This annual event took place between 15th – 23rd September throughout the whole of London. Celebrating the design industry, the event brings together the community and talent from around the world.

Darc Room

The Darc Room returned this year showcasing creative light exhibitions as well as hosting workshops and streaming live talks. Two of our designers, Alex Bittiner and Karen Smart, participated and discussed ‘Lighting Design; weighing lightly in a heavyweight construction industry?’ More information on their talk will be shared in our next blog.

Our favourite evening was the launch of the Inspirations book curated by Light Collective, published by arc magazine and sponsored by Delta Light. Light Collective began the evening with a talk on inspiration and what inspired them to create the series. This was then followed by a cocktail making competition. We had to make our own cocktail from scratch and the winning cocktail will be served at their Darc Awards Architectural event in December. Our team almost made it to the final with our creation called 'Cherry Slap'. 

London Design Biennale – Emotional States

Somerset House welcomed the public to view a mix of immersive installations from 40 different countries to demonstrate how design affects our emotions and experiences. The installations were designed to show the full spectrum of our emotions from happiness to disgust. A theme chosen to reflect the current unease in the world. A group of us made our way through the crowds, our moods changing from excited, amazed, nostalgic, fear, confused and disgusted!

Our favourites were:

Australia: Full Spectrum - 150 strands of coloured fibre optic lights which could be touched, celebrating the country’s decision to allow same-sex marriage.

Greece: Disobedience - A 17-metre-long corridor that was placed in the middle of the Somerset House’s stone courtyard. Using recycled plastics, they created a walkway which contracts and flexes as you walk through opening an arch. Designer Nassia Inglesis wanted to create the feeling of walking on water.

Guatemala: Palpò - Telling the story of Pintando Santa Catarina Palpò the installation uses different patterns inspired by local textiles to resemble the multi-coloured houses of the town. Colours from the past, present and a wall of white for the future which is yet to unfold.

Image from: http://www.londondesignbiennale.com/countries/guatemala/2018

Image from: http://www.londondesignbiennale.com/countries/guatemala/2018