5 design things to look out for in January 2018

Exhibition: 20 years of Penguin Essentials

What: Publisher Penguin is known for its history of inspiring and imaginative book covers, and print design enthusiasts can see a colourful and varied array of them at a new exhibition opening this month. This year marks the 20th anniversary of book series Penguin Essentials – featuring modern classics such as A Clockwork Orange and Animal Farm – and to celebrate the Ditchling Museum of Art and Craft will showcase 100 designs from the collection. This features an eclectic selection of commissioned artists, graphic and fashion designers, illustrators and tattooists, who have all previously created covers. Get ready for a visual feast, curated by Penguin Essentials art director John Hamilton.

Where: Ditchling Museum of Art and Craft, Lodge Hill Lane, Ditchling, East Sussex BN6 8SP.

When: 6 January – 29 April 2018.

Info: Entry is free. For more info, head to the Ditchling Museum of Art and Craft’s site.

Awards: Beazley Designs of the Year 2017 winners

What: Every year since 2008, awards scheme Beazley Designs of the Year aims to celebrate the best of the design world from the last 12 months. The Design Museum showcases the shortlist of the awards in the form of an exhibition, celebrating 60 global projects across six categories of architecture, digital, fashion, graphics, product and transport. This year’s line-up included the likes of design studio Smörgåsbord’s new brand identity for Wales, and the Pussyhat, the pink woolly hat that became a powerful tool for protest against Donald Trump and sexism. At the end of January, the winners of each category, and an overall winner, will be announced, so keep an eye on the Design Museum site. In the meantime, pay a visit to the Design Museum’s show to see the frontrunners, which is on until mid-February.

Where: Design Museum, 224-238 Kensington High Street, Kensington, London W8 6AG.

When: Winners will be announced on 25 January 2018. Exhibition runs until 18 February 2018.

Info: Winners will be announced online, and tickets to the exhibition cost £10 or £7.50 for concessions. For more info, head to the Design Museum’s site.

Book: Design. Think. Make. Break. Repeat.

What: In recent years, the use of the term “design thinking” has become increasingly more common. Specifically, it’s the idea of having certain systems and methods in place in order to foster a more creative environment and so create more effective services and products. The concept is being employed by more and more professions outside of the world of design. A new book set to be released by Dutch publisher Bis Publishers is a neat, concise handbook detailing 60 methods used to design new products or services. Written by Dr Martin Tomitsch and Dr Cara Wrigley, two design professors at The University of Sydney, the handbook brings together techniques and tools used across many disciplines, including product, service, interaction and user experience (UX) design.

Where: Available to order online worldwide.

When: Due to be published 30 January 2018.

Info: The book costs €29.90 (£26.60) via Bis Publishers’ site.

Conference: The International Consumer Electronics Show (CES)

What: The renowned, annual exhibition and conference is back this month, showcasing what’s new in the world of technology and digital products. Taking place in Las Vegas once again, you can expect announcements and launches in areas such as smart home products and wearables, artificial intelligence (AI), robotics and self-driving cars. A talks programme will also feature an array of speakers, including Anita Sengupta, a systems engineer at Hyperloop. If you’re not lucky enough to make a trip to Vegas this month, look out for Design Week’s coverage of trends and announcements following the event.

Where: Las Vegas Convention Centre, 3150 Paradise Road, Las Vegas, Nevada, US.

When: 9-12 January 2018.

Info: For more info on costs and registration, head to the CES site.

Talks programme: The Risk Society

What: A one-day symposium at London’s Design Museum will explore design’s role as a tool for change and addressing global issues. Based on this year’s Beazley Designs of the Year theme, which was how design is responding to global risks, a series of speakers will address how the discipline can help tackle social, economic and political problems such as globalisation and the migrant crisis.

Where: Design Museum, 224-238 Kensington High Street, Kensington, London W8 6AG.

When: 11am-5pm, 27 January 2018.

Info: Tickets cost £40 full-price, £30 for members and £25 for concessions. For more info and a full list of speakers, head to Design Museum’s site.