London Design Festival returns for its 23rd edition from 13-21 September, and brings with it – as ever – boundless creativity from the realms of fashion, art and interiors. Taking over the capital for the week-long event, the festival sees the arrival of new venues, collaborations and public installations.
After a six-year hiatus, Paul Cocksedge returns to the festival with a fresh perspective – literally. His new work, What Nelson Sees, is a freestanding sculpture that offers Londoners the chance to discover the city skyline from the Lord’s lofty position atop his eponymous column. It comes in the form of a series of intersecting tubes acting as lenses; look inside and London appears in three chapters – its skyline today, as it was in the past and as it might be a century from now.
Lighting extraordinaire Lee Broom will also make his mark on the skyline, with an abstract lighting installation made from upcycled, discarded glass fragments – designed to resemble a vast chandelier. Leaning into sustainable solutions, one of the key themes set to appear across multiple artworks at this year’s London Design Festival, Beacon is designed to be repurposed post-installation – each component could be used as an individual light fixture.
Also making its debut is Space House, the brand-new venue for the fourth edition of Material Matters (17-20 September 2025). Here, an entire floor will be devoted to the creative use of materials from Micaella Pedros, known for her work with post-consumer plastics, to the innovative leather-like fabric made using Fine Mycelium™, developed by MycoWorks.
As a longstanding partner of the festival, the V&A always does something interesting. This year, it’s presenting a bold programme co-curated by contemporary design powerhouses Carrie Chan and Kristian Volsing. The exhibitions will tackle urgent global issues, from natural resource extraction and cultural loss through conflict and climate change, to geopolitical turbulence and the rise of AI.
For another must-see, hop on the Circle line to the Design Museum, home to Blitz: the club that shaped the 80s – an exhibition tracing the influence of Covent Garden’s Blitz Club beyond Great Queen Street and into the wider 1980s creative scene. Developed with some of the original “Blitz Kids”, Blitz will showcase over 250 items, from apparel and musical instruments to furniture and photography.
Speaking on the overarching themes of this year’s festival, Ben Evans, London Design Festival director, said: ‘Design is not just about aesthetics. It’s a fundamental driver of innovation, economic growth and societal progress. This year’s festival demonstrates our commitment to supporting the entire design ecosystem, from emerging talent to established brands, all while showcasing London's unparalleled creative energy.’
Visit londondesignfestival.com for more information.