7 January 2014,
Interior designer Andrew Chong gives us a first hand account of the highlights of the London Design Festival and why it is one of the most anticipated events of the year for designers.
Taking place between the 14 -22 September, the London Design Festival (LDF) is undeniably one of the most anticipated weeks of the year for designers. Featuring over 300 events across London, a few of the spots include the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) as well as Design Junction as both have the most stimulating and thought-provoking art installations as well as features.
This event allows artists and designers to communicate their art and designs to the public by getting featured in exhibitions, museums and pops up. The design festival is separated into geographic districts; Brompton Design District, Chelsea Design Quarter, Clerkenwell Design Quarter, Fitzrovia Now as well as the Shoreditch Design Triangle) and the district’s key exhibitions have become an integral part of the LDF. The events held in each ‘district’ offer an exciting mix of designers, products, talks, installations and innovations all under one roof, making it easier for visitors to experience and view them all in a short time.
While the key exhibitions were mostly at the V&A and Tate Modern museum, each and every district also had their own unique attractions. Design Junction has also now established itself as one of the largest contemporary design destinations in London, featuring more than 100 brands from leading global brands to small cutting- edge labels. The numerous LDF interactive talks and pops up were certainly one of the many highlights of the event.
On top of introducing newly designed products and materials, the LDF also highlights the innovative side of design to the public. At the festival, you can experience the creative applications of new materials in different ways or explore how designers showcase their functional designs which not only deliver beautiful aesthetics, but also enhance our lives in a functional way.
This year, the art featured at the LDF were grouped into two categories: Fine Art and Functional Art. Some designs were purely created as a prestigious art piece, aiming to stun the viewers with its beauty, like the Wind Portal at the V&A and the Endless Stairs at the Tate Modern. These installations were amazing and a catalyst for vibrant discussions but personally, I preferred the Functional Art pieces with their architecturally driven design.
Some of the exhibitions really appealed to me and I found myself inspired by the construction details of a pop up bar or the temporary structure of the exhibition and wondering how it could potentially fit into a shop or a retail environment in both a creative and functional way. For example, the exhibitors of 100% Design and Design Junction worked creatively with their unique brand of design and through their temporary installation, they made it functional, yet beautifully constructed. I was very impressed with their ideas which utilized new materials and lighting to showcase their products. Visiting the LDF has inspired me to work more creatively with new materials and surfaces.
Overall, the LDF is an amazing platform for existing as well as upcoming designers, providing opportunities for them to showcase their work. The general public also benefited greatly from the festival because they were able to experience design and discover how creative thinking is trans-disciplinary working across industries, to enhance life!
Based in London, award winning, multi-disciplinary designer. Andrew Chong currently works across several design industries, lending his creative touch to multiple agencies. Constantly seeking modern, unique ideas, Andrew strives to explore the world via contributing regularly and fantastically to the world of design.
