Top 10 Things to See at the London Design Festival 2007
It’s the official launch of the London Design Festival tomorrow, which will precipitate thousands of people to leave their own little corner of the city or the world and start zig-zagging across town in order to take in the latest and greatest innovations in design. As the Festival gets larger and longer every year, the variety of talent on show grows as well and the zig-zagging becomes more frenzied. Fortunately CH is here to point you in the right direction. The big shows such as 100% Design, Tent London and Designers Block are easy to identify, so below you’ll find 10 recommendations for some smaller gems in alphabetical order. We hope it saves you some time and some foot-ache.
1.) Cockpit Arts Deptford Open Studios
An opportunity to see behind the scenes of this busy creative hub; explore the studios; meet the designer-makers; and buy or commission the latest in interior and fashion design.
14-16 September 2007
Deptford Studios
18-22 Creekside
London SE8 3DZ map
tel. +020 8692 4463
2.) Established + Sons: Elevating Design
A discourse on the area of design currently in the spotlight—the newly-termed "Design Art"—the ground-breaking (and invite-only) exhibition of objects represents the most extreme interpretation of the genre put together by one of the current biggest names in design.
17-24 September 2007
P3 Space
Westminster University
35 Marleybone Road
London NW1 5LS map
3.) Grandmateria
New commissions from a selection of U.K. emerging designers including Stuarrt Haygarth, Julia Lohman, Peter Marigold and Mortiz Waldemeyer. The exhibition also celebrates the concept launch of Gallery Libby Sellers, founded by the former Design Museum curator, to nurture and promote design talent.
19 September–14 October 2007
Gallery Libby Sellers
1-5 Exhibition Road
London SW7 2HE map
tel. +07774 113 813
4.) H-Van at Caravan
Caravan proprietor Emily Chalmers, an established Interiors stylist and author, has branched out for this year's festival with the Caravan Citroen H-van. The vintage automobile design classic will be parked outside the shop, exhibiting specially commissioned work for the festival.
20-23 September 2007
Old Spitalfields Market
Spitalfields, London E1 6BG map
tel. +020 7247 6467
5.) Jaime Hayon at Bisazza
The artisan tilers commissioned fave CH designer 5.) Jaime Hayon to make a unique collection of vases. Created using striking black and white ceramic pieces, they enhance the texture and allure of the gold and glass mosaic.
15-25 September 2007
Bisazza Showroom
60 Sloane Avenue
London SW3 3DD map
tel. +020 7584 8837
6.) New Designers Selection
This showcase of 50 young designers emerged from the New Designers event in July 2007, inspiring design from the freshest thinkers of today.
20-23 September 2007
The Gallery at Oxo Tower
Bargehouse Street
South Bank, London SE1 9PH map
tel. +020 7288 6738 or +020 7401 2255
7.) Size + Matter: The Materials Project
Matching leading architects (Zaha Hadid and Amanda Levete) with public venues and materials manufacturers, this exhibitions consists of landmark installations that blur the boundaries between architecture, design, engineering, sculpture and fantasy.
15-25 September
Sites around Southbank Centre
Belvedere Road
London SE1 8XX map
tel. +087 871 663 2501
8.) Tom Dixon: 500 Blow Lights and Great Light Giveaway
With plans afoot to ban the sale of traditional incandescent bulbs in the E.U., Tom has designed and arranged for the manufacture of a recycled plastic light, which uses a low-energy compact fluorescent light bulb. Once again the designer has Trafalgar square as his playground for the an installation and will give away 1,000 of the lights on Wednesday, 19 September 2007, on site.
17-19 September
Trafalgar Square map
London
9.) Trash Luxe
A collection of young and talented designers who specialize in finding beauty in humble materials or salvaging otherwise unwanted goods, which they use to create dynamic, luxurious pieces, exhibit at Liberty
20-30 September 2007
Liberty
Regent Street
London W1B 5AH map
tel. +020 7734 1234
10.) 26 Posters
Writer's group 26 partnered with JC Decaux to use their billboards to demonstrate the power of language in design. Matching leaders of the creative community from design, advertising, marketing and communication, 26 pairs have each responded to the challenge of writing stories of up to six words. See more info and the posters here.
Various locations in London, Birmingham, Manchester and Glasgow
