top picks at london design festival 2011

Wallpaper* & Bernhadt Design's launch party at St Pancras Hotel

Here are our top 10 picks (in no particular order) for London Design Festival this year, with a bit of art power! -

1. AL_A's Timberwave at the V&A - Amanda Levete's comeback masterpiece after her split with former partner in Future Systems

2. David Chipperfield's Size+Matter at the Royal Festival Hall - the minimalist master's attempt to unite technology and simplicity

3. Designjunction at Victoria House Basement - 30 furniture & lighting brands in 1 location, events on top of showcases

4. Edward Barber & Jay Osgerby at Haunch of Venison - the duo's first solo show with the gallery

5. Faye Toogood at Phillips de Pury - new and old furniture collection by the magazine editor turned stylist and designer

6. Cristian Zuzunaga at EB&Flow - brilliant photographic works by the spanish artist/designer

7. Formosa Show at Candid Arts - taiwanese art & design at your door step, London!

8. John Pawson's Perspective at St Paul's Cathedral - see how the master can attract eyeballs by doing nothing

9. Superbrands at Tent London - it's worth to go all the way to the east with all these big names

10.  De la Espada at Tramshed - suffocatingly beautiful timber furniture by the Spanish brand 

design detour: london design festival part 1 - tent london & showhow

TENT London is once again showing at the Old Trumen Brewery in Brick Lane this year. With some exhibitiors moving on to new venue such as the Tramshed (to be continued in part 2), we felt there is a sense of emptiness in TENT, particularly in the TENT digital section, which shows the amazing work of digital designer group WOW last year in the main screen. This year it becomes non-design propaganda for the UK Trade Commission, which we think is a bit anti-climax and lack of originality. Kingston Uniersity has occupied a space in TENT to show its graduates' works, which helps to bring back some edge to the show.

Still some of the exhibitors in the main hall are doing great job - here are some highlights:

Full photo set link

Just a few steps from the main fee-accessed venue, Showhow has a group of danish designers and enterprises showing innovative and sustainably-designed products:

Full photo set link

More to come in part 2 for the LDF!