London Design Festival Preview – 100% Design

Now in its 18th year, the overall theme of this year’s show is Future Living. As usual the venue is split into four areas – 100% interiors, 100% office, 100% kitchens & bathrooms and 100% eco, design & build. For the first time, this year’s Internal Pavilion area will be brought together as both a curated part of the show and a stand-alone destination, aiming to make the huge space somewhat easier to navigate.

Among the countries exhibiting their design products are China, Chile, Argentina, Korea, Austria, Czech Republic, France, Hungary and Italy.

Cumbria’s artist-led design and manufacturing company Charlie Whinney Design Workshop is also making its debut with a number of steam-bent wooden design pieces.

Furniture makers Mark will be launching the lovely Verso Chair with Tomoko Azumi, named as a nod to the ‘versatility’ of the product.

This year, 100% Design has collaborated with The Furniture Makers Company to promote British Design Excellence through the Design Guild Mark, which recognises and rewards excellence in the British design of furniture in volume production. Among the 27 awarded products that will be on display are works from David Chipperfield, for the Piana Alessichair; Sebastian Conran Associates’ Aerofoil Desk & Bureau for John Lewis and Zoeftig Design Studio’s  inFINITE Seating System.

Alongside the huge array of design pieces, materials and furniture on display, the four-day seminar programme largely echoes the Future Living theme throughout its programme of talks and events.

The Design Council will be chairing and presenting a panel debate featuring Minister for Culture Ed Vaizey MP and Nick Bolton, chief executive for Oxford Metrics Ltd.

Steven Haggarty of brand consultancy Hunt Haggarty will present a session called Indo-Vation Nation, about his work in Indonesia; while Marcus Fairs of Dezeen will be in conversation with designer Yves Behar.

For the those hungry for dinner as well as design, Clerkenwell-based restaurant North Road is making its 100% Design debut, making it the first Michelin Star restaurant featured at any design event in the UK.

100% Design will also be using its new branding, developed by Shaw & Skerm, for the first time.

100% Design is open to trade from 19-22 September and to the public on 22 September at Earls Court. Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London SW5 For more information visit 100percentdesign.co.uk.