Liverpool Design Festival

Liverpool Design Festival opens today, a four day conflation of all things design and fashion.

At the node between the two disciplines  is a commissioned collaboration between photographer Matt Ford and founder of fashion brand Love Mode, Matthew More. Photographs become graphic prints and finally a t-shirt collection to be showcased at Parr Studios.

Other commissions include illustration by Lucy Wilson, noted for  precise natural botanic and often symmetrical shapes, plus photography by Michael Boorah exploring nature’s fightback against man-made structures.

This year’s design highlights fall mainly under Design Show, initiated for exhibitors in furniture, ceramics, lighting and jewellery. On display in the St George’s Hall, select pieces have also been drawn together for John Lewis’ Liverpool One store window displays.

Hand blown glass and bone china Curiousa and Curiousa lamps designed by Estha Patterson will be on display. Grounded in graphic design, Patterson is also returning to her roots with new surface patterns for fabric.

Big names like jewellery types Tatty Devine – which has set up a make-your-own workshop – are joined at the show by last year’s junior successes. One such being Kirsty Hull -a furniture designer and upholsterer who uses embroided fabrics to resurrect old furniture, or using new mahogany frames, which she also makes.

Mapping the city by design is the Design Trail, which covers city centre photography, furniture and fashion, heading right out to the suburbs of Crosby and Kirby for exhibitions, installations and textiles.

Anyone doing this might also want to take in Open Studios which allows you to drop in on the likes of Black and Ginger, Smiling Wolf and Uniform.

There’s also a chance to see work by the city’s bright young things. This year Design Stars will commend work by school children who have worked to briefs set by Ilsa Parry, Rachel Taylor and Richard Boon on products, video games and surface patterns.

Liverpool Design Festival is held from 6-9 October at multiple venues across Liverpool.  For more information go to www.liverpooldesignfestival.com