8 must-see exhibits at the London Design Festival 2018

The London Design Festival returns to the city from September 15 – 23, 2018. This citywide event will showcase the best craftsmanship and design from across the world, from furniture to lighting and architecture. If you’re looking to revamp your superyacht interior, there’s no better place to seek some inspiration. Take a look at some of this year’s highlights…

Graphic design studio Kellenberger-White has created a series of 26 alphabet chairs as one of this year’s landmark projects. The interactive exhibition encourages visitors to explore, move and make words with the letters, transforming Finsbury Avenue Square into a colourful urban playground. Engineered from folded metal, each chair is painted using colours from iconic industrial metalwork, for example, International Orange, the colour of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge.

Alphabet is on display from September 15-23 in Finsbury Avenue Square, Broadgate.

Princess Yachts brings its brand new R35 to life in a ‘dazzling’ display at this year’s London Design Festival. The installation is based on a concept pioneered by British artist Norman Wilkinson during the First World War which saw the ‘dazzle’ Naval vessels painted with distorting geometric patterns designed to confuse enemy ships.

Bringing the idea into the 21st century, students at the Plymouth College of Art were commissioned to create a dazzle design for the new R class, with the final design supplied by student Katie Sheppard. Partnering with BAR Technologies and design firm Pininfarina, the fully-carbon fibre R35 is the first yacht in Princess’ new R sports performance series.

The Princess R35 Dazzle installation is on display from September 15-23 in the Edmond J. Safra courtyard at Somerset House.

Located on the first floor of the historic Fortnum and Mason store, this installation will celebrate the ritual of tea and takes inspiration from Fortnum’s distinctive Eau de Nil colour, with all the furniture and products designed by Scholten & Baijings bearing the iconic green hue.

Designer Stefan Scholten said the collaboration with Fortnum & Mason presented a great opportunity for a colourist. "The setting we will create especially for this occasion will be a field of green hues that encompasses furniture, accessories and limited-edition products, where 300 years of tradition will meet contemporary Dutch design."

Visit Time For Tea from September 15-23 on the first floor of Fortnum & Mason’s flagshop store in Piccadilly.

Returning to the renowned setting of Syon Park, Decorex is the exhibition of choice for luxury interiors and design, showcasing the best of British craftsmanship as well as international brands and cutting-edge emerging talent. This year’s entranceway installation - entitled Blank Canvas - sees four leading British interior designers given carte blanche to explore how an empty space can celebrate a new beginning. While you're there, be sure to pay a visit to the Decorex champagne bar designed by Lambart & Browne, the team behind exclusive Mayfair club Loulou's.

The Decorex International exhibition is a ticketed event and will run from September 16-19 at Syon Park.

Superyacht interior design firm Liaigre has teamed up with ceramic artist Valeria Nascimento to create an immersive installation inspired by nature. Rainforest is arranged as a hanging mobile made up of thousands of porcelain petals and branches creating a peaceful scenery where nature meets interior architecture. Alongside this showpiece, Liaigre will also be unveiling a range of new designs from tables and sofas to lighting.

The Rainforest installation can be viewed from September 15-23 at Liaigre’s flagship store on 52 Conduit Street, Mayfair.

100% Design is one of the biggest events at the London Design Festival with more than 400 brands showcasing their latest product launches under one roof. This year's edition will see a particular focus on undiscovered and emerging talent with 100% Forward, curated by Barbara Chandler, design editor for Homes & Property at the London Evening Standard,

She said, “Since 100% Design started in 1995, our stellar UK designers have created a world-famous design industry, and continue to do so. But all industries need new talent. The creativity of these new designers embraces furniture, lighting, printed/woven textiles and ceramics…not to mention origami and illuminated wallpaper."

Philippe Starck's design brand YOO will also be participating in this year's show as well as the third edition of lighting exhibition Enlightened Design.

100% Design takes place at Olympia London from 19-22 September and sits at the heart of the newly formed West Kensington Design District.

Sustainability and design are becoming increasingly one and the same as more and more brands are seen championing sustainable style. This year Selfridges will be launching a 'conscious creators' collection of home accessories and kitchenware made with sustainable and ethical trading in mind, including drinking glasses made from smashed iPhone cases and toothbrushes and tableware crafted from bamboo.

Take a look at the conscious creators collection at the Selfridges flagship store on Oxford Street.

London will see a shift in its skyline with the addition of a nine metre high wooden head. Looking out across the river from the busy South Bank, Head Above Water is a powerful installation by designer Steuart Padwick that stands as a symbol of positivity for those suffering from mental health issues. The sculpture is just one of many thought-provoking outdoor installations dotted along the South Bank as part of designjunction, which will deliver a specially curated programme of exhibitions, installations and talks throughout this year's London Design Festival.

Take a walk along the river and see Head Above Water from September 20-23 on Queen's Stone jetty, South Bank.