London Design Festival (LDF) is a platform for innovative design initiatives, showcasing ideas from more than 300 partners who represent the best of London’s design community and LDF 2016 will be held between 17-25 September, 2016 at Trafalgar Square, London. Widespread participation reflects the role of creative businesses as a leading force in the city’s economy, which represents the UK’s fastest growing sector. 

The LDF is an essential platform for the capital’s major trade shows taking place across London, featuring work from a local and international network of both new and established exhibitors. These shows comprise 100% Design, Decorex International, designjunction, Focus/16 and The London Design Fair (including Tent London & Super Brands). This year, a brand new show makes its debut at Kensington Olympia’s Pillar and Upper Pillar Halls. 

Exciting and innovative design will be debuted at these ‘Design Destinations’, which are key events for designers and manufacturers alike aiming to build their presence and reach new audiences as well as for consumers seeking design and interiors ideas.

See ‘Design Destinations’ and their information below:

%100 Design&Luxury Made, Olympia London, 21-24 September, 2016

100% Design-Framery Q, 2016, workplace. Image courtesy of London Design Festival

First staged in 1995, 100% Design last year attracted over 26,000 professional visitors to one of London’s most inspiring venues, Olympia London. Visitors to the show include architects, designers, specifiers, retailers and developers, as well as multinational companies looking to source directly for their latest projects. With five sections comprising Interiors, Workplace, Kitchens & Bathrooms, Design & Build and Emerging Brands, 100% Design can justly claim to be the commercial cornerstone of the Festival. 

This year’s theme is ‘Experience’, which will be explored across the show through specially commissioned installations, immersive experiences and sensory experiments. Visitors will be able to engage physically with the latest product innovations, establish new business relationships and network with design professionals. 100% Design is renowned for the quality of its talks programme and this year, the talks with 100% Design will be curated by the Design Museum as part of their ‘on loan’ campaign with activity out and about in Kensington until the museum opens there on 24 November 2016. The talks will present thought leaders in the industry, alongside panel discussions exploring trends in contemporary practice as well as the future of design. 

Making its debut at the London Design Festival 2016 is LuxuryMade, a new show dedicated to contemporary decorative interiors which will showcase luxury furniture, fabrics and carpets, lighting and accessories. Staged alongside 100% Design close to the site of the new Design Museum, it is the latest addition to the West Kensington area’s burgeoning design offer. LuxuryMade will bring together a selection of the best manufacturers including such distinguished names as Lasvit, Cassina, Poltrona Frau and Zimmer & Rhode, in the unique setting of Olympia’s Pillar Halls, parts of which have been hidden from public view for over 20 years.

Decorex International, Syon Park, 18-21 September, 2016

The ambassadors for Decorex 2016. Image courtesy of London Design Festival

Decorex International will again be held in the historic grounds of Syon Park. Over the course of four days, visitors will have the opportunity to see new collections from more than 400 exhibitors, showcasing the latest designs from furniture, lighting, fabrics, wallpapers and decorative accessories to flooring, kitchens, bathrooms, tableware and bedding. 

Decorex International sees the return of ‘Future Heritage’, its acclaimed feature that exhibits work by some of the leading names in British craft and showcases new materials and techniques. Curated again by renowned design and applied arts critic, Corinne Julius, ‘Future Heritage’ has been widely credited with raising the profile of craft in the interior. Especially for 2016, this select group of 14 makers will be presenting new work and processes that can be commissioned by interior designers and architects for use in their projects, such as lighting, flooring, and textiles.

Twisted landscape by Emma Jeffs. Image courtesy of London Design Festival

Renowned British furniture designer, Tim Gosling, is curating the main entrance at this year’s Decorex International. Embracing this year’s show theme, ‘The Roots of Design’, Tim will be constructing a spectacular exhibition called ‘The Heritage of Chair Making’ that documents the links between interior design, architecture and the exceptional heritage of British craftsmanship through the ages. Working with the historic collections from the Victoria and Albert Museum and The Frederick Parker Collection, Tim will be asking twelve leading British visual creators including Paul Smith, Jasper Conran and James Dyson, to choose their favourite piece and why it speaks to them. 

The popular Champagne Bar is being designed by 1508 London while designer Suzy Hoodless is curating the VIP Lounge, in association with House & Garden. Tuesday 20 September will be the dedicated consumer day when Decorex welcomes the general public to explore the show and its unrivalled offering, including a pop-up food market, a chance to indulge in luxury street food from some of London’s rising stars in the food industry, interactive feature areas, as well as the popular champagne bar and restaurant.

Designjunction, King's Cross, 22-25 September, 2016

Image © Ruth Ward. Image courtesy of London Design Festival

Celebrating its sixth year, Designjunction returns this September taking up residence in an exciting new home in King’s Cross with a programme of design exhibitions, installations, retail experience, events and workshops based upon the theme, ‘Immersed in Design’. Designjunction is also working closely with the King’s Cross Development and Central Saint Martins, UAL on this year’s event. 

A strong line-up of UK and international design brands – both established and emerging – have been confirmed to take part and Transport for London will also return to the show launching three new collaborations. Against the spectacular backdrop of King’s Cross, participating brands will be present across four main exhibitions: Cubitt House, The Canopy, Granary Square and The Crossing. 

Design House Stockholm -Greenhouse front. Image courtesy of London Design Festival

Cubitt House, the main trade destination, will feature the best in contemporary lighting in a dedicated area called lightjunction, as well as furniture and accessories from leading international design brands. The centrally-located Granary Square will be populated with 10 purpose-built, Monopoly-style houses, showcasing headline projects and installations filled with immersive design concepts. 

Leading online platform for home design and renovation, Houzz, will also offer free design clinics to show visitors in its custom coloured ‘green’ house. The Canopy, located outside Waitrose, will be a temporary pop-up venue for 60 premium retail brands, selling everything from fashion accessories to technology, textiles and stationery.

The Crossing, running through Central Saint Martins, will house specially commissioned projects including an immersive installation from lighting brand, Tala. Both Granary Square and The Crossing will remain accessible to the public throughout the show. In addition to the four main exhibitions, designjunction will present a special project, ‘Dyslexic Design’, to celebrate the positive benefits of dyslexia. Curated by designer Jim Rokos to support the British Dyslexia Association, this new initiative will showcase selected designers’ works from across different disciplines including product, fashion, illustration, architecture and fine art.

Focus/16, Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour, 18-23 September, 2016

Focus16 at Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour. Image courtesy of London Design Festival

Focus/16 is a leading event for designers, architects and style-seekers, with a diversity of international brands offering inspiring and creative ideas for luxury in interiors. Hosted by Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour, Focus/16 will present 120 international exhibitors, providing the ultimate platform for established brands and new names to present the best in global talent as well as product launches from over 600 international brands. 

New initiatives to this year’s programme include perspectives on the power of art in interiors, alongside innovative food and dining additions. With 100+ events in six days, visitors will be able to participate in talks, demonstrations and workshops, join design trails and engage with the industry’s top creatives, influencers and big thinkers. An all-star line-up is promised at the Conversations in Designs sessions with leading names including Patrizia Moroso, Ben Pentreath, Max Rollitt, Charlotte di Caraci, Ashley Hicks, Natalia Miyar, Alidad and Neisha Crosland (with more to be announced) offering privileged insights into their world of design.

Visitors will be given behind-the-scenes insights from tastemakers at a raft of Access All Areas showroom sessions. Perfect for design-lovers who are fascinated by the narrative – how a product comes about, what materials are used, where they are sourced and how they are made – they will showcase maker expertise and skilled techniques, as well as offer meet the designer sessions, informal Q&As and panel discussions to exchange ideas. KLC School of Design will host design workshops on subjects including everyday sustainability and design psychology while artisans will show their craftsmanship skills at informal demonstrations. 

Visitors will be able to discover the latest design directions at the show by joining a daily champagne curated tour. As a hub of many forms of artistic expression, Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour will unveil bespoke installations and imaginative pop-ups. A highlight will be ‘The Power of Art in Interiors’, a contemporary art exhibition, chosen by leading luminaries leading design luminaries including Kit Kemp, Carden Cunietti, David Collins Studio, William Yeoward, Karen Howes and Mark Smith (more to be announced), and curated specially for the show by Sophie Hastings, GQ Art Editor. Jo Malone London will offer complimentary hand massages to revive and there will be several new food and dining innovations including a specially commissioned pop-up restaurant.

London Design Fair, Truman Brewery, 22-25 September, 2016

London Design Fair entrance 2015. Image © Sophie Mutevelian

10 years in the making Tent London and Super Brands London will return to Truman Brewery in East London as the London Design Fair. For the first time, the fair hosts not two but three floors of design, showcasing 250 independent designers and studios, 200 global brands and 15 country gallery showcases. 

With a strong international element, launching new brands and designers to the UK market through its 15 country pavilions such as 100% Norway has become a key element of the Fair. This year the fair has invited India as guest country to unveil the best of its contemporary design in “This Is India”. New country showcases will include, China, Portugal and Switzerland.

Another of the London Design Fair’s most exciting new initiatives is Trentino Collaborations, which directly connects four British designers with four Trentino - based manufacturers to create new collections which will be launched at the fair. Max Lamb is producing granite furniture with a quarry company, and Sebastian Cox is working with hard wood rather than green wood to create a wall shelving system. Lucy Kurrein is designing a leather sofa collection and Giles Miller will take his first foray into natural stone tiles. 

This year will also see the launch of the British Craft Pavilion at the fair in partnership with the Crafts Council which will include 25 British makers on stands, A Craft Store and feature exhibition Nature Lab first seen this year at Design Miami/ Basel. The 10X10 installation at London Design Fair celebrates the successful career paths of exhibitors who launched at the Fair over the last ten years. Each will present the first piece they showed as well as their latest work. 

With a growing trade focus the London Design Fair has introduced 2 trade only days and two trade and consumer days (24 and 25 September).

Continually updated Festival details are published at London Design Festival website. The official guide to the London Design Festival 2016 will be distributed across London in early September.

Top image: 100% Design 2015. Image © Sophie Mutevelian

> via londondesignfestival.com