Get set for a more diverse and interactive London Design Festival this year

There is surely no excuse for designers in London not to get out of the studio next week and sample some creative events. It isn’t often we get the chance of informal ’professional development’ offered by the London Design Festival – and many of the activities are free.

The LDF and the new Anti Design Festival promise a mix of events across the capital. The graphics community can be assured that it isn’t just about furniture and lighting this time, with traditional furniture fests 100% Design and Tent London diversifying – partly in response to economic constraints – and moving towards digital installations, artefacts and accessories.

Most significant is the dramatic increase in graphics and moving image this year and the opportunity to participate. This is largely through the ADF – the slightly subversive brainchild of Neville Brody, which, if he pulls it off, should build on the legacy of Pick Me Up, the outstanding print show curated by Claire Catterall at Somerset House earlier this year. It could help regain London’s standing as a centre of graphics excellence and experimentation, rather than just a hub for the international furniture trade.

The main LDF continues to broaden its graphics content. Pentagram has again created branding and posters for the festival and Michael Johnson of Johnson Banks has designed tour maps for the Victoria & Albert Museum, the LDF’s headquarters (see News, page 3). These tours are not to be confused with the 26 Treasures V&A trails organised by writers’ collective 26 with contributions from poet Andrew Motion and others.

Ahead of last year’s LDF, chairman Sir John Sorrell said creativity generally thrives in a downturn. Double-dip recession notwithstanding, this year’s LDF looks set to be inspiring and fun.

We’ll be blogging throughout the week on the highs and lows of the LDF. Contact us to contribute to that coverage – lyndark@centaur.co.uk or laura.snoad@centaur.co.uk.

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