Here are the highlights including a designers lunch at SCP, Tom Dixon's HYPERMOBILE exhibition and new products we both love.

Vitra

Vitra, who were presenting ‘Hackability of the Stool’ at the Vitra and Artek Tramshed on Rivington Street, featuring 100 ideas for altering the iconic Stool 60, designed by Alvar Aalto in 1933.

The showroom had been updated since we last visited to, with new product launches from Antonio Citterio and Charles and Ray Eames.

Matt said:

“The thought of coming up with 100 different versions is quite overwhelming and the designer’s energy and process of designing each one was mind-blowing. On the walls were Daisuke Motogi’s detailed sketches of his designs, there were originally 400 which were narrowed down to 100. My favourite was the stool that had been hacked to become a vinyl record player.”

 

Scp

As part of SCPs LDF celebrations, they hosted a designers lunch and we were lucky to be invited along. The lunch took place on the Wednesday and was attended by John Pawson, Matthew Hilton, Wilkinson & Rivera, Phillipe Malouin, Terence Woodgate, Donna Wilson and more.

For the London Design Festival 2023, SCP are pleased to present Soft Power, an exhibition of sustainable design and enduring ideas at our Curtain Road Showroom in Shoreditch, featuring four different shows under one roof.

SCP 2023 Upholstery Collection

A collection of sustainable upholstery designs; sofas and armchairs, all made by-hand in natural materials at SCP’s specialist upholstery factory in Norfolk, England. It features four new sofas and two new armchairs, blending together the ornate with the restrained, the extravagant with the classical, in an exploration of the idea of soft power.

Designs by: Matthew Hilton, Philippe Malouin, Wilkinson & Rivera, Donna Wilson and Terence Woodgate.

John Pawson for WonderGlass

Presenting a new collection of WonderGlass pieces by British architect and designer John Pawson. The show will feature Berg, a mesmerising coffee table, alongside three different lighting designs; Sleeve, Horizon and Pendant Tube.

Wonderglass is an Italian family owned company founded in 2013 by father and son Maurizio and Christian Mussati. Their vision was to create a company that would promote and preserve the skills and techniques of the Venetian master glassmakers.

 Matt said:

“For the SCP lunch I was sat with Reiko Kaneko, the amazing ceramist and designer of one of our favourite SCP chairs, the Orlando chair. 

I was sitting opposite Philippe Malouin, who it was really lovely to meet. In my opinion he has designed the most comfortable sofa ever for SCP, the Puffer Sofa. It was brilliant to learn more about their thought process and how they worked within the SCP factory.”

Knoll

On view for London Design Week there was a special series of Saarinen Pedestal Tables in new natural stones. This limited run includes the Saarinen Dining Table topped with Spectrolite Blue, a natural granite that evokes the starlit infinity of space.

The Knoll showroom always offers the upmost in luxury and grandeur and is always a fantastic experience for the senses. The Cesca chair with upholstered seat was a real stand out piece, the iconic tubular frame still looks as good today as back in the 1920’s when it was first designed, the upholstery adds that extra comfort and luxury.

Tom Dixon

Over the years, Tom Dixon's Coal Office has become a significant Festival hub, as the design entrepreneur has been hosting designers and brands within his King’s Cross spaces. For 2023, Tom Dixon presents ‘Hypermobile’, an exploration of contemporary design that was inspired by the designer's venture into portable lighting design.

 Tom Dixon said:

“You are invited to explore our Shop and the Studio's Headquarters in King’s Cross and immerse yourself in the worlds of portability, miniaturisation and rechargeability. HYPERMOBILE will celebrate our new PORTABLE lights and will span eleven arches and spaces within The Coal Office.

The Portables were inspired by the changing demands of society. They symbolize the general shift towards flexibility and blurred boundaries between work and play, indoor and outdoor settings and increased flexibility in all our electrical devices, including personal transport, communication, entertainment, and more.”

Matt says:" I visited Tom Dixons showroom at Coal Drops Yard for a party to celebrate the hypermobile event, it was pouring down with rain but there was still a huge queue outside. The highlight of the products was the new Portable range, Tom Dixon had hired designers who were doing special edition screen prints to wraparound the box making each box unique."

 

HAY

HAY showcased some new products across accessories, furniture, and lighting at the London showroom during this year's London Design Festival. The latest launches by Stefan Diez, Muller Van Severen, Jasper Morrison, and John Tree, among many more, look out for them coming to our website soon.

Matts favourite new products……..

"The Chisel chair in Sheepskin is really beautiful and a stand out piece, the warmth of the sheepskin and contrast of the Walnut wood make for a stunning piece. The Slubby nature of the Crayon rug really appealed to me and I could visualise it in many interior settings adding a level of warmth for the upcoming colder months."