Design Destinations
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.
The London Design Festival 2015 will be 19 — 27 September
Over nine days in September, the London Design Festival features hundreds of events which take 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.
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 our Partners. From established businesses to emerging practices, from entrepreneurs to educators, from manufacturers to retailers, our 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.
The Festival is funded through a combination of public and private sources. The Mayor Of London’s office provides grant funding for the Festival; Arts Council England have been long term supporters of the Festival. Private funding (approx 60%) is raised through sponsorship of Festival projects alongside a small range of London Design Festival products and services delivered throughout the year.
Festival audiences are significant, with an estimated audience of over 350,000 people, from over 75 countries with a wider audience of up to 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).
In 2014 the Festival had a programme of 395 projects and events staged by 270 partner organisations.