The London Design Festival: Design is Everywhere

The London Design Festival starts in 4 days and the subheading of the whole event tells us exactly what to expect: Design is Everywhere. An explosion of design events will hit the city from 14-22 September which will offer something for everyone within the design districts of Chelsea Design Quarter, Clerkenwell Design Quarter, Fitzrovia Now, Shoreditch Design Triangle, Brompton Design District and far beyond. From the beautiful fabrics of Nigel Atkinson showing at the Joss Graham Gallery on Eccleston Street, to 2013’s Landmark Project Endless Stair outside the Tate Modern and Squint Limited‘s Myung nam An exhibition in South Kensington; from the Graphic Africa show in association with Habitat in the brand’s King’s Road showroom to the display for the new design venture WRONG for HAY, a collaboration between Danish design brand HAY and London-based designer Sebastian Wrong; every square inch of design is covered.

Over the next week COVER will highlight some of the best shows and some great design to look out for. Here is a summary of the main shows and what each has to offer.

Designjunction

In the words of FT journalist Nicole Swengley, “This is how a contemporary design show should look, feel and taste.” She was commenting on London Design Festival’s new kid in town Designjunction (18–22 September). This year brands Bolon, Sonya Winner, Cavalcanti, Melin Tregwynt, Eleanor Pritchard, Wallace Sewell, Larusi and Rapture & Wright will bring the soft furnishings to the cool interior product range on show. There will be a series of seminars looking at the relationship between design and architecture and part of the ground floor will be taken over by Flash Factories, where the processes of industrial production will be demonstrated live. What’s more, supercool Japanese brand tokyobike will be offering bike tours of London’s design destinations.

 

100% Design

100% Design, on 18–21 September, is the largest and longest-running UK contemporary design event for industry professionals. Although the fair still retains an Emerging Brands section, the fair has become a great venue for slick interior product companies. Lorna Syson will be showing in the Emerging Brands category as will Moody Monday while Norfolk-based textile brand St Judes will be part of the interiors section.

Tent London

Tent London (19–22 September) is the perfect venue to view new emerging brands and designers. This year there are textiles aplenty from the likes of Parris Wakefield Additions, Vanja Bazdulj, Kosmos Project, Stahl & Steinnes, Tori Murphy, Tamasyn Gambell, Sian Elin, Seven Gauge Studios, Rose Sharp Jones, Occipinti, Maxine Sutton, Louise Gardiner, Laura Fletcher, Korla, Fay McCaul, and Dar Leone plus rugs from Maroc Tribal.

 

Super Brands London

Super Brands, an offshoot of Tent, is a event focusing on some of the world’s most progressive interior product designers. This year it will feature new company Front London with rugs from innovators Jan Kath and Michaela Schleypen of Floor to Heaven. Meanwhile Mineheart will be showing the eye-catching Renaissance cowhide rug and Cristian Zuzunaga will exhibit his textiles collection with TEIXIDORS.

Decorex

This year Decorex, on 22–25 September, moves from Chelsea Barracks to Perks Field and The Orangery, Kensington Palace. Decorex is the interior design show for London and is a fantastic venue for spotting rugs from the likes of Veedon Fleece, Tania Johnson, Sinclair Till, The Rug Company, Luke Irwin, Amy Kent, Capitol Carpets of Chelsea, Dovecot Studios and new company Front London.
Fabrics are also in abundance: this year Lindsay Alker returns with her classic English handprinted designs, Luc Druez will dazzle us with his exquisite metallic fabrics and everyone will flock to see what new work is being offered by Timorous Beasties. With a seminar programme and a champagne bar there is something for everyone, from the earnest to the frivolous.

 

Focus 13

This annual interiors event at the Design Centre Chelsea Harbour sees every showroom welcome the press, the industry and the public to show off new and prized collections. DCCH is awash with fabric retailers and brands from Abbott & Boyd to Zoffany. The event programme also includes a series of lectures by interior experts including ELLE Decoration Editor-in-chief Michelle Ogundehin and House & Garden Editor Susan Crewe.