5 design things to look out for in January

Exhibition: Adventures in Moominland

What: Take a trip back to childhood and explore illustrator and author Tove Jansson’s colourful world of The Moomins. This exhibition – based at London’s Southbank Centre – is an interactive experience exploring seven magical settings that inspired the Finnish children’s book series, which began in 1945. These exhibition spaces explore both real-life and fictional locations, including depictions of Nordic landscapes and a recreation of Tove’s own illustration studio, through to the make-believe forests of Moominvalley. There is also a chance to see archival material never-before exhibited in the UK, including illustrations, three-dimensional models and letters and personal items from Tove’s studio.

When: Until 23 April 2017.

Where: Yellow Room, Level One, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Rd, Lambeth, London SE1 8XX.

Info: Tickets cost £15 for adults and £12 for children. For more info, head to the Southbank Centre site.

Talk: Telling Stories

What: Delve into the lives and careers of experienced and inspirational designers Jim Sutherland and Craig Oldham in this talk. Sutherland, founderof Hat-trick Design and Studio Sutherl&, is behind copious Royal Mail stamp sets, and rebrands for institutions such as the National History Museum and Prostate Cancer UK. Yorkshire-based Craig Oldham, founder of Office of Craig, is a writer, designer and D&AD board member who designs everything from brands and books to websites and exhibitions. Both designers will be chatting about their personal, self-initiated projects.

When: 7-9pm, 18 January 2017.

Where: The Arnolfini, 16 Narrow Quay, Bristol BS1 4QA.

Info: Tickets are £12 or £10 concessions. For more info, head to the Arnolfini’s website.

Book: The Story of the Design Museum

What: 2016 marked a pivotal year for London’s Design Museum, as it moved from Shad Thames to the site of the former Commonwealth Institute on High Street Kensington, which is three times the size of its last location. The book, published by Phaidon, looks at the museum’s 25 years of life, going back to where it all started in 1981 in a small, unused space within the basement of the Victoria and Albert (V&A) museum. The book begins with a foreword by Design Museum founder Sir Terence Conran, and concludes with an essay from the museum’s architect, John Pawson, alongside imagery of the new building.

When: Pre-orders available now. Books will be shipped from 30 January.

Where: Phaidon’s website.

Info: Cover price is £9.95.

Museum tour: Craft Unravelled: Hipsters & Heritage

What: While the UK’s creative sector has been revelling in the opening of the new Design Museum, there’s still much to learn about some of the nation’s other design centres. This 20-minute talk and tour of the Manchester Craft & Design Centre will delve into the organisation’s history, looking at how the building transitioned from a fish market, founded in 1873, to the hub of contemporary art and craft that it is today.

When: 1.30pm, 25 January 2017.

Where: Ground floor, Manchester Craft & Design Centre, 17 Oak St, Manchester M4 5JD.

Info: This event is free. No booking is required, just turn up. For more info, head to the Manchester Craft & Design Centre site.

Exhibition: 3D Printing: The Good, The Bad and The Beautiful

What: 3D printing has moved from the niche and professional to the mainstream in the last few years, with many affordable, consumer 3D printers now available. This exhibition explores the possibilities, ethics and future of the craft, assessing issues such as how the process changes the role of the designer, its effects on medicine and what mass production means for authenticity. In partnership with the University of Lincoln, the exhibition includes light, sound and touch elements to make it more accessible for visually or aurally impaired visitors.

When: 28 January – 23 April 2017

Where: The National Centre for Craft & Design, Navigation Wharf, Carre St, Sleaford NG34 7TW.

Info: Entry is free. For more info, head to the National Centre for Craft & Design’s website.