The London Design Festival returns for its 22nd year in September and runs from Saturday 14th until Sunday 22nd. The festival celebrates and promotes London as the design capital of the world, and this year, Bankside will be hosting LDF’s font chapter. Bankside will see the coming together of all London Design Festival’s typeface designers, from established names to up and coming talent, and will be running an exciting range of events (some free of charge) exploring text-based approach to design.
In addition, Bankside will be running its first LDF-inspired food and drink trail, allowing hungry designers and creatives to experience some of London’s most inspiring gastronomic offers.
Nicole Gordon, CEO of Better Bankside said; “The London Design Festival is one of the highlights of Bankside’s year. It’s celebration of the very best in design creativity is a natural fit for ‘London’s Other Side,’ whose melting pot of rebellious energy and difference is largely fuelled by the creatives who work and live here.”
Typography and font event highlights include:
Type Tasting, Citizen M, Bankside, 7:00pm- 8:30pm (for full ticketing details visit: London Design Festival — A taste of time)
Discover how typography narrates time, place and memory. Time-travel from the 16th century to Bankside today in this unique multi-sensory talk featuring locally sourced food and beverages to bring your experience to life. Learn about sonic seasoning and how to hack your senses with your host Sarah Hyndman, founder of Type Tasting and author of the bestselling “Why Fonts Matter.”
- Type Thursday, the House of Sport, Bankside, 7pm-10pm (for full ticketing details visit: London Design Festival — Type Thursday)
Type designers and typography enthusiasts of all disciplines and levels of experience can take part in a panel discussion for Type Thursday. This event will be informative, entertaining and social: a space for professionals and students to discuss their work and meet like-minded letterform lovers.
- Better Bankside presents: An Evening of Typeface on 18th September at The Bridge, Bankside from 6.30pm-8.30pm: London Design Festival — Better Bankside presents…A evening of FREE OF CHARGE
This evening will feature:
o Type Land and how an amazing bespoke font was created for The Globe
o To The Point, their work for “force for good” campaigns including the Southwark Climate Collective
o The Team and how they reshaped the typeface of one of the largest and oldest savings organisations in the UK
o Plus others…
Other LDF event highlights include:
- Work by Dilara Koseyi, Borough Yards, Bankside – runs for the duration of the festival
Engaging digital art by recent London graduate Dilara Koseyi, inspired by everyday life in London and the broad range of emotions the capital city creates.
- Pentagram & drain cover rubbing, Borough Yards, Bankside
Drain cover rubbing workshops and a trail to seek specific manhole covers will be among fascinating activities led by Pentagram, official designers of the LDF brand. Pentagram’s new exhibition will reveal a fresh series of prints. Prints will be awarded to winners in the manhole cover quiz. Pentagram have a full programme planned and will be based at Borough Yards.
- Ghost Sign guided tour, in and around Bankside – Saturday 14th September, 11am-12:30pm
An intriguing history of Bankside’s past will be the subject of Ghost Signs, a guided tour around the area by Sam Roberts. Sam will tell tales about the stories of the signs and the companies they advertised, backed by historical photographs and other contextual images.
- ‘Material Matters’ talks & installations, Barge House, Bankside – runs for the duration of the festival
World-leading manufacturers, designers and makers will contribute to Material Matters. This unmissable programme of talks and installations will celebrate the importance of materials in design and architecture. Material Matters will take place at the Bargehouse.
- Mindful crafting, Arch 23, Bankside (FREE) – midday to 6pm
Mindful crafting activities will be led by Mylk and Honey Clothier on Saturday 21st September free of charge at Arch 23. Drop in and take part!
- Project LOVE interactive exhibition, Glazier’s Hall, Bankside – runs for the duration of the festival
Love and what it means will be the theme of Project Love, an interactive exhibition at Glazier’s Hall.
- Spotlight on signage, Borough Yards, Bankside – runs for the duration of the festival
Eco and recyclable signage and wayfinding will be put in the spotlight by Sugar Studio at Borough Yards.
Bankside’s Food and Drink Trail
The Bankside Food and Drink Trail will offer visitors to LDF the chance to enjoy a range of gastronomic experiences including discounts and tastings from an array of restaurants such as The Distillery, OXBO, Guiseppe’s, The Refinery, The Rake, Casa Du Frango, Flat Iron Square, Carrubo and In Horto. A map of trail restaurants will be available from Bankside’s website at the end of August.
To find out more about 2024’s London Design Festival, all the features at Bankside and other highlights all over London, please visit: https://londondesignfestival.com and www.banksidelondon.co.uk
