Mathieu Lehanneur. Image from designboom.com
Every year the London Design Festival only furthers the UK capital’s position as a major contender in the world of design. The event came to a close last week, and during its run there were a few trends we noticed time and time again. Read below for a round-up of the design motifs making buzz in 2016.
Relaxing public spaces
Asif Khan. Image from telegraph.co.uk
Utilising nature to evoke a sense of calm into London’s busy community, Asif Khan created an installation where commuters, office workers and stressed out students could stop and unwind. Built as a collaboration with MINI, the forest-themed work was located in the bustling district of Shoreditch and featured three box-like rooms. Khan, who was inspired by the Japanese idea of shinrin-yoku (forest bathing), encouraged visitors to use the space as a base for socialising and working in order to increase harmony in the city.
Another installation that injected positivity into the capital is Mathieu Lehanneur’s work “Liquid Marble”. The French designer replicated the motion of the ocean using black marble and 3D printing, with the intent to “bring water to a place where there is none” and “to create a contemplative experience.”
Wholesome Minimalist
Jasper Morrison. Image from surfacemag.com
Labelled the “finest design-led European furniture and lighting company”, Viaduct hosted an exhibition to showcase the best in contemporary lighting and furniture. Located at the Clerkenwell Design Quarter, the display offered a collection of minimal designs such as the revolutionary “Tube Chair” by Joe Colombo as well as Jasper Morrison’s newly launched “Superloon Floor Lamp”.
Elsewhere in the fair, Nina Tolstrup and Jack Mama presented a 13-square-metres house, proving that limited space does not have to mean limited design. Minimal furniture was integrated to create a space that appeared larger than its actual size.
A LDF regular, furniture mogul Jasper Morrison collaborated with Barber and Osgerby for a joint project featuring contemporary homewares. Shown at Sir John Soane’s Museum, this awe-inspiring space was opened to the public for its first time ever.
Pocket-friendly pieces
Lucy Foakes. Images from galleryten.co.uk
A perfect example of everyday design can be seen in an artists’ ability to mould and shape basic utensils. Geffrye Museum’s “Ceramics in the City” displayed the work of 50 potters with a range of artisanal bowls, pots and mugs. Much more than average crockery, these works of art served as an affordable way of taking home excellent design objects.
Lucy Foakes’ range “Pop Craft” took influence from ancient Egyptian ceramics and mixed in icons from popular culture. Her Kurt Cobain urn, which exemplifies this concept, provided an unusual addition to any Nirvana fan’s collection of memorabilia.
For design objects with a bit more practicality, Ben Davies’ marbled ceramic bowls and Katharina Klug’s hand-painted porcelain vases were highlights not regretted.
For more info visit London Design Festival