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 400 events and exhibitions staged by hundreds of Partner organisations across the design spectrum and from around the world.

“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.

The London Design Festival is an annual event, held ‘to celebrate and promote London as the design capital of the world, and as the gateway to the International creative community.’

Over nine days in September 2014, the London Design Festival featured hundreds of events which took place across London, showcasing the city’s pivotal role in global design.

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

See also – MODERN FURNITURE PIECES FROM CAMPANA BROTHERS

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 their Partners. From established businesses to emerging practices, from entrepreneurs to educators, from manufacturers to retailers, their Partners represent the heart of London’s design culture.

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.

See also – MEET SELLDORF ARCHITECTS

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. Audiences at the V&A totaled 106,929 – which is 1.5 the number for the preceding week (30 August – 7 September). The Festival had a programme of 395 projects and events staged by 270 partner organisations.