The London Design Festival was conceived by Sir John Sorrell and Ben Evans. Building on London’s existing design activity, their concept was to create an annual event that would promote the city’s creativity, drawing in the country’s greatest thinkers, practitioners, retailers and educators to a deliver an unmissable celebration of design.

First staged in 2003, the London Design Festival is one of the world’s most important annual design events. The Festival programme is made up of over 350 events and exhibitions staged by hundreds of Partner organisations across the design spectrum and from around the world.

Festival audiences are significant, with an estimated direct audience of over 350,000 people from over 75 countries, with a wider audience of over 1m people coming into contact with the major public commissions in 2014.

“The London Design Festival is the most vivid possible proof that London is the hub of the creative industries in the world.” Boris Johnson, Mayor of London.

Over nine days in September, the London Design Festival features hundreds of events which take place across London, showcasing the city’s pivotal role in global design. The Festival is both a cultural and a commercial event. The programme ranges from major international exhibitions to trade events, installations to talks and seminars, from product launches to receptions, private views and parties. The majority of events are free of charge – enabling visitors to participate, listen, learn, commission and make purchases.

A centerpiece of the Festival is the Landmark Projects, created with the help of generous supporters. For the Landmark Projects some of the world’s greatest architects and designers are commissioned to create pieces of work in some of London’s best-loved public spaces.

In the first year Zaha Hadid created an amazing piece of work, Urban Nebula, from polished black pre-cast concrete at the Southbank Centre. Since then the organisers teamed up with a stellar cast of creative teams that have included Edward Barber & Jay Osgerby, dRMM, David Adjaye, Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec, David Chipperfield, Amanda Levete, Marc Newson, John Pawson, Keiichi Matsuda, Nendo and Arup.

Last year, designers Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby collaborated with BMW to create a remarkable and memorable experience in the V&A’s Raphael Gallery. Sharing a fascination with the aesthetics of motion and the idea of an experiential installation, Barber & Osgerby designed ‘Double Space for BMW’, a kinetic sculpture that created an immersive experience for the viewer.

Then there are the Partner events; if anything is evidence of this city’s vitality, it’s the sheer scope and quality of the Festival events programmed by our Partners. From established businesses to emerging practices, from entrepreneurs to educators, from manufacturers to retailers, our Partners represent the heart of London’s design culture.

The Festival is funded through a combination of public and private sources. The Mayor of London’s office provides grant funding for the Festival; Arts Council England have been long term supporters of the Festival. Private funding (approx 60%) is raised through sponsorship of Festival projects alongside a small range of London Design Festival products and services delivered throughout the year.

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