London Design Festival (http://www.londondesignfestival.com/)
When: 17-25 September, 2016
Where: All over London
Tickets: Most events are free to attend. Ticketed events are managed by the host venue.
London Design Festival is just round the corner. I’ll be attending this year, as I do every year, to seek inspiration, discover new ideas and check out the latest trends.
With interactive installations, workshops, product launches and exhibitions, London is transformed for 9 days of design innovation. Now in its 14th year, LDF has grown to become one of the biggest and most exciting shows in the design calendar. Here are just a few of the events you can attend at this year’s festival:
The Shows
Also known as ‘Design Destinations’, there are five shows that take place across London every year; London Design Fair, Focus/16, designjunction, Decorex International, and 100% Design. They are arguably the biggest draw of London Design Festival, boasting crowds in the tens of thousands every year. It’s here where you can see innovative work, creative inventions and new products from local and international designers.
London Design Festival at the V&A
It’s only natural that the world’s leading museum of art and design curates its own selection of events for London Design Festival. As you might expect from the V&A, the programme is always diverse, creative and deeply inspiring.
Installations for 2016 include The Green Room; a time-based mechanical installation that encourages visitor interaction, and Foil; a mesmerising display of reflected light. The museum also offers a full schedule of lunchtime lectures, gallery talks, hands-on workshops and provocative debates.
At the end of your visit, make a stop in the museum gift shop for the designer souvenirs commissioned exclusively for London Design Festival. Leading architects and designers have created their own souvenirs of London and the collectable objects are available to buy during LDF only.
Brixton Design Trail
New for 2016, Brixton will launch as LDF’s latest Design District. Under the distinctly rock ‘n’ roll theme of Rebel Rebel, Brixton Design Trail seeks to engage the local community with a series of installations, exhibitions and events.
The theme pays homage to Brixton-born David Bowie; a design icon and creative force. Identifying with Bowie’s enduring spirit; Brixton Design Trail pushes the boundaries, giving resident artists, designers and organisations a platform to express their ideas.
I hope this, admittedly brief, preview inspires you to pay a visit to London Design Festival this year. It’s hard to do this vast event justice but I can assure you it’s an event worth attending. See you there!
