british designer paul cocksedge is transforming finsbury avenue square with please be seated. located in the heart of broadgate, the landmark project will be the most ambitious of british land’s commissions to date.

the large-scale installation fuses innovation and technology, and responds to the changing rhythm of the community: its design features curves for people to sit on and walk under, further enhancing london’s largest pedestrianized neighborhood. the work is made from scaffolding planks, and cocksedge has collaborated with essex-based high-end interiors company white & white to re-imagine and re-use the building wood.

sam jacob is designing a new installation within the grand entrance to the v&a to highlight the need to rethink the global plastics system; to consider its full lifetime journey; and to design future-use into every product.

the installation for london design festival follows the recent announcement that sam jacob studio has been selected to transform the cromwell road entrance.

titled sea things, the concept will take the form of a large scale two-way mirrored cube suspended above visitors with an animated motion graphic internally reflected to an infinity that seems both as wide as the ocean and as large as the challenges we face. the project has an aim to evoke a powerful sense of emotion, so visitors come away feeling empowered with a better understanding of their role alongside technology and design to make the world a more sustainable place.

iri-descent by liz west is a suspended arrangement of 150 skeleton-framework cubes located in the atrium of the historic fortnum & mason store in piccadilly.

clad with dichromatic film in two differing colorways, the cubes appear to change color as visitors move around the atrium and between the floors above and below. There are two color variations interlaced throughout – warm and cool – offering a multi-colored range of hues. the highly reflective film also mirrors its surrounds and transmits complementary colors outwards.

sir john sorrell, chairman of london design festival, invited leaders of london’s cultural institutions to collaborate with some of the world’s most prolific designers to create a ‘legacy’ piece of design – an object of personal or professional relevance to them.

each of the pieces – 10 in total – are beautifully crafted in american red oak, an exciting and sustainable hardwood species that grows abundantly in american forests, and will be fabricated at benchmark furniture in berkshire. nine of the pieces will be presented as a group exhibition at the v&a, after which they will relocate to the homes or institutions of each of the commissioners. the 10th piece, the nest, will be installed at the natural history museum.

life labyrinth – designed by patternity  – brings to life the healing powers of one of the most ancient geometric symbols on earth. based on a giant three-dimensional spiraling labyrinth formation, life labyrinth is a pattern-based journey that takes visitors on a personal meditative walking experience that is proven to have both psychological and physical health benefits: harmonizing body, mind and spirit. patternity’s bold monochrome style reflects the brickwork of westminster cathedral and the communal seating pays homage to the…

camille walala returns to london design festival in a characteristically colorful manner. the french-born designer has been commissioned by grosvenor britain & ireland to energize and enliven south molton street, in the heart of london’s west end, with a bold and beautiful family of street furniture.

combining head-turning color and geometric shapes in monumental proportions, the result is walala lounge, a set of 10 sculptural benches, accompanied by planters – some freestanding and some integrated into the structure of the benches – and a series of oversized flags that will be strung, bunting-style, from shopfront to shopfront, converting the area into an immersive corridor of color.

to coincide with martino gamper’s london design festival commission – disco carbonara at coal drops yard – samsung presents idiosincratico: an exposition of the designer’s creative practice.

the samsung space will offer a unique vantage point on gamper’s installation below. as well as viewing the exhibit, visitors can also interact with the latest technology, and take part in an ongoing series of events, workshops and performances.

presenting three significant projects, idiosincratico gives insight into gamper’s creative process – exploring his distinctive and playful approach to dissembling and reinventing familiar domestic objects. at the heart of each of gamper’s projects is the notion of thinking through making and examining how process informs the physical outcome.

the non-pavilion creates a space in its most minimal sense, inviting visitors to engage with the idea of ‘less’ as enrichment rather than loss. drawing on the beauty and simplicity of swiss baugespanne – the poles, rods and wires erected to help the public visualize the impact of a proposed development – the non-pavilion serves as a ghostly reminder of our urgent need to produce less.

through ar technology the digital pavilions aim to ask pertinent questions for our times. can design facilitate a change in mindsets away from consumerism and the mantra of economic growth? can design help identify and promote societal values fit for the 21st century and advance a sustainable, prosperous and fulfilling human existence? how can designers and architects use their skills to provide vision and inspiration for this progressive and much needed movement?

bamboo (竹) ring, or ‘take-wa 竹わ’, is an experiment in the concept of weaving, as explored by kengo kuma.

japanese architect kuma (founder of kengo kuma & associates) has most recently designed the v&a dundee, his first building in the uk, as well as the new national stadium for the tokyo 2020 olympics along with taisei corporation and azusa sekkei.

inspired by the john madejski garden and curated by clare farrow, the doughnut-shaped structure – like a nest or cocoon – has been created by weaving rings of bamboo and carbon fibre together. for kuma, working with ejiri structural engineers and the kengo kuma laboratory at the university of tokyo, the installation is an exploration of pliancy, precision, lightness and strength: by pulling two ends, it naturally de-forms and half of the woven structure is lifted into the air.

canadian designer matthew mccormick is proud to present avalanche, a temporary installation at the victoria & albert museum for the 2019 london design festival. a highly experiential exhibit, the installation seeks to fuel thoughtful introspection on the effects of climate change through the artist’s interpretation of what it feels when trapped inside a torrential snow slide – a tangible result of our planet’s fluctuating weather conditions.

volume creative, in collaboration with virgin voyages, invites visitors to take the plunge: a playful installation at bargehouse, oxo tower wharf.

the interactive project shows the power of design to evoke curiosity, in a stand-alone immersive experience created for london design festival. visitors are invited on a journey of discovery and asked to dive into a new experience.

see••ds is pleased to present masters of disguise as part of brompton design district 2019, an exhibition that seeks to interpret this year’s theme nature/nurture by looking at the notion of human nature.

in the current age of the anthropocene, designers need to reflect not only on their work, but also at their own identity as creative professionals. who we are and how we choose to represent ourselves to the world is deeply rooted in how we interpret the relationship to the environment. this is the essence of human nature.

masters of disguise will explore this concept by exhibiting the work of key contemporary artists/designers including jochen holz, martino gamper and sabine marcelis, and more who have been invited to design masks that address questions of identity, visibility and image.

aram store celebrates the bauhaus centenary with innovative work from the art school, produced by tecnolumen, and modern work by new tendency. in the gallery, studio truly truly will present a solo exhibition that reflects on its creative process, and explores ideas for the future living space.

founded in 1980, german brand tecnolumen champions the production of bauhaus design. its first product was the wagenfeld table lamp, often called the bauhaus lamp. designs by metalwork students of the famous design school were added to its collection, amongst them work by marianne brandt, gyula pap and additional lighting by wilhelm wagenfeld.

print artist lisa king and london flower school introduce in perfect process and launch their first collaborative collection, an exhibition and pop-up shop during london design festival 2019.

taking over a 400 sq. metre disused church in copeland park, peckham, the exhibition showcases the process of the creative journey, culminating in a large-scale flower and print installation limited edition framed prints and british made silk scarves will be available to purchase at a temporary retail space at the exhibition and on lisakinglondon.com

designer dan tobin smith and creative studio the experience machine, in partnership with gemfields, present void; a multi-sensory spatial installation at collins music hall, islington.

visitors will become part of an immersive experience, traveling through a series of large-scale projections that showcase the expanded space inside gemstones and map the blurring boundaries between nature and design.

considerate design: in response to the brompton’s nature/nurture theme for 2019, contemporary design and craft gallery mintdisplays the work of 60 designers – both new talents and established names – all chosen for their dedication to respecting nature and minimizing human impact on the environment. from lighting made from found wood to sculptural examinations of typography, the works are all exemplars of sustainability-focused, circular design. in ‘coal: post-fuel’, for example, jesper eriksson seeks to recontextualize a functional fossil fuel, finding a new purpose and value for the notorious pollutant as a beautiful design material, as precious as marble.

after the recent collaboration for the fuorisalone 2019, alpi and the designer martino gamper go back to work together for the london design festival, one of the main international events in the design world.

the company, leader in the production of decorative surfaces in reconstituted wood veneer, contributes to the realization of the exclusive site-specific installation disco carbonara designed by gamper, on display from 14 to 22 september 2019 at king's cross. the new london creative district will be, for the first time this year, a design district of the festival, becoming part of the most interesting addresses in london for design and architecture.

to coincide with the london design festival, elephant west, the innovative new art space in west london, will be hosting a series of adventurous and immersive installations, exploring the idea of home and what it means in today’s world and in our increasingly digital future.

as current ideas of who we are, what we should be doing and how we should live are all under question, our idea of “home” has changed significantly at both an individual and collective level and yet home, or the idea of home, remains the place we turn to for both healing and restoration.

for six days, focus/19 at design centre, chelsea harbour is the design event for excellence. welcoming trade professionals and design enthusiasts from around the globe, the program is dedicated to inspiring, informing and delivering the best in world-class talent.

this year, there are more product launches and showroom openings than ever, alongside an abundance of talks, demonstrations, workshops, discovery tours and guest pop-ups. see the latest collections, meet established makers, emerging innovators and skilled artisans, and connect with influential tastemakers from 120 showrooms and 600-plus international brands. this abundance of design diversity and experience is extraordinary and reflects design centre, chelsea harbour’s commitment to creativity and connection. entrance is free.

from 16 to 21 september 2019, bohinc studio opens its doors with the lunar house, a pop-up exhibition to mark the moon landing’s 50th anniversary during this year’s london design festival. space and planets continue to inspire the designs of lara bohinc, who presents aptly named new pieces such as the jupiter vase and the juno box at the lunar house, alongside the freshly launched planetaria collection and a selection from lara’s collaboration with kasthall.

with the lunar house, bohinc studio presents its signature style in a full interior set up for the first time. the brand comes to life through lara’s spatial treatment of a victorian townhouse in the king’s cross design district.

ace hotel london introduces this year’s design initiative, during london design festival, that investigates the opportunities made possible by reusing, repurposing and reinterpreting existing methods, materials and techniques. approaching items through this lens, the project takes form as a collective endeavor, working with a cadre of designers to responsibly create custom, customized and customizable objects for ace hotel london. london design festival promotes the city’s creativity, drawing in the country’s greatest thinkers, practitioners, retailers and educators to deliver an unmissable celebration of design.

this year’s designers include french-born, mexico-based furniture and product designer fabien cappello, who will be designing water jugs and cutlery holders for the lobby; london design studio raw edges, producing rugs in association with gan for the rooftop; amsterdam-based studio bcxsy, who will unveil room dividers for the rooftop; as well as french-born, emerging designer diego faivre who has created door stops for the property.

this year’s design initiative, which showcases eclectic and unique designs that become both necessary operational tools and a way to spotlight exciting global talent, has been collaborated with consultant libby sellers.

for the london design festival 2019, renowned british designer lee broom presents a brand new installation entitled kaleidoscopia, an experiential showcase that plays with kaleidoscopic impressions.

kaleidoscopia will be unveiled on 17th september at the shoreditch showroom, and in signature lee broom style uses visual illusion to create an intimate exhibition with maximum impact. visitors will be invited into an enclosed space to discover lighting products within a highly reflective environment, forming a sequence of multiple images and mesmerizing optical illusions. only when inside kaleidoscopia will visitors experience the full transformative visual impact of the installation, inspired by the interior of a kaleidoscope.

during this year’s london design festival, stockholm-based design brand hem will take over the redchurch room in shoreditch to launch the incredible house of cards by dutch designer bertjan pot; the brand’s second product from a new accessory collection curated by modern design review.

pot, who is known for his playful and whimsical designs, was tasked by modern design review with the creation of a piece that epitomizes the idea of a ‘decorative accessory’. like all the items in this growing collection of works, the emphasis has been on the creation of an expressive object that is characteristic of the designer’s ethos and way of working. the incredible house of cards is a modular sculpture crafted from cardboard. it uses a simple assembly method that when realised creates an optical illusion through the perception of color depending on the position of its viewer.

2019 marks the 25th anniversary of 100% design, one of the uk’s leading design trade events. this year’s show will present a stellar line-up of more than 400 exhibitors as well as an unrivaled talks program featuring some of the biggest names across architecture and design.

design london, a carefully curated selection of the world’s leading interior brands including dare studio, boss design, da a, gãrsnãs, b sweden, liqui contracts and antonio lupi. plus, british furniture maker benchmark will be launching the sage collection by david rockwell.

leading british furniture maker benchmark presents a new collection of furniture by award-winning american architect david rockwell at 100% design from 18 – 21 september, during the london design festival.

the sage collection is designed for office and commercial/hospitality environments as well as the home, with a specific focus on human health and well-being within the built environment and meets the standards required for well certified buildings.

located in the creative heart of east london, the london design fair is a four-day event that brings together 550 exhibitors from 40 countries, including; independent designers, established brands, international country pavilions, features and exhibitions.

as the most international trade destination during the annual london design festival over 29,000 influential; retail buyers, architects, interior designers, press, designers and design-savvy public attend to see and specify the very latest; furniture, lighting, textiles, materials and conceptual installations from around the world.

irthi contemporary crafts council will debut its landmark first product line – a wide-ranging collection of pieces intended to celebrate and empower uae women through craft. the pioneering initiative has the twin aims of celebrating traditional and modern crafts while elevating female artisans, socially and economically.

with a modern take on leather decoration, bill amberg brings together leading creatives for a new collection of digitally-printed leather hides.

this year’s collaborators include marcel wanders, calico wallpaper, solange azagury-partridge, lisa miller, champalimaud and artist matthew day jackson.

each artist has created designs which showcase the incredible possibilities of digitally-printed leather. as the world’s most coveted specialist in upholstery leathers, created with the highest ethical and sustainability standards, bill amberg print hides combine forward-thinking contemporary design with an innovative natural leather, developed to celebrate the characteristics and beauty of the material. the collection will be presented in a railway arch at coal drops yard in king’s cross.

channeling the work of one of uruguay’s most-renowned creatives, poet juana de ibarbourou inspires nine design studios who will each reimagine one of her poems for poetic forms: the work of uruguayan poet juana de ibarbourou.

curated by london-based uruguay and designer, matteo fogale, uruguay’s contemporary creative studios have distilled the work of ibarbourou into furniture, accessories and textiles in a celebration of the centenary of las lenguas de diamante, a book that catapulted juana de ibarbourou instantaneous success both nationally and internationally upon its publication in 1919.

the award-winning designjunction is delighted to announce their return to the spectacular king’s cross site during the london design festival (19 – 22 september 2019). now in its ninth year, designjunction has proven itself to be the most anticipated exhibition of the festival, attracting over 27,000 visitors across five days in 2018. this year, designjunction will present a curated mix of over 200 world-renowned furniture, lighting, accessory and technology brands alongside pop-up shops, installations, temporary structures and major brand activations.