Back for its 22nd edition, London Design Festival once again brought the design industry together with a strong community spirit radiating from some of the highlights that caught our eye.
‘Together In Battersea’ is an installation centred on the local community and created by London-based design studio POoR Collective, located within the Battersea Power Station. Photography: Charlie Round-Turner
Words by Roddy Clarke
London Design Festival returned to the capital for its 22nd edition last month, with institutions, brands, designers and makers coming together to showcase an array of creativity while addressing and responding to current global topics and themes. From installations in the public realm such as Vert, a climate-centred exterior structured created by Diez Office in partnership with OMC°C and the American Hardwood Export Council, to exhibitions such as Craft x Tech which brought together Japanese craft and contemporary technology within the V&A’s Prince Consort Gallery, the display of global talent was exciting to see.
Situated across eleven design districts, this year’s Festival sought to present thought-provoking narratives translated through a variety of mediums with the Global Design Forum also offering a space for conversations between industry leaders to occur. With a positive energy evident from within the industry throughout the week, we felt encouraged to see designers focusing on critical values of community and circularity. Here are six of our highlights:
Tip Takes by Studio TIP
Helping to redirect and reimagine waste construction materials, Studio TIP celebrated its launch with an immersive and imaginative installation in the entrance to design fair Material Matters. Photography: Max Colson
Taking centre stage in the Bargehouse entrance of the festival’s leading design fair Material Matters, Studio TIP celebrated their official launch through an immersive and imaginative presentation. Set up by Katie-May Boyd and Charlotte Kidger, Studio TIP is a creative practice helping to rehome discarded materials through local and circular solutions. Salvaging materials such as tiles, facades and even electrical cable, the duo’s installation allowed us to visualise them in new formats rather than ending up in landfill. For this installation, 2.5 tonnes of waste material was donated from a project in central London, thanks to demolition contractors John F Hunt, which was then made available to visitors who were able to access the details of each material through a scannable digital passport. Through artistic collaborations and a clever display of the materials, it was a thought-provoking introduction to the studio offering hope and optimism towards a more circular future.
The Making Room by Andu Masebo and Mikey Krzyzanowski
The Making Room by Andu Masebo and Mikey Krzyzanowski facilitated workshops throughout the week which allowed the space to adapt and evolve as results and creations from these events were added into the environment. Photography: Diogo
Responding to Brompton Design District’s theme The Practice of Learning (curated by Jane Withers Studio), Andu Masebo and Mikey Krzyzanowski came together to create The Making Room – a communal space offering workshops and events throughout the duration of the week-long festival with the aim of bringing creative minds together. Showcasing designs created by the two inspiring talents, the space also evolved throughout the week as the results of workshops were added into the curation bringing an open dialogue and ever-changing dynamic to the environment. While showcasing an accessible way of spreading creativity, it also displayed how, through community, our spaces can become more convivial spaces to live in.
Reading Design by Grymsdyke Farm
Showcasing the results of four workshops, Grymsdyke Farm presented a series of works including these wax-cast glass vases. Photography: James Harris
Returning to Brompton Design District, Buckinghamshire research facility and workshop Grymsdyke Farm presented its collaborative exhibition Reading Design. Displaying the results of four workshops, led by Attua Aparicio, Marco Campardo, Studio Glithero and Guan Lee, the exhibition explored not only the application of materials in unique ways but how individuals can learn from each other through the making process and the environment in which they are placed. From sculptural ceramic objects to wax-cast glass vases and cast bronze furniture, visitors were able to witness the experimental approach to design that the school and workshops encourage.
SPECTRUM by 2LG Studio
Celebrating their 10-year anniversary, design duo 2LG presented SPECTRUM which featured an immersive digital art installation created in partnership with Lucy Hardcastle and Quentin Lachapele. Photography: Megan Taylor
Celebrating the 10-year anniversary of their design studio, Russell Whitehead and Jordan Cluroe curated an immersive installation within HART Shoreditch allowing us a retrospective insight into past projects which were reimagined for this occasion. From new 3D-printed designs in partnership with Sheyn, a vibrant rug design for Floorstory and an innovative loose cover design for existing furniture, it was an opportunity to see the diverse results that the multi-disciplinary designers continue to create. In the basement, an immersive digital artwork allowed visitors to momentarily escape from the hectic schedules of the week. Created in partnership with Lucy Hardcastle, the mesmerising display was accompanied by a soundscape from Quentin Lachapele with a poem (written and recited by Whitehead) titled Not Afraid Now exploring the designers healing process through colour.
Together In Battersea by POoR Collective
POoR Collective’s colourful installation at Battersea Power Station drew inspiration from a series of workshops they held with young people within the local area. Photography: Charlie Round-Taylor
Focused on enhancing communities through the elevation of young people, design practice POoR Collective opened a new installation at Battersea Power Station. After holding a series of workshops with local Wandsworth residents under the age of 18, the team used the results as inspiration for a sculptural seating installation within the venue. On display until 20th October, the work is centred on togetherness and community, with it placed alongside ‘Together We Rise’ – an artwork featuring over 100 flags suspended from the ceilings within the turbine halls.
The Anagram Sofa by Panter&Tourron for Vitra
The Anagram Sofa by Panter&Tourron for Vitra was displayed in multiple configurations within the brand’s Tramshed showroom. Photography: Taran Wilkhu
With their projects continually pushing the boundaries of design and questioning what the future of living might look like, Swiss design duo Stefano Panterotto and Alexis Tourron’s Anagram sofa for Vitra once again portrayed their visionary design sensibility. With a layout that can be adapted time and time again, the modular sofa is intended to evolve with its users as needs and habits develop over time. Displaying the sofa system in the brand’s iconic Tramshed showroom, it was easy to see the scope of configurations possible. And, whether placed in domestic or commercial environments, it was encouraging to see a seating solution created with multiple lives in mind and governed by inherent circular principles.
Get a curated collection of design and architecture news in your inbox by signing up to our ICON Weekly newsletter
