Despite all the challenges this year, London Design Festival returns (12-20 September) and the Architecture Design Fashion team at the British Council selects a few of the festival’s highlights.

Unsurprisingly, there are lots of online events and exhibitions, but some face-to-face events are also listed. Detailed programme information can be found on the individual project links below.

Connected

Online - 11 September-12 October 2020 

Connected is an experiment set out to explore how designers and craftsmen adapt their working practices during lockdown. Nine international designers have been challenged to create a table and seating, which will suit their new ways of working from and living at home. They will also record their creative journeys to allow us to witness how they approach the brief and develop their thoughts, sketches and ideas during these challenging times. 

There, Here, Nowhere: Dwelling at the Edge of the World

193 Piccadilly, St James's W1J 9EU - 12-15 and 17-20 September 2020

The Koppel Project launches its newest event and exhibition space, The Koppel Project Exchange with the exhibition 'There, Here, Nowhere: Dwelling At The Edge of The World' curated by Adeola Ayoola. The exhibition explores the notion of diasporic identity and the situation of cultural production by African Diasporic artists in the West. 

Live at the Looms by Anthropologie

Online - 16 September 2020

Anthropologie King’s Road Gallery is collaborating with one of its artisans, Coral and Hive, the ethical female-owned rug company based just outside of Cape Town. Guests will get the chance to view an exclusive virtual tour of the factory and to meet head weaver, Nazeema Solomons.

This event is free to attend but you will have the option to give a voluntary donation to registered charity The Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust, to support young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.

MSCTY EXPO by MUSICITY

Online - 12-20 September 2020

MSCTY EXPO is a new digital meeting-place of architecture and sound art, presenting visions of the future through architectural concepts and corresponding sonic pieces. Presenting architectural visions in dialogue with specially commissioned sound pieces, MSCTY EXPO explores the links between architecture and music. 

The Hothouse by Studio Weave

Redman Place, International Quarter London E20 1JQ - 12-20 September 2020

London-based architecture practice Studio Weave have created Hothouse, a large-scale installation located at International Quarter London (IQL), right outside the soon-to-be new British Council headquarters. The structure of the Hothouse is reminiscent of a Victorian glasshouse and will provide a controlled habitat for cultivating plants that would not ordinarily grow within the UK’s climate. 

Food by The Circular Design Project by SAP, The Ellen MacArthur Foundation & London Design Festival

Online - 18 September 2020

This session will focus on Food and the urgent need to shift towards a regenerative food system based on circular principles, with contributions from some of the world’s largest brands and independent designers who have the Circular Economy as central to their work.

In Conversation with Es Devlin

Online - 15 September 2020

Es Devlin is known for creating large-scale performative sculptures and environments that fuse technology and poetry. In this talk, Es will discuss the conception and execution of her past and current projects that give new meaning to structures and spaces. Es will also talk about the importance of the arts during times of crisis.

Blenheim Forge Open Workshop

229 Blenheim Grove, Peckham SE15 4QL - 17-20 September 2020

Knife-making workshop Blenheim Forge open their doors to display their most recent work alongside the processes and techniques used in the creation of their knives. 

They will also be holding demonstrations of their forging and grinding processes throughout the festival.

Globemakers Open Studio by Loraine Rutt

Arch 191, The Arches Studios, Blenheim Court, 48-50 Blenheim Grove SE15 4QL - 17-20 September 2020

Artist and Cartographer Loraine Rutt is best known for miniature porcelain Pocket Globes. For LDF2020 she is unveiling work in progress for the relaunch of 200 year old Georama Globes - an eclectic mix of centuries old analogue techniques combined with latest LIDAR data via contemporary craft processes.