Melek Zeynep Bulut, “Duo”, Royal Naval College, London Design Festival 2024. Photo: Courtesy of London Design Festival

From September 14 to 20, 2024, the London Design Festival (LDF) returns to celebrate “creativity, innovation, and the power of design to shape our world,” with a spotlight on international talents. Supported by the Mayor of London and Bloomberg Philanthropies, the Festival will span the city across its 11 Design Districts, each featuring a mix of fairs, panels, workshops, and exhibitions hosted by London’s most prestigious cultural institutions.

While highlighting the diversity and dynamism of global design, the Festival will also showcase London’s vital role as a hub of creativity as it once again connects design veterans and influential brands with the next generation of emerging talents.

Diez Office and AHEC (in collaboration with OMC°C), “Vert”, 2024. Image: Courtesy of London Design Festival

One of the standout projects in the festival program is “Vert,” which will be presented at the Parade Ground at Chelsea College of Art. In collaboration with the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC), industrial design studio Diez Office teamed up with agricultural microclimate experts OMC°C to create the project, proposing an innovative architectural solution to cool cities and boost urban biodiversity. The structure, crafted from American red oak, forms a biodegradable framework housing around 20 plant species. In addition to supporting local biodiversity and enriching the urban environment, the structure will offer a sheltered space for Festival visitors to gather and relax.

This year, the Festival will feature an installation from Turkey. “Duo,” created by designer and artist Melek Zeynep Bulut, will be displayed within the iconic Painted Hall at the Royal Naval College, creating a “space within a space.” Rather than interpreting duality as opposition, this suspended installation invites visitors to explore the concept as a pathway to unity, dialogue, and reconciliation. The installation’s spatial flow and rhythm are altered by human presence, transforming it into a stage for encounters and performances.

Craft x Tech Tohoku Project, Sendai Tansu x Studio SWINE, “Metropolis. I”, 2024. Photo: Courtesy of London Design Festival

An exciting public project in the Festival is being carried out by Power Out of Restriction (POoR Collective), in partnership with Battersea Power Station. The installation, which will be designed through workshops involving students and young people from Wandsworth, will be on display in Turbine Hall A at Battersea Power Station for the duration of the Festival.

Craft x Tech is another project commissioned for the Festival. Launched in Japan this past May, the project bridges traditional Japanese craftsmanship with contemporary technology. A group of designers and artists will showcase their reimagined interpretations of centuries-old crafts at an exhibition in the Prince Consort’s Gallery of the V&A.

Liang-Jung Chen, “Emerging Designer Commission: Origins”, V&A, 2024. Photo: Courtesy of V&A and London Design Festival

As part of the Festival, the V&A will host a series of contemporary installations throughout its galleries. These installations, including “Communion” by designer Giles Tettey Nartey—a sculptural table that delves into Ghanaian culture, cuisine, and household rituals—and “Un-Hide: Reframing Luxury”—an interactive seating series by design studio Modular by Mensah exploring leather’s evolving role in contemporary design and its potential as a sustainable material of the future—offer visitors a unique look into cultures across the globe while experiencing firsthand how design shapes space.

Material Matters Fair, 2023. Photo: Sophie Mutevelian; Courtesy of materialmatters.design and London Design Festival

One of the Festival’s flagship events, the Material Matters Fair, will be held at Oxo Tower Wharf's Bargehouse from September 18 to 21.

Bringing together brands, designers, makers, manufacturers, and users from across the globe, the fair will once again highlight the latest trends in design with its five floors of products, site-specific installations, a marketplace, a learning area, and an extensive talks program.

The Global Design Forum, tackling the most pressing and urgent issues in the field, will be hosted by the V&A this year. With over 60 speakers from the global community of designers and creatives, the daily sessions will share insights on accessibility, inclusivity, and sustainability for the future of design.

For more information about the Festival’s program, visit the official website of the London Design Festival.