Whatever your designs were, Shoreditch will be a destination of choice in September when it will be overflown by events during the London Design Festival. For the 10th consecutive year, the festival will cast the spotlight on London for a week (14-22 September) aiming at promoting the city’s creativity. And where could it be more effervescent than in cutting-edge Shoreditch? Artists. Retailers, cafes, galleries will all be displaying their works and welcome visitors in an attempt to prove why the area has notoriously become the epicentre of contemporary art and design.
As it might prove difficult to even know where to start, here are the three core events that should be on your list.
1. Tent London and Super Brands
With over 190 exhibitors, Tent London comes back to the Old Truman Brewery. It promises that going there we will “Discover the Best of Home Grown & Overseas Talent”. More established brands such as Edra or Ginger & Jagger will be present as part of the Super Brands section of the event. However, I am more intrigued by the Country Showcases that will give an opportunity to see the work of younger designers coming to London from Norway, China, Hungary or Ireland to give but a few examples.
19-22 September
http://www.tentlondon.co.uk
Tickets: £10
20% off tickets if purchased online before 13 September.
2. Shoreditch Design Triangle
Gathering 50 participants, the Shoreditch Design Triangle comes back to the area for the fifth consecutive year. With offerings ranging from portrait photography to urban gardens via up-cycled furniture it promises to be quite comprehensive. If nothing else, the map of the locations that are taking part to the event is a keeper pointing out lots of Shoreditch store, restaurants and café you may want to visit any week of the year.
14-22 September
http://www.shoreditchdesigntriangle.com
3. Clerkenwell Design Quarter
Clerkenwell being in itself a design district, the event gets my vote thanks to the walking tours of with designer and historian Jane Young. The first one will focus on Artisanal Clerkenwell (http://artisanalclerkenwell.eventbrite.co.uk )(19 September) and the second on Architectural Clerkenwell (http://architecturalclerkenwell.eventbrite.co.uk) (22 September).
14-22 September 2013
http://www.clerkenwelldesignquarter.co.uk
Text by Reine Okuliar
www.reinesnotebook.com
www.artegp.com
