DESIGN LONDON 2022

Design London will be the largest official contemporary design fair during this year’s London Design Festival and is set to be the main attraction in Greenwich Peninsula, the capital’s newest design district.

In 2021, the fair launched for the first time and attracted over 12,000 visitors from the UK and beyond. This year it takes place between 21 – 24 September and is slated to double in size, showcasing established brands, up-and-coming talent and major industry trends.

After a summer of record-breaking temperatures, sustainability continues to be top of the agenda for all design brands.

As the cement industry generates more CO2 emissions every year than any country other than China and the US, architects and builders urgently need to consider alternatives. Versarien – a company that develops and manufactures advanced material technologies to improve the environment – has teamed up with artist and designer Steuart Padwick to propose a potential solution with an installation called Island Steps at Design London. As the structure, which consists of tiered seating, has been 3D printed and reinforced with Graphene, it is entirely cement-free, reducing its carbon footprint by 70%,

The Thai Pavilion, one of four national pavilions exhibiting at Design London this year, is showcasing twelve sustainable and eco-conscious furniture and home decoration brands that are working within the Thai government’s Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) model. This model uses innovation and technology to transform natural and industrial waste into a range of products from plant stands to lampshades aimed at environmentally conscious consumers and businesses.

Lighting brands are exhibiting some interesting new products at this year’s fair with innovative and original designs that go beyond standard lamps and spotlights.

The Hang Out light by Penta which is represented by Italian brand Auralis combines wall art with ambient illumination and seeks to improve the quality of daily life. Bristol-based Shelf Studio presents the Wave Neon shelf which is handmade using sustainably sourced birch plywood and designed to combine downlighting with houseplant display. Italian lighting brand Fabbian celebrates 60 years in the business with multiple launches including the sculptural pearl-like Akoya wall and pendant lights by Filippo Protasoni.

This year’s talks program at Design London will include internationally acclaimed designers Lee Broom, Sabine Marcelis and Patricia Urquiola who will discuss current trends and their creative processes. London-born TV presenter and sustainable design advocate Jay Blades will talk about his new furniture brand which specializes in using materials that are recycled or reclaimed.

Aritco will be hosting a talk on a subject that is not trending, but certainly should be – how designers need to cater to an ageing population. David Schill, Marketing Director of Aritco will discuss domestic design for an older demographic and intergenerational living, and will be joined by Colum Lowe, Director of Design Age Institute who will offer industry insight into this often-neglected demographic. Kyle Scorgie, Project Head at Priestman Goode design consultancy will offer learnings from the transport sector.

The talk will be moderated by design writer and curator Riya Patel and will take place at Magazine London, the main venue for Design London, from 2pm – 3pm on Wednesday 21^st September.

If you can’t make the panel discussion, you can still download our two-page trend report Redefining the Home for the Third Age  and you will be able to watch footage from the talk on this website very soon.