Feature
London Design
Focus
100% Design
2019 marks the 25th anniversary
of 100% design, one of the UK’s
leading and long-established design
trade events. The show featured
over 400 exhibitors as well as a talks
programme featuring some of the
biggest names across architecture
and design, including David Rockwell
and Marcel Wander.
The show also introduced Design
London, a 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
launched the Sage Collection by
David Rockwell.
In addition there was a specially
built eco log house, A Sense of
Finland, presenting a selection
of Finnish furniture, products and
lighting focused around sustainability,
wellbeing and healthy living
environments.
In addition, 100% Design built a
new feature called Detail London,
showcasing the latest, high-end
contemporary soft furnishings and
wall coverings from international
design companies. The entrance
featured Design Fresh, a celebration
of emerging talent and explorative
ideas selected by 100% Design and
Barbara Chandler, design editor of
Homes & Property at the London
Evening Standard.
Outside the venue entrance, Kirkby
Design were showcasing a disused
tube carriage which had been
renovated in pastel blue and pink.
40 — October
EN visited some of the key trade events
taking place during the 17th edition of
London Design Festival. The Festival,
London’s second biggest event, is
expected to build on 588,200 visitors,
from over 75 countries, that attended the
event in 2018
King’s Cross Design
District (Featuring
designjunction)
New to this year’s
London Design Festival
was the King’s Cross
Design District, situated
in and around the newly
developed Coal Drops
Yard retail space.
Coal Drops Yard is a
haven for upmarket
design studios and
cafes, and also played
host to Samsung KX
– a concept store that
could be a glimpse into
the future of physical
retail.
Regular events in the
space provide another
reason to return, as
the focus of bricks-
and-mortar shopping
shifts away from selling
physical items (which
is increasingly done
online) and more to
experiential brand
development.
Design trade show
designjunction also set
up shop in the area.
Among the exhibitors
who impressed here
were the Scandinavian
minimalism of Icons of
Denmark, and organic
light fixtures from
BEEM.
Other attractions
included designer
led (RE)ACT, CUBITT
HOUSE, a dedicated
trade destination, THE
CANOPY with 70 pop-
up shops, RADO STAR
PRIZE, showcasing
cutting‑edge pieces
by the next generation
of British designers
and talks programme
covering dyslexia and
design and wellness.
Highlights include
installations with
Steuart Padwick and
pop-up encounters by
Lois O’Hara and Keech
Design.
London Design Fair
Located in East London, the London Design
fair is a four-day event that brings together
550 Exhibitors from over 40 countries. The
event says it attracts over 29,000 influential
retail buyers, architects, interior designers,
press, designers and design-conscious
members of the public, where visitors can
see the latest furniture, lighting, textiles,
Focus/19
For six days, Focus/19 at Design
Centre, Chelsea Harbour, welcomed
trade professionals and design
enthusiasts. The organiser explained,
that there were more product
launches and showroom openings
than previous years, alongside
talks, demonstrations, workshops,
discovery tours and guest pop-ups.
In all, 120 showrooms and 600-plus
international brands got involved in
the event. A series of curated talks
called Conversations In Design,
featured panel discussions, including;
David Mlinaric, Anthony Collett,
Andrzej Zarzycki, Andrew Winch,
Paolo Moschino, Staffan Tollg.rd,
Luke Edward Hall, Flora Soames,
Bryan O’Sullivan, Anna Beeber, Nick
Ashley-Cooper and Charu Gandhi.
In addition, visitors were able to
mix with international designers
including Belgian architect Vincent
Van Duysen, fashion designer Paul
Costelloe and Italian architect Andrea
Bonini.
materials and conceptual installations.
The event featured a collection of designs
from 11 countries, a bathroom gallery in
collaboration with Elle Decoration and a
pop-up stand, featuring 40 designers, by
design bloggers Design Milk. The event also
featured a number of international pavilions
including Irthi (UAE), Italy, Denmark, Portugal
and Hungary.