Things to see and do at London Design Festival 2022

Exhibition: Yinka Ilori: Parables of Happiness

Yinka Ilori returns to London Design Festival this year with an exhibition reflecting on the strong Nigerian diaspora-influences he grew up with in London. Featuring African fabrics from his childhood and bright geometric shapes, Ilori’s exhibition will bring his signature combination of playful colour and pattern to the Design Museum while also commenting on British post-modernism.

This free exhibition will take place from 10:00 till 18:00 on 17-25 September at The Design Museum, 224-238 Kensington High Street, London, W8 6AG

Presentation: International Pavilions at Design London

From Denmark and Portugal to Thailand and Korea, designers worldwide will come together for this curated series of pavilions. Visitors can expect talks on the history of Danish design and an insight into Thailand’s new BCG (bio-circular-green) business model, which is committed to sustainability. Thailand’s Sustainability Heroes – a group of 12 designers of furniture & home decoration from Thailand’s 50 BCG Heroes campaign – will also be showcased.

This free presentation runs 21-24 September from 10:00 till 21:00 on the first day, 10:00 till 17:00 on the following two days and 10:00-16:00 on the final day at Magazine London, 11 Ordnance Crescent, Greenwich Peninsula, London, SE10 0JH.

Workshop: Beautifully sustainable – design practices that lead brands of tomorrow

With the aim of giving visitors a deeper understanding of sustainability in production, this workshop will address questions on what sustainable design is across product and packaging, how circular economy practices can be implemented, and how to measure sustainability. Nirvana CPH will run the workshop, drawing on its 20 years of experience as a creative house with its own material space.

This workshop runs from 10:30 till 12:30 on 20-22 September at Nirvana Creative Production House, Unit 8 Waterside, 44-48 Wharf Road, London, N1 7UX. Tickets cost £50 and can be bought at Eventbrite.

Exhibition: Sanne Visser

In response to Brompton Design District’s theme – Make yourself at home – Studio Sanne Visser have created Extended, a new series of eight custom designed mirrors. Designed using human hair rope and recycled mirror glass, the mirrors seek to invoke the sense of comfort and belonging that people might experience when getting a haircut. Sanne Visser chose to theme it in this way as she feels hairdressers and barbershops are usually familiar places, which we associate with relaxation and transformation. The materials used were sourced from eight barbershops and hairdressers in the Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.

This free exhibition will take place from 10:00 till 18:00 on 20-21, 23 and 25 September, from 10:00 till 21:00 on 22 September and from 10:00 till 16:00 on 26 September at Garage at 15a Cromwell Place Mews, SW7 2LA.

Demo: Design in Tech: OPPO design workshop

Smart device brand OPPO aims to explore the relationship between design and technology through an interactive demo called Design in Tech. OPPO’s intention is to use the space to discuss how younger generations of designers can express themselves in the tech industry. The 90-minute talk will feature case study discussions from an OPPO Design spokesperson and designers from top schools, who will share their insight on the topic.

This free demo will take place from 13:30 till 15:00 on 21 September at V&A Museum, Lydia and Manfred Gorvy Lecture Theatre, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 2RL. Places for this demo must be reserved.

Open studio/showroom: 3D printed designs with living organisms

Blast Studio aims to blur the lines between tech and nature with its new collection of 3D printed furniture made from London’s waste materials and living organisms. Comprising used takeaway coffee cups and waste cardboard packaging from around the city, each piece has been designed with an algorithm inspired by cross sections of tree trunks. Blast Studio also considered how the collection might accommodate living organisms, resulting in small nooks and crevasses being implemented into the designs, which are meant to house insects and plants. Visitors can expect to learn more about the studio’s craft and learning process, while getting the chance to view lamps, tables and sculptures that are for sale in the pop-up shop.

This free open studio will take place from 11:00 till 17:00 on 23-24 September and from 12:00 till 16:00 on 25 September at Blast Studio, 203 Victoria Road, North Acton, London, W3 6BT.

Exhibition: Brompton Bicycle X London Metropolitan University

In partnership with London Metropolitan University, bike manufacturer Brompton will exhibit ways in which out-of-service bicycle parts can have a second life. The project is a creative response to the city’s growing cycle-hire network and sought to engage students in circular design thinking. Designs will be displayed at the Brompton Junction store in Covent Garden.

This free exhibition will take place from 9:00 till 19:00 on 20-23 September, from 10:00 till 18:00 on 24 September, and from 12:00 till 19:00 on 25 September at Brompton Junction, 69 Long Acre, London, WC2E 9JS.

Installation: INTO SIGHT Sony Design

This year’s London Design Festival landmark project by Sony Design seeks to investigate new insights to physical and meta realities. Visitors can expect an immersive and interactive experience as they walk through this life-sized media platform installation. Sensors are designed to movement, which provokes changes in colour, light and sound. The aim is that walking through the installation will increase awareness of unexpected audio and visual dimensions.

This free ticketed exhibition will take place from 10:00 till 18:00 on 20-21 and 23-24 September, from 10:00 till 21:00 on 22 September, and from 10:00 till 16:00 on 25 September at Cromwell Place, Pavilion Gallery, 4 Cromwell Place, South Kensington, London, SW7 2JE.