utopia by Design, addressing issues
such as sustainability, migration, pollution, water and social equality.
The UK will be represented by London-based designers Edward Barber and Jay
Osgerby, with an installation curated by the Victoria and Albert Museum. Other
leading institutions, museums and organisations representing their countries include
the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum (USA), DAMnation (Belgium),
German Design Council, Directorate-General for the Arts (Portugal), Moscow Design
Museum (Russia), Triennale Design Museum (Italy), India Design Forum, Southern
Guild (South Africa), and The Japan Foundation.
This will be a centrepiece of UTOPIA 2016 – Somerset House’s year-long
programme celebrating the 500th anniversary of the publication of Thomas More’s
inspirational text, Utopia.
The London Design Biennale is an independent production from the founders of
the London Design Festival. The curated, three-week long Biennale will overlap
the Festival, bringing a new international element to London, complementing its
citywide programme of commissions and Partner events every two years.
For further press information please contact Brunswick Arts:
Charlotte Sidwell or Rosalee Rich
+44 (0) 20 7936 1290 / LDB@brunswickgroup.com
londondesignbiennale.com
PARTNER ACTIVITY
ACROSS LONDON:
DESIGN DESTINATIONS
As part of the activity during the Festival, a number of large group shows will take
place across London, featuring work from a local and international network of both
new and established exhibitors. Exciting and innovative design will be debuted
at these ‘Design Destinations’, which are key events for both designers and
manufacturers aiming to build their presence and reach new audiences.
Design Destinations comprise:
100% Design at Olympia London
21-24 September 2016
21-24 September 2016
OLYMPIA London
100% Design - the UK’s largest contemporary design trade show - forms the
commercial heart of the Festival. The show attracts hundreds of exhibitors and over
26,000 professional visitors with significant spending power to Olympia London.
For 2016, 100% Design takes the theme of ‘Experience’, which will be explored
across the show through commissioned installations and immersive experiences.
Focussing on quality and depth, the agenda-setting talks programme will be
curated by the Design Museum as part of its ‘on-loan’ campaign. A cinema area will
showcase products and designers and provide reflective engagement with current
and historical design agendas.
Making its debut at during the Festival this year, LuxuryMade is a boutique exhibition
set for a dramatic space in West Kensington, some of which has been hidden from
public view for over 20 years. Providing a central London show for contemporary
decorative interiors, the show is staged alongside 100% Design and close to the
new Design Museum site, marking the West Kensington area as an emerging
powerhouse for design in London.
Decorex International at Syon Park
18-21 September 2016
Decorex opens the 2016 London Design Festival and will be held over the course
of four days in the historic grounds of Syon Park. Established in 1978, Decorex
is firmly recognised among the international design community as the trusted
resource for high-end interior designers, architects, specifiers, retailers and
property developers. Visitors to the show will have the opportunity to see new work
presented by more than 400 exhibitors – from established companies to emerging
talent.
Exploring the roots of design as this year’s show theme, visitors will have the
chance to enjoy inspiring seminars hosted by prominent names in the design world.
Leading design critic, Corinne Julius, will curate the third installment of Decorex’s
‘Future Heritage’, a showcase of the names to collect in contemporary British craft.
20 September is the dedicated consumer day when Decorex welcomes the general
public to explore the show and its interactive feature areas, including a pop-up food
market as well as the popular champagne bar and restaurant.
designjunction at King’s Cross
22-25 September 2016
Critically acclaimed international design show designjunction has announced its
relocation to an exciting new long-term home in King’s Cross, one of most exciting
urban redevelopments in the UK.
With the support of the King’s Cross development partnership, designjunction will
take over the area for its flagship show during London Design Festival. The 67acre King’s Cross site has a rich history and a unique appeal. This former industrial
heartland is being transformed into one of the capital’s most exciting destinations,
with the redevelopment of the area creating 1,900 new homes, 20 new streets, 10
new public parks and squares and 3 million square feet of commercial office space
as well as cultural attractions.
The theme of the 2016 designjunction show will be ‘Immersed in Design’, with the
move to the larger King’s Cross site marking the next chapter for designjunction and
the creation of the King’s Cross Creative Quarter at this year’s Festival.
Focus/16 at Design Centre Chelsea Harbour
18-23 September 2016
Focus/16 at Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour is an exciting interactive platform
where designers, architects and style-seekers can engage in over 100 events
within one show. Increasingly experiential, it is all about connecting with design
connoisseurs and seeing creative invention up close. Get the inside track at product
launches from over 600 international brands, marvel at skilled craftsmanship at
demonstrations and workshops, join curated tours and trails, and get privileged
insights from renowned speakers at the Conversations in Designs series.
As a hub of many forms of artistic expression, the Design Centre will unveil
bespoke installations and previously unseen projects to inspire and amaze. With an
unprecedented influx of new arrivals, expect to take in even more international talent
than ever before.
London Design Fair (including Tent London & Super Brands London)
at Old Truman Brewery
22-25 September 2016
Ten years in the making, 2016 marks the launch of the London Design Fair, the
new umbrella brand that will include both Tent London & Super Brands London
alongside, a growing host of international trade showcases.
In 2015, the London Design Fair hosted over 450 exhibitors from 29 countries,
making it the most international fair of the Festival. Exhibitors included independent
designers, established brands, and international country pavilions, such as 100%
Norway, all of which were launching new products to the UK market.
To mark their 10th anniversary, and to accommodate continuing growth, the
London Design Fair will grow to include an additional 3500sqm 3rd floor at the Old
Truman Brewery in East London. Over 25,000 influential retail buyers, architects,
interior designers, press, designers, and design savvy public (weekend only) attend
annually.
This year will see the introduction of two trade only days and further 10th
anniversary celebrations TBC, with top name designers, brands, and media.
PARTNER ACTIVITY
ACROSS LONDON:
In 2016, there will be eight official Design Districts spread across the capital during
the Festival. Design Districts are areas where there are distinct concentrations
of
design activity and events that can be traversed easily on foot. Each District
is
organised locally and independently under the umbrella of the London Design
Festival. This year will see a new Design District, Brixton, take part in the Festival.
The Districts now comprise:
Bankside Design District
After a successful debut, the Bankside Design District returns to London Design
Festival for a second year. Bankside is one of two Design Districts south of the river.
The area has seen ongoing transformation since Tate Modern and the Millennium
Bridge launched in 2000. Today the area is a creative hub, home to many galleries,
design studios, architect’s practices and creative agencies.
The Bankside Design District spans from Borough Market to OXO Tower and a
number of exciting events and activities are lined up to showcase the creative
industry within the area, from workshops to walking tours, exhibitions and outdoor
installations.
Activity confirmed for 2016 includes a pop-up sign painting school at Borough
Market hosted by legendary US sign painter Mike Meyers and Better Letters, a
showcase of independent designers by Designersblock, open studio at Buster +
Punch and calligraphy workshops from Paul Antonio.
Late night opening on Wednesday 21 September.
Brixton Design Trail
Brixton is set to launch as London Design Festival’s newest Design District in 2016.
Under the theme ‘Rebel Rebel’, Brixton Design Trail will engage the local community
and wider design world with a series of installations, exhibitions and events
throughout the town centre by resident artists, designers and creative organisations.
As part of our distinct approach, a Brixton Design Trail Youth Team will curate their
own programme, giving passionate young people a platform to express their ideas
and talent through a range of creative disciplines.
Rebel Rebel pays homage to one of the world’s design icons, David Bowie. Born in
Brixton he re-defined the boundaries of creativity, embracing music, art, film, fashion
and identity. Brixton identifies with his enduring spirit, retaining a distinct character
of its own in an increasingly homogenous world. Expect the unexpected, push the
boundaries and be who you want to be.
Contributors include; Brixton Pound, Eley Kishimoto, 2MZ, Black Cultural Archives,
This Aint Rock’N’Roll, BRIXI, Crafty Fox Market, Squire and Partners, Brixton Village
Market and Pop Brixton.
Late night opening on Friday 23 September.
Brompton Design District
In 2016, the Brompton Design District celebrates a decade as London’s most
pioneering and innovative programme of contemporary design. Since 2006
Brompton has been the location for an internationally recognised series of
exhibitions. Set in a historic district among a cluster of iconic design retailers
and global brands, the collaboration between these businesses and the pop-up
programme in empty shops and other buildings has, over time, allowed Brompton
to forge its reputation as London’s leading destination for design.
In the ten years since its inception, the Brompton Design District has proven to be
the seed-bed for some of the world’s most exciting and free-thinking designers.
Brompton Design District alumni – including Martino Gamper, Tom Dixon, Faye
Toogood, Raw Edges, Michael Anastassiades, Glithero and Arabeschi di Latte –
have gone on to be among the most creative players in the international design
industry.
Curated by Jane Withers since the beginning, the 2016 programme goes back
to first forms and elements. We lead with Breathless, a presentation of glass and
its fundamentals in a collaboration by Czech-based glass designers Dechem and
design collective Okolo. The installation will offer an insider’s perspective on the
intricacies of glass-making that will include a mobile glass furnace transported
from Prague, which will enable a series of on-site experiments and workshops.
The exhibition at The Garage, 1 North Terrace is supported by the Czech Centre
London.
Late night opening on Thursday 22 September.
Chelsea Design Quarter
Chelsea Design Quarter is one of London’s freshest and most eclectic interior
design hubs where classic and contemporary sit cheek by jowl. With the largest and
most diverse selection of established interiors specialists concentrated in one area,
this Quarter is located in and around the southern end of King’s Road running along
Lots Road to Imperial Wharf.
Participating Partners will be staging a range of special events ranging from
demonstrations and workshops to talks, new product launches and exhibitions
throughout the week.
Late night opening on Monday 19 September.
Clerkenwell Design Quarter
Now in its fourth year Clerkenwell Design Quarter (CDQ) brings together all the
multi-disciplinary components of this historical area: from showrooms and pop-ups
to restaurants and bars. A new blog tour of Clerkenwell will reveal hidden studios
and design gems; exclusive content, interviews and launches. The Clerkenwell
Design Quarter map of the area will seamlessly guide visitors through the District,
highlighting the best contemporary design along the way.
CDQ is an official Design District within the London Design Festival, organised by
specialist communications agency Industry Publicity. With involvement from leading
institutions, design showrooms, media partners and local businesses, the design
quarter makes a serious contribution to the capital’s design festivities in September.
Participants delivering events as part of CDQ will host exhibitions and one off events
to highlight new collections in furniture, lighting, jewellery, textiles and products.
Late night opening on Tuesday 20 September.
Islington Design District
The Islington Design District returns for its third year, bringing together a growing
collection of design-led shops, showrooms and cafes in the Islington area including
SMUG, Aria, twentytwentyone, Present & Correct and Coexistence.
Visitors will be able to walk the Islington Design District Trail from Amwell Street
south of Angel, through to Camden Passage and along Upper Street, to discover
new designers, special product launches and one-off exhibitions and events.
Late night opening on Tuesday 20 September.
Queens Park Design District
The Queens Park Design District, based on the areas surrounding Londsdale Road,
Salusbury Road and Kimberly Road has grown and become a key creative hub for
the area with its vast range of design businesses, studios and makers. For the third
year running, the Partners of the District come together with a unique showcase of
design through a roster of open studios, workshops, talks, installations and events.
From leather design by Bill Amberg Studio to bespoke furniture design by Rupert
Bevan to creative agencies including Some Ideas London, the District highlights
the growing design community that is committed to maintaining the most desirable
work/life District in the capital.
Taking inspiration from local street-art and the healthy population of foxes seen
in and around the parks and green spaces over the years, the fox becomes the
unofficial mascot of the District this year. Nearly 30 foxes will pop up around the
area, forming a special visual way finder for visitors.
Late night opening on Thursday 22 September, daytime event and open studios on
Sunday 25 September.
Shoredict Design Triangle
The Shoreditch Design Triangle is a true celebration of the area, hosted by the
creative companies who work there. It blends together a range of product launches,
exhibitions, installations, workshops, talks and tours which will run throughout the
Festival. Running consecutively for eight years, the event has gained a reputation
as one of the largest and most exciting Festival Districts, with a host of design-led
events making it possible to spend a whole day wandering around the area on foot.
Truly collaborative and harking back to the days when the Hoxton and Shoreditch
area was reinvigorated by the Young British Artist movement, the event revels in
the true spirit of London, a place that bursts with new ideas, historical places and
spaces, and the colourful characters who have strode the East End for many a year.
The Ace Hotel on Shoreditch High Street will provide a hub for people to meet, relax
and gather information.
Late night opening on Tuesday 20 September.
SELECTED PARTNER
EVENTS
BDT Youth Team - Brixton Youth Design Trail
Brand new this year, Brixton Design Trail will present a series of events and projects
curated by local 16-25 year olds, with the aim of celebrating the creativity of young
people. The Brixton Youth Team will ask: ‘In our rapidly changing city, how can
design be used to imagine and shape it’s future?’
A series of open briefs will be issued to give young people a platform to showcase
their talent in a range of creative disciplines. The team is currently working on
projects supported by Brixton Pound, Lambeth Council and Studio Moross. As well
as realising live projects during London Design Festival, ideas will be published via
an online digital showcase.
Craft Central - Talent 2016
Craft Central introduces Talent 2016 – a dedicated showcase of the top 20
graduate designer makers (BA Hons & MA) from across the UK to be presented
during the London Design Festival. Located within London’s professional design
hub, Clerkenwell, the exhibition will be held across Craft Central’s fully equipped
galleries in St John’s Square.
Judged by an industry panel, Craft Central will offer graduate exhibitors: free
inclusion in a curated exhibition space; business training and insights and the
Clerkenwell Award - a chance to win a studio space at Craft Central, with the fees
paid for the first 6 months.
Etsy - Etsy Awards: Winners’ Showcase at Tent London
The Etsy Awards celebrate the best of creativity in the UK and Ireland. Chosen from
over 3000 entrants, Etsy presents products from the winning designers at Tent
London.
Judged by The Design Trust, John Lewis, Red magazine, The Edited and creative
organisations throughout the UK and Ireland, the culminating showcase includes
exceptional design across 6 core categories - Home & Interiors, Fashion &
Accessories, Kids & Baby, Retail Star, New Etsy Talent and Regional.
The winners were rewarded with a range of support tailored to small creative
businesses including: £10,000 grant, business training from The Design Trust,
retail opportunities with John Lewis, the chance to join Etsy’s product showcase at
London Design Festival and much more.
Luna & Curious
Independent London store Luna & Curious collaborate with Fine Cell Work - a
social enterprise that trains prisoners in paid, skilled, creative needlework - to create
exclusive handmade interior accessories for the Festival.
Luna & Curious has commissioned a selection of hand crafted cushions and bags
made entirely by British prisoners for this year’s London Design Festival. The work
is of a superb quality as prisoners are taught and supported by volunteers from
the Embroiderers and Quilters Guild. Exhibited throughout the Festival, the unique
products celebrating exquisite craftsmanship will also be available to buy.
WHOLE WORLD Water - Fountains for the Future
In an effort to wean the public off branded water, bottled in plastic, WHOLE WORLD
Water will present Fountains for the Future, a two month long campaign (AugustSeptember 2016) where water fountain exteriors will display artwork submitted by
world renown British designers, artists and VIP’s. These whimsical fountains will be
placed in strategic, high footfall areas across Westminster and city dwellers and
tourists alike will be able to draw free, PURE IONIC enhanced WHOLE WORLD
Water in reusable non-plastic bottles.
The fountain body is designed by Yves Béhar, founder and principal designer of
Fuseproject, an award-winning industrial design and brand development firm.
Béhar’s design work emphasizes the integration of commercial products with
sustainability. As a sustainability advocate, Béhar argues that a designer’s role is to
create products that are both commercially viable and contribute to social good.
SELECTED PARTNER
EVENTS
SCP x London Design Festival
For this year’s London Design Festival, SCP East will play host to three shows: a
Piet Hein Eek exhibition, Mexico collection preview and a pizza bar by designer
Pieter Städler – with various other events to be announced soon.
Around the World: A Mexican show that takes it cue from the craftspeople and their
products of Oaxaca – Mexico’s southern cultural capital known for its mix of ancient
tradition and thriving contemporary art scene. Having touched down in the Mexican
city in May, SCP’s founder and director, Sheridan Coakley sought out a host of
Mexican designers, explored the area’s bustling markets and collaborated with its
craftspeople. The result is a considered collection of traditional and contemporary
homeware products including terracotta ceramics, hand-hammered mirrors,
religious-inspired metalwork, carved wooden figures and brightly-coloured woven
baskets, plus textiles.
In Conversation with Piet Hein Eek: SCP’s first floor will be transformed into an
exhibition celebrating work and world of Piet Hein Eek. The show will explore all
aspects of the Dutch designer’s work: from a selection of his latest designs to
his most celebrated furniture and an edit of smaller products. On Wednesday 21
September, SCP will host an ‘In Conversation’ event with Eek, which will discuss his
life, work and inspirations - followed by a Q&A with Festival goers.
Pizza Bar: See Pieter Städler – an alumni of the Design Academy Eindhoven – build
and demonstrate his DIY brick oven design while enjoying a smoky pizza made in
no more than 6-minutes. A simple yet effective device, the compact assemblage
consists of four parts, as well as bricks, and reaches temperatures of a staggering
300 degrees.
Tord Boontje - Electro Craft
Electro Craft is an exhibition of works created by a diverse group of designers who
share a fascination with technology and beautifully made objects.
As the title suggests, this is about the craft of electronics and electronics made
as craft. Made up of new and existing work, the objects on show will vary from
speakers to clocks, from wearable tails to musical instruments. The works include
conceptual designs, prototypes and commercial products. The group of 28
exhibitors consists of recent graduates as well as more established designers and
artists.
A series of performances and events will take place during the exhibition.
Exhibitors include; Ariane Prin, Bethan Laura Wood, Bilge Nur Saltik, Daniel Weil, El
Ultimo Grito, Front, Industrial Facility, Map, Marjan van Aubel, Paul Cocksedge, Raw
Edges, Simon Hasan, Studio Tord Boontje, Yuri Suzuk, amongst many others.
Wallace Collection - The Middle - Tom Ellis
In a new exhibition at the Wallace Collection, British artist Tom Ellis presents a
newly commissioned series of works pairing his enigmatic figurative paintings
with self-made furniture. The combination reflects the unique and eclectic profile
of the Wallace Collection, which holds a collection of both fine and decorative art.
Showcased in a former home, Hertford House, the Wallace Collection evokes
the domestic atmosphere of a private collection and this resonates strongly with
Ellis’ approach. His artistic practice places paintings and furniture side by side, to
create juxtapositions within the gallery space that address and question viewers
expectations.
The exhibition also invites contemplation on how and why a private collector might
present their collection in a certain way, an issue which is at the heart of the Wallace
Collection. Visitors to the museum will be able to encounter Ellis’ work across three
spaces: the Front State Room, the exhibition galleries, and before even entering
Hertford House, on the front lawn. A varied range of public talks and events will
accompany the exhibition.
2016 IDENTITY:
DESIGN IS IN THE
DETAIL
Across design disciplines, every big idea and impressive outcome is made up of
its finer details. Any successful execution requires attention to that detail, and this
year’s London Design Festival visual identity celebrates what often goes unnoticed,
zooming into the negative spaces and elegant swashes of the typographic message
itself. Highlighting detail can change the scale and composition altogether, offering
us ways to appreciate and experience design from a new perspective.
Domenic Lippa, Partner at Pentagram Design, commented:
‘The wonderful thing about type is when you use it in such a large scale
and then crop it, you are often left with wonderful positive and negative
shapes which have come out of the individual letterforms. The result is
unmistakedly “The London Design Festival” but introduces an element
that is engaging and playful as well as being classic and modern. As the
Festival represents such a diverse range of sectors, its important our
solution has the flexibility to reflect such different areas of design, our
partners and contributors.’
ABOUT THE LONDON
DESIGN FESTIVAL
Continually updated Festival details are published at Londondesignfestival.com.
The official guide to the London Design Festival 2016 will be distributed across
London in early September.
For enquiries and high-resolution images contact the Festival team at
Camron PR:
Judith Fereday, Deputy Managing Director
Kitty Duncan, Associate Director
Dharine Surenthiran, Account Director
Thalia Mills, Press Officer
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7420 1700
Email: ldfteam@camronpr.com
FACTS ABOUT THE
LONDON DESIGN
FESTIVAL
The London Design Festival is a key constituent of London’s Autumn creative
season, alongside London Fashion Week, Frieze Art Fair and the London Film
Festival. Established in 2003 its role is to celebrate and promote London as the
world’s design capital and gateway to the International design community. The
Festival works closely with, and receives financial support directly from, the Mayor’s
Office – having transferred support from the London Development Agency.
The Festival also receives support from Arts Council England, as a National
Portfolio Organisation 2015-18.
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