London Design Festival Preview: 100% Design

Show 100% Design is a veteran of the London design scene, and this year celebrates its 20^th edition.

The auditorium, designed by El Ultimo Grito

The anniversary is being marked in the kaleidoscopic show branding, created by Thomas Matthews, which features products such Thomas Heatherwick’s Spun Stool and the Cullen Dish wall light to represent zones of the show, such as Workplace and Eco.
Thomas Matthews has also worked on the show design for this year’s 100% Design.
One of the more striking elements looks to be the ‘Foam Dome’ created by vPPR Architects for the Kitchen and Bathroom hub. This will boast a mesh from which foam – made from water, soap and air – will be constantly emitted. The designers say this will create ‘a frothy, interactive breathable membrane’.

The Foam Dome, designed by vPPR Architects

The Interiors hub will feature a Maker Carousel, designed by Mette, that will feature a series of workshops and events, while the Workplace hub will feature the iAlter, designed by NBBJ, which will be ‘an active installation which will influence the nature of the space’.
Architect Daniel Libeskind, meanwhile, has created the Ice chandelier for the show entrance, made up from a series of clear glass ‘cells’.
One of 100% Designs centrepieces will be the auditorium, designed by El Ultimo Grito. This will boast a series of inflatable sculptures that will mark the perimeter of the space. The designers describe them as ‘similar to caryatides in a Greek temple’, adding, ‘in contrast to their Greek counterparts, the compositions will be decorated with vibrant graphic prints and will slowly rotate’.

Daniel Libeskind’s Ice installation

The auditorium will host a series of talks throughout the show, featuring the likes of Philippe Starck, Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby, Ross Lovegrove and Jaime Hayon.
Among the headline exhibitors will be Heal’s, which is launching its Heal’s Discovers collection, and Vitra, which will be showing its new Home collection, featuring pieces from Barber and Osgerby and Jasper Morrison.

Part of the Heal’s Discovers collection

Elsewhere there will be a showcase of emerging brands and international pavilions from Argentina, South Africa and Shenzhen among others.
100% Design runs from 17-20 September at Earls Court, Warwick Road, London SW5 9TA. For more information visit www.100percentdesign.co.uk.

(Wed, 10 Sep 2014 | By Angus Montgomery)