The must-see design events for 2015

Whilst many design events are yet to be announced, this is the cream of the crop. The London Design Festival is essential viewing for any of those graphically inclined with other, less prestigious yet equally talented shows you have to see.

It’s never too early to pencil in some of these great design events happening in London, so here’s a nice little round up of the must-see events booked so far this year, vital for any art lover and culture vulture.

Do any on the list tickle your fancy?

Pick Me Up 23^rd April – May 4^th

Pick Me Up returns to Somerset House for its sixth year, featuring a fresh line-up of artists and designers bringing the best of new illustration, graphic design and related disciplines to inspire and delight. Vibrant, engaging, full of exciting things to see, do and buy: Pick Me Up 2015 will once again feature a whole host of different working processes and techniques ranging from traditional screen-printing to animation, risograph printing to paper craft.

Both emerging and established talent will set up interactive workspaces throughout Somerset House’s Embankment Galleries for the 12 days of the festival. Each representing a different form of graphic art, the studios will offer visitors plenty of opportunities to engage with the artists and designers directly, see work being made onsite, and even create their own work. The original pieces produced throughout the festival, plus limited edition prints and accessories, will be available for purchase with prices ranging between £5 and £200.

Located at the heart of the festival in 2015 will be Pick Me Up Platform, a vibrant programme of debates, presentations and demonstrations. Discussions will explore not only current work and trends but also address issues facing graphic art communities in years to come. A particular highlight for 2015 will be the UK premiere of thought-provoking documentary Made You Look. The much-anticipated film provides a rare and candid insight into some of the UK’s top creative talent at work and at play in a hyper-digital age. It reveals how the climate for graphic arts has changed and developed over the last 15 years, particularly since 2010, the year which saw Pick Me Up’s first edition. As well as hosting the premiere, outtakes from the documentary will also be shown daily in Pick Me Up Platform.

Clerkenwell Design Week 19^th May – 21^st May

Clerkenwell is home to more creative businesses and architects per square mile than anywhere else on the planet, making it truly one of the most important design hubs in the world.

To celebrate this rich and diverse community, CDW has created a showcase of leading UK and international brands and companies presented in a series of showroom events, pop-up exhibitions and special installations that take place across the area.

Having finished its fifth year running in May 2014 CDW firmly established itself as the UK’s leading independent design festival and annually attracts the international design community to this small corner of London for three days of exciting events.

New Designers 2015 24^th June – 4^th July 

New Designers will bring you face to face with the next generation of design leaders. For the past 29 years, it has launched over 100,000 designers into the professional world at the spectacular Business Design Centre in London, the world’s “design capital”.

Many of the talented exhibiting designers have gone on to become leaders in their fields and recognised as design stars, contributing to the excellent reputation of the UK’s creative industries and its creative economy.

Previous exhibitors include Thomas Heatherwick, Anthony Dickens, Ella Doran, Bethany Gray, Joe Ferry and Fredrikson Stallard, just to name a few!

The London Design Festival 19^th September – 27^th September

See the latest design trends at the 13^th London Design Festival at venues across the capital. Leading the way in innovation, this festival celebrates the best creative talents with a range of exciting events and exhibitions.

More than 300 events and exhibitions are staged by hundreds of different studios and individuals from around the world, covering a broad spectrum of design innovation.

Ranging from exhibitions and seminars to shows and pop-up events, the London Design Festival programme makes full use of the many unique spaces to be found amongst the capital. Events take place everywhere from the Victoria & Albert Museum to small local studios, with a select few hosted at some iconic London landmarks. Always highly original, design enthusiasts should brace themselves for some thought-provoking works in the most unexpected of places.

100% Design 23^rd September – 26^th September

100% Design is officially the UK’s largest trade event with over 27,000 visitors including architects, interior designers, retailers and graphic designers hosted at London Olympia. The event is held between 23^rd and 26^th September and is the biggest event during the London Design Festival. 100% Design is expected to attract over 30,000 visitors in 2015!

The event is broken down into four categories with brands exhibiting in their specific field. So expect to see brands such as Eskimo Design, Philip Watts and Fake Landscapes in the Interiors category. Landor, Futura Leathers and HPS Furniture in Workplace. Tissino and Abacus Direct amongst the Kitchen & Bathroom sections and a plethora of design, as ever, in the main category: Eco, Design & Build.

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