The London Design Festival (15-25 September) is five this year. Mirroring the uniquely diverse nature of the London design scene, its vibrant programme of exhibitions, talks and debates, workshops and installations in public places extends right across the city at around two hundred different locations.

In an exciting partnership between the two bodies, the Festival’s Central London hub this autumn will be at Southbank Centre. Events take place from 15-25 September unless otherwise stated.

Installations

Daily

Swarovski Crystal
Palace installation

Swarovski Crystal Palace - main sponsor of The London Design Festival 2007 - will be installing a collection of spectacular chandeliers in the ballroom of the Royal Festival Hall for the duration of the Festival period. The Swarovski Crystal Palace project - now in its sixth year - is a revolutionary concept aimed at reinventing and revitalising the chandelier, one of the most evocative and emotive expressions of cut crystal. Steeped in history and heritage, redolent of 18th century splendour and candlelit intrigue, the chandelier was frozen in time, undiscovered by the design community thanks to Swarovski Crystal Palace.
Ballroom – Level 2 – Royal Festival Hall
Website: www.swarovskisparkles.com
(Photo credit: Voyage by Yves Behar for Swarovski Crystal Palace)

Size + Matter installation

The London Design Festival has developed the Size & Matter Project, which matches leading architects / designers with public venues and materials manufacturers to create a series of landmark installations with the aim of blurring the boundaries between architecture, design, engineering, sculpture and fantasy. The project will be one of the vanguards of the 2007 Festival programme, putting innovative design in front of a substantial audience as well as pushing the limitations of the materials used. Working with concrete and Corian respectively Zaha Hadid and Amanda Levete (Future Systems) will both create a one-off piece to be placed outside the Royal Festival Hall. The project promises to provide a visual spectacle to thousands of tourist and commuters that pass by daily. The two Size + Matter pieces will be sold on in the Contemporary Art sale at Phillips de Pury &Company at 4 pm on October 13, 2007 during Frieze Art Fair. Phillips dePury & Company, 9, HowickPlace, LondonSW1 (www.phillipsdepury.com).

Festival Square & Riverside Terrace – outside Royal Festival Hall

Deptford Design
Market Challenge

Collaboration between Creative Lewisham Agency, Raw Nerve and the London Design Festival, the Deptford Design Market Challenge is an exciting and ambitious venture. Transformation and Regeneration are key themes for the project that has required each designer to redesign or transform a secondhand object, bought from Deptford Market, into a new and desirable object. This collaboration aims to bring Deptford to central London through the medium of design. DDMC is managed by Creative Lewisham Agency and Raw Nerve Kindly sponsored by Galliard Homes and Creekside Village East and West
Level 2 – Royal Festival Hall
Visit the website

London Design Embassy

The London Development Agency and UK Trade & Investment present the London Design Embassy – a private members club where international buyers can socialise with the UK’s design community. A programme of business matching meetings will be staged for international buyers, manufacturers, retailers and journalists from China, India, Japan, South Korea, Russia, Taiwan, Singapore and the Gulf who want to establish valuable business relationships, and procure UK design services directly.
St Pauls Pavilion, Level 6 – Royal Festival Hall
By invitation

Information point

Come and find out about the Festival programme within and beyond Southbank Centre. Our team will be able to provide information, guidance and ideas on how to make the most of the London Design Festival 2007.
Level 2 / Foyer – Royal Festival Hall

Press Office

Dedicated space for members of the press with meeting and briefing space, on-line facilities and a dedicated press team.
Sunley Pavilion, Level 3 – Royal Festival Hall
17-21 September