Image: Clair Strong Interior Design
This month, The Bath Magazine published my round-up of the most exciting design events coming up in 2017. Well, for those of you who don’t live in Bath and thus don’t receive the magazine, I’m republishing parts of that article here.
Design is a really important part of British culture, and that is never more apparent than at the many design events held here every year. Our museums, galleries, festivals and conferences have been drawing huge crowds from all over the world for decades. It would be virtually impossible for me to list every single event, so I’ve picked just a very small handful.
Design is for everyone, so if you can get to one of the following events, I’d really encourage you to do so. And if you have an event you’d like to recommend, please share in the comments below!
House & Garden Festival, Olympia London, 21-24th June
This four-day festival is for interior design enthusiasts. Bringing together three lifestyle events; Grow London, Spirit of Summer Fair and The HOUSE Fair, House & Garden festival is a celebration of summer living. It’s a vibrant shopping experience with more than 550 brands (all handpicked by the House & Garden team) to discover. There will also be a fascinating series of workshops, talks and advice clinics during the course of the festival. Www.houseandgardenfestival.co.uk.
The Brutalist Playground, Bath, 27th June – 9th September
“Part sculpture, part installation, all play!” are the words used to describe the exciting RIBA-commissioned exhibition coming to The Edge in June. The Brutalist Playground is the work of Turner Prize winners Assemble and artist Simon Terrill. It seeks to shines a light on the abstract, almost-sculptural concrete playgrounds built in post-war Britain. This family-friendly exhibition runs from 27th June to 9th September and admission is free. Go to www.edgearts.org for more information.
London Design Festival, 16-24th September
You could say I’m a bit of a London Design Festival evangelist; I’ve written about it a number of times already. But for good reason: now in its 15th year, the festival has successfully positioned London as the design capital of the world. It’s a huge, all-encompassing event taking place over 8 days across the whole of the city. There are hundreds of events to take in, from talks and workshops to huge trade shows and breathtaking installations; many of which are free. For the full programme and ticketing information, check out the London Design Festival website: www.londondesignfestival.com.
Something Good, Bristol, 6-7th October
Something Good is a new addition to the design festival scene. Based in Bristol, this two day event is “a celebration of creativity and the magic of the creative process”. Day one features a full programme of talks by creatives from a range of different disciplines and is followed by an after party. On day two, you’re encouraged to get your hands dirty with workshops in papercutting, woodworking, letterpress and more. Talks and workshops are open to all; for more information head to www.somethinggoodbristol.com.
