Design London returns with landmark installations, immersive exhibitions, and 10 creative districts
London Design Festival is back — and this time, it’s bigger, bolder, and more future-facing than ever. Running from 13–21 September, the Festival once again asserts London’s position as a global creative capital, this year with a sharper focus on connection, sustainability, and innovation. Whether you’re a design disciple or just nosy for what’s next, this edition is unmissable.
With the Mayor of London as Principal Supporter, the 23rd edition spotlights everything from public art and speculative futures to material breakthroughs and 1980s glam. The message? Design is more than beautiful — it’s a tool for societal change, environmental resilience, and urban storytelling. We took a closer look at the highlights.
Landmark Projects Lead the Way with Bold Design Statements
Nothing says ‘LDF is here’ quite like Trafalgar Square being transformed. This year’s What Nelson Sees by Paul Cocksedge lets you experience London through Lord Nelson’s eyes — quite literally. A sculptural telescope-inspired structure replays the city’s past, present, and imagined futures through a series of immersive lenses.
At the river’s edge, Lee Broom’s Beacon steals the scene. Built using upcycled glass and shaped like a giant sculptural chandelier, it pays tribute to local heritage and sustainability. And after the lights go out? Its parts will be repurposed as individual lamps. Because in 2025, beautiful things don’t go to waste.
V&A and Design Museum Programmes Raise Urgent Questions
The V&A digs into design’s role in times of crisis, co-curated by Carrie Chan and Kristian Volsing. The exhibition explores responses to environmental destruction, geopolitical instability, and AI through works by Alicja Patanowska, Ryunosuke Okazaki, and others — proving design can both soothe and disrupt.
Over at the Design Museum, the spotlight’s on London’s rebellious past and uncertain future. Blitz: The Club that Shaped the 80s examines the cultural aftershock of one legendary night. More Than Human challenges anthropocentric thinking with a cross-pollination of design, ecology, and science. Meanwhile, Bethan Laura Wood’s PLATFORM offers tactile joy, and audio-described architecture tours ensure accessibility isn’t an afterthought.
Ten Design Districts Turn London into a Creative Playground
From Chelsea to Park Royal, the Festival’s ten Design Districts map the capital’s creative energy. Expect immersive studio tours, pop-up showcases, experimental product launches, and that delicious sense of discovery around every corner.
Our favourite? Naturally, Shoreditch Design Triangle, where radical interiors, conceptual fashion, and late-night gallery events turn the East End into a style-powered jungle. But this year, don’t miss the new Fleet Street Quarter or the ever-luxurious Mayfair Design District, both bringing their own flavour of flair.
Design London Shoreditch: Where Work Meets Play Meets Wild Ideas
Launching for the first time, Design London Shoreditch (16–18 September) splits into three curated exhibitions:
Design at Work at Protein Studios rethinks our offices (again).
Design Culture at Kachette dives into sustainability and visual storytelling.
House of ICON at Shoreditch Town Hall throws maximalism, minimalism, and Scandi style into one glorious design soup.
Featuring 2LG Studio, Ben Cullen Williams (with Google DeepMind), and the British Council’s Ancient Futures, the exhibitions are surrounded by talks, workshops (shoutout to Moleskine), and brand showcases from BAUX, Dare Studio, and Isomi.
Material Matters Finds a New Home — and a Bigger Platform
This year’s Material Matters fair (17–20 September) lands at the iconic Space House, with an entire floor dedicated to forward-thinking material use. Three zones — Knowledge, Specification, and Experimental — guide visitors through wood, fungus, waste, and wonder. Expect names like MycoWorks, Revive Innovations, and Micaella Pedros, plus surprise pop-ins from The Material Way and ForEverydayLife.
Global Design Forum Returns to Shape the Conversation
Back at the V&A, the Global Design Forum puts bold ideas on the mic. Designers, scientists, architects, and change-makers will unpack accessibility, sustainability, and how design can be more than just aesthetics. It’s the place to hear where design is heading — and who’s steering the wheel.
The Visuals Get the Pentagram Touch (Again)
The Festival’s graphic identity, courtesy of Domenic Lippa and the team at Pentagram, plays with connection as its central theme. A thread-like typographic motif runs through campaign visuals, tying together designers, districts, and disciplines in one continuous creative gesture. Red and white never looked so rebellious.
The London Design Festival 2025: A Design Week With Purpose
With all eyes on London this September, the 2025 edition of London Design Festival doesn’t just celebrate design — it reinvents its meaning. Whether you’re a student with a sketchbook, a brand with a showroom, or just someone who likes to Instagram nice chairs, there’s something here for you.
And let’s be honest: no city does it like London. See you out there.