Top Picks for London Design Festival 2025

Paul Cocksedge, with Google Arts & Culture, presents What Nelson Sees, a Landmark Project transforming Trafalgar Square. A monumental sculptural installation of telescopic viewing portals allows visitors to experience London from Nelson’s vantage point atop his column — a view hidden for nearly 200 years. Through AI-powered vignettes, the work connects past, present and speculative futures, inviting reflection on the city’s continual reinvention.

Location: Trafalgar Square WC2N 5DS

Lee Broom presents Beacon, a landmark sculptural lighting installation at the Royal Festival Hall. Inspired by the Southbank’s Brutalist architecture and the Festival of Britain, the work reimagines classic street lamps as a vast chandelier crafted from upcycled glass. Each hour, its illuminated shades perform a choreographed light sequence, weaving the installation into London’s rhythm. Conceived as a major piece of public art, Beacon is open and accessible to all.

Location: Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road SE1 8XX

Material Matters, the cornerstone fair of London Design Festival, returns for its fourth edition in the iconic Space House. Bringing together over 40 global brands, pioneering manufacturers and emerging designers, the fair showcases bio-based alternatives, recycled composites, heritage craft and cutting-edge fabrication. Alongside installations and a talks programme led by some of the industry’s leading voices, the event offers a lively platform for innovation, responsibility and design intelligence.

Location: Space House, 1 Kemble Street (Kingsway) WC2B 4AN

tp bennett and Future Works explore the true cost of creation at Material Matters London 2025 with In The Making 2.0

tp bennett returns to the London Design Festival’s Material Matters fair with a compelling new exhibition In The Making 2.0, hosted at the iconic Space House and curated in partnership with Future Works, the innovation partner of The Furniture Practice. The exhibition invites visitors to reflect on design’s environmental impact and the evolving role of materials in shaping a more responsible future.

Taking place 17–20 September 2025, Material Matters is the only trade fair within the festival, dedicated to material intelligence, sustainability and innovation.

Building on last year’s edition, In The Making 2.0 addresses the true cost of creation, from raw extraction to manufacturing, installation and maintenance. Structured around three elemental zones; Land, Water and Atmosphere, it features contributions from leading suppliers committed to safeguarding resources and redefining material use:

• Akzo Nobel
• Tarkett
• Impact Acoustics
• Alusid
• Kvadrat
• Andreu World
• Domus
• Arper
• Modus

Learn more & register your attendance here.

Location: Space House, 1 Kemble Street (Kingsway) WC2B 4AN

Fredericia hosts an afternoon of design, drinks and conversation at its London showroom. Visitors can discover the new Pato Paper Chair by Welling/Ludvik, meet the innovators behind PaperShell, and preview new work from Barber Osgerby and Hugo Passos, shown alongside classics by Børge Mogensen, Mogens Koch and Hans J. Wegner.

17 September 2025, 16:00–20:00
RSVP: ldn@fredericia.com

Location: Fredericia Showroom, Unit 4 Compton Courtyard, 40 Compton Street EC1V 0BD

Designers Guild hosts an exclusive Moroso pop-up at its King’s Road flagship, showcasing iconic pieces reimagined in signature fabrics. Patricia Urquiola’s Lilo, Ruff and Getlucky sit alongside designs by Zanellato Bortotto, Front and Gordon Guillaumier, highlighting the dialogue between Italian furniture innovation and British textile artistry.

Location: Designers Guild, 267-277 King's Road SW3 5EN

Andreu World marks its 70th anniversary with an evening at the London showroom featuring Benjamin Hubert of LAYER. The event showcases his latest designs, including the Velo seating system, Triada Lift tables and Host bee shelter prototype exploring design and biodiversity. The celebration continues with Mediterranean tapas, music and drinks. RSVP here.

Location: Andreu World London Showroom, 254 Goswell Rd - Ground Floor EC1V 7EB

B&B Italia presents The Collection Amplified, where 2025 novelties are set alongside timeless designs in a narrative of heritage, present and future. Highlights include Maxalto special editions marking its 50th anniversary, classic pieces from Azucena, and new launches from Arclinea as it celebrates 100 years.

Location: 250 Brompton Road, Brompton Cross SW3 2AS

OnOffice presents Design at Work, a pop-up exploring how design shapes wellbeing, productivity and comfort in the workplace. Set within an industrial space with high ceilings, polished concrete floors and natural light, the showcase brings together global names and emerging talent — from task furniture and breakout spaces to acoustic and storage solutions. Exhibitors include BAUX, Isomi, JDD Furniture, Brunner, Sixteen3, Colebrook Bosson Saunders and more.

Location: Protein Studios, 31 New Inn Yard, EC2A 3EY

Carl Hansen & Søn welcomes acclaimed design duo EOOS, the creators of the Embrace range, for a special event. Known for their poetic and thoughtful approach, EOOS will share insights into their process and present models tracing the journey from sketch to finished piece, followed by an evening of conversation, drinks and nibbles. RSVP here.

Location: Carl Hansen & Søn Showroom London, 16a Bowling Green Lane EC1R 0BD

At this year’s London Design Festival, the Tramshed becomes the stage for two design powerhouses. Vitra unveils fresh takes on the Eames collection, updating timeless icons for a new era, while introducing a second Slow Chair and the debut Slow Sofa by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec. Artek marks its 90th anniversary with a bold collaboration with a fellow Finnish icon, alongside the return of archival pieces that haven’t been seen for decades.

Location: 32 Rivington Street, EC2A 3LX

Bisley joins Design at Work at Protein Studios with Align, a new desking range designed and manufactured in the UK. Presented in bold Fuchsia and Bisley Green with partner seating from Thomas Montgomery, the collection blends flexibility, functionality and comfort across solo workstations and collaborative setups, complemented by accessories and storage for organised, adaptable workspaces.

Location: Protein Studios, 31 New Inn Yard, EC2A 3EY

2LG Studio returns with the third edition of You Can Sit With Us, an inclusive group show that celebrates queerness in design. Set within an underground Salon, the installation creates a safe space for connection, conversation and queer tarot readings. Alongside the exhibition, 2LG will also host an open mic night for designers at Design London Shoreditch.

Location: Shoreditch Town Hall, 380 Old Street EC1V 9LT

Relay Design Agents presents Future Focus, a group exhibition exploring how creativity and technology shape the objects of tomorrow. Bringing together innovative designers including Boris Berlin, BYMARS, Chris Martin, Kusheda Mensah, Lorenz + Kaz, Nick Ross, Philippe Malouin, Sebastian Herkner and Spacon, the show highlights new materials, sustainable practices and the intersection of craft and innovation. Supported by +Halle, Ago Lighting, Hem, Massproductions and Zeitraum.

Location: 18 Links Yard, Spelman Street E1 5LX

&Tradition presents The Living Archive, an installation reflecting on the evolving architecture of domestic and professional spaces and the personal narratives within them. In the London showroom, the brand introduces Rombe, the debut design by Industrial Facility, alongside new additions to its portfolio of classic and contemporary pieces.

Location: Nine United Showroom, 34 Queen Anne's Gate SW1H 9AB

Invisible Collection and Dagmar present North Stars, a curated exhibition celebrating the timeless influence of Scandinavian design. Like its namesake Polaris, this aesthetic has long been a guiding light — simple, modest and enduring, yet extraordinary in its impact. Curated by Isabelle Dubern-Mallevays and Aaron FitzGerald, the showcase highlights the lasting legacy and contemporary relevance of Nordic masters.

Location: 2-4 Huntsworth Mews, NW1 6DD

Furnishing Futures opens its doors with tours, talks and a first look at The Atrium, its new events and retail space. The award-winning charity transforms donated furniture into trauma-informed homes for women and children escaping domestic abuse, tackling furniture poverty while promoting sustainability. Visitors can explore the warehouse and studio, meet the team, and discover how design can be a powerful force for recovery and wellbeing.

Location: Unit 4, 11 Argall Avenue, Leyton E10 7QE

Tom Dixon unveils the AW25 collection at the refreshed King’s Cross flagship, with exclusive previews from SS26. Highlights include the optical WHIRL light, celestial SOFT pendants, a frosted finish for the PRESS series, and new formats for the iconic MELT on its 10th anniversary. Expanded textiles and fresh tones for SPIN complete the launch, accompanied by talks, daily aperitivos and special events throughout the week.

Location: 4-10 Bagley Walk N1C4DH

Floor Story presents new rug collections by Gill Thorpe with Turquoise Mountain and a women’s weaving collective, and by Bek Smith, whose graphic design is inspired by the textures of duct tape. Alongside the exhibition, visitors can join a weaving workshop with La Basketry, offering hands-on insight into traditional craft techniques.

Location: 4 Cairo Studios, Nile Street N1 7RF