Strolling through any of London's more creative districts today, you're almost certain to see preparations in full swing as the eyes of the design world turn to the city over the next eight days. Now in its 12th year, the London Design Festival is set to kick off this weekend.
The branding for this year's event prompts revellers to 'Lose Yourself in Design'—perhaps a little less ridiculous than it sounds considering that this year sees some 300+ events (not including the parties), spread wider than ever before across the metropolis. Six areas across the city center have been given official 'design district' status this year, with the usual suspects Brompton Design District (with the V&A and its environs), Clerkenwell Design Quarter (design furniture showrooms abound), Chelsea Design Quarter (the crazy posh stuff) and Shoreditch Design Triangle (the edgier destination in the East) joined by two new comers—Islington Design District (North Central-ish) and Queen's Park Design District (West-ish)—set to join the fray.
As in past years, a number of 'Landmark Projects' headline proceedings with installations and interventions on a grand scale. Whilst true to form, this year's centrepieces sees the involvement of some big brands. In an expected move, AirBnb appear to be a major sponsor of this year's festival and will be taking over the famous Trafalgar Square in the heart of the city with an installation entitled 'A Place Called Home,' an arrangement of miniature homes each with interiors design by acclaimed designers. BMW will also get in on the act, taking over the enormous Raphael Gallery space at the V&A museum with a collaboration with industrial design darlings Barber Osgerby, involving a kinetic sculpture of giant mirrored surfaces.
If you're trawling through the 200-page epic that is this year's London Design Festival guidebook [PDF] and starting to wonder whether you've got the strength to brave the festivities at all, fear not! Core77 friends at Plan, have once again done the hard work for us all, pulling together a concise guide for the discerning festivalgoer. The guide separates the wheat from chaff and concisely presents an overview of their picks for the top eight most promising events and exhibitions. Take a look at London Design Festival 2014: A Discerning Guide (if the text link is too small, click the image below to make the jump).
Of course, we'll be well and truly on the ground all this week and will be making away around the city to bring you all the highlights. As well as exploring the design districts we'll be sure to check-in to some of the design fairs springing up around the city, with designjunction (below), Tent London, 100% Design and Designersblock all on our hit list. For live updates from the field, you can follow Core77's London-based editor Sam Dunne on Twitter and Instagram.
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