[1][2] London Design Festival is a citywide design event that takes place over nine days every September across London.[3] It was conceived by Sir John Sorrell and Ben Evans CBE in 2003 and celebrated its 20th edition in September 2022.[4]
In an article by Wallpaper, the festive chairman [5] stated, "We consciously founded the London Design Festival to be public spirited. Over the last 20 years, the Festival has had incredible depth of penetration and success in bringing people together and distilling new ideas.".[6]
The Festival is made up of over 400 events and exhibitions staged by over 300 partner organisations across the design spectrum and from around the world.[7] The Festival also commissions and curates its own program of Landmark Projects, Projects at the Victoria and Albert Museum and Special Commissions throughout the city.[8]
The Festival annually attracts a direct audience of over 600,000 visitors from over 75 countries.[9] On average over 2,000 design businesses participate each year including brands and universities.
The Festival also has events including its though-leadership programme the Global Design Forum,[10] talks, keynotes, daily tours, and workshops. In 2019 it had 50 speakers[11] from 18 countries and 2,800 visitors.
The Festival commissions and curates large-scale installations across the city in indoor and outdoor locations. The installations are developed and shown during the Festival, with many later being shown in other cities or locations in following months or years. Working with businesses and designers, previous Landmark Projects have included SclerabyDavid Adjaye (2008), Endless Stair by Alex de Rijke (2013),[12] The Smile by Alison Brooks Architects (2016),[13]Medusa by Tin Drum and Sou Foujimoto (2021),[14] and INTO SIGHTbySony Design (2022).[15]
[edit]London Design Medal Winners 2018: Hussein Chalayan, Eva Jiricna and Grace Wales Bonner pictured with London Design Festival Co-Founders Sir John Sorrell and Ben Evans. Not pictured is Neri Oxman.
Each year a jury composed of established designers, industry commentators and previous winners choose recipients of the London Design Medals across four categories. Winners are chosen from a wide range of design disciplines and awarded for their contribution to their field.[16]
The London Design Medal categories include:
London Design Medal: The highest accolade bestowed upon an individual who has distinguished themselves within the industry and demonstrated consistent design excellence.
Design Innovation Medal: Celebrates entrepreneurship in all its forms, both locally and internationally. It honours an individual for whom design lies at the core of their development and success.
Emerging Talent Medal: Recognises an impact made on the design scene within five or so years of graduation.
Lifetime Achievement Medal: Honours a significant and fundamental contribution to the design industry over the course of a career.
Festival Director Ben Evens stated “While there is no shortage of design awards, we wanted to do it differently. So we took the Nobel Prize route – there’s no shortlist, just a winner. So that means there’s no losers either.”[17]
The London Design Medal is designed each year by jewellery designer Hannah Martin. The Medals feature a London bird, the Cockney Sparrow, in flight.
