THE BEST ECLECTIC FINDS AT THE 2015 LONDON DESIGN FESTIVAL

This week, we are featuring our favorite finds from the 2015 London Design Festival. Today, we’ve got an eclectic collection for you. Enjoy!

1. DAZZLE SHIP LONDON -- TOBIAS REHBERGER

As part of 14-18 NOW, a major cultural program taking place across the United Kingdom to mark the centenary of the First World War, German artist Tobias Rehberger wrapped the HMS President (1918) in a stunning new artwork.

It is a contemporary take on the striking WW1 camouflage ‘dazzle’ patterns. The Rehberger clad ship looked stunning as it floated on the Thames.

2.  ANTIQUED MIRROR GLASS -- RUPERT BEVAN

The Rupert Bevan Showroom hosted a pop-up exhibition of specialist decorative finishes, many of which were never seen before they were unveiled at the festival! They combine traditional artisan skills with contemporary materials and techniques.

Each piece of glass is antiqued by hand, with different levels of patination and other finish effects. The mirrors are exceptionally beautiful, reflecting depth and complexity in every view.

3. VINTAGE CHINESE CABINET -- ROUGE CONTEMPORARY ARTISAN DESIGN

This restored vintage Chinese cabinet with painted door tiles was part of an installation on display at Rouge Contemporary Artisan Design.

The contemporary ceramics, by Lei Yang and Kaja Kippenberg, represented a little-known side of modern China. Lei Yang, a fashion designer turned shopkeeper, sources the handmade pieces on regular travels to her native China, Mongolia, Japan, Thailand and Vietnam.

4. MAKE: BELIEVE -- UK DESIGN FOR PERFORMANCE

Make: Believe, by UK Design for Performance, presented a display at the Victoria & Albert Museum that highlighted features from performances from opera, dance, theater, and pop music performed over the past four years.

Ravishing visuals, sumptuous costumes, and fairy tale scenery were created by 22 designers + 11 Sound Designers from the UK.

5. CONTOUR COLLECTION -- BODO SPERLEIN

Bodo Sperlein’s Contour Collection is based on biomorphic design. The sinuous, elongated, curvy forms were presented at Decorex. Sperlein’s travels in Japan, as well as his love of Art Nouveau, influenced the design of these pieces.

6. ELIZABETH WALLPAPER -- BLACKPOP

Blackpop presented their new collection of stunning fabrics and wallpapers at Decorex International. The new line was entitled “The Tudors- Deconstructed.” This Elizabeth wallpaper is wonderfully patterned and bursting with bold color. The abstract design was influenced by the iconic Tudor paintings at the National Portrait Gallery.

7. DISCODISCO -- HABERDASHERY

Haberdashery, a design practice that creates innovative lighting products, presented their newest creation, DiscoDisco, a sound-reactive disco ball that radiates beautiful, dancing light. It responds to any sound,  and is accompanied by a microphone that encourages user interaction.

DiscoDisco was shortlisted for the DARC lighting awards, which honor international architectural and decorative lighting design.

8. CONRAN DESIGN SHOWCASE -- CONRAN SHOP

Conran Shop showcased the best of their handpicked curation of global design talent via interactive design trails.

We saw everything from original works of art, to light fittings, to furnishings, to decorative objects from iconic names in modern design, emerging innovators, and ground-breaking collaborations.

9. IRIS CRYSTAL BALL LAMP COLLECTION -- SEBASTIAN SCHERER

Berlin-based designer Sebastian Scherer, combines combines traditional craftsmanship with modern production techniques. His Iris crystal ball lamp collection, on display at Tent London, was stunning. The lamps look like giant soap bubbles.

It was no easy feat to get the iridescent colour quality of a soap bubble onto glass. It was achieved with a dichroic color coating, creating a light wave interference. The hand blown crystal spheres are first dipped into an alcohol solution and then fired. The coating shimmers in a rainbow hues.

10.  MULTIPLEX -- TOM DIXON

British designer Tom Dixon created a pop-up department store for the London Design Festival that brings together 30 brands. Called Multiplex because of its layers, the interior has a ”rugged London look.” Some of the walls are covered in silver foil, reminiscent of Andy Warhol’s Factory.

Among the brands featured are Swedish pocket synthesizer company, Teenage Engineering, Sort of Coal, which promotes the benefits of White Charcoal, and Aston Martin, which is showcasing its DBX Concept at Multiplex.

In addition to color, shape and texture, Dixon designed the space using smell and sound to present complementary groupings.

Read more about Beautiful Design, as it relates to Arts/Design, Nature/Science, Food/Drink, Place/Time, Mind/Body, and Soul/Impact.

IMAGE CREDITS:

1. Image: Courtesy of The London Design Festival. Dazzle Ship London by Tobias Rehberger.
2. Image: Courtesy of Contra Vision®. Dazzle Ship London by Tobias Rehberger.
3. Image: Courtesy of The London Design Festival. Antiqued Mirror Glass by Rupert Bevan.
4. Image: Courtesy of The London Design Festival. A restored vintage Chinese cabinet with painted door tiles.
5. Image: Courtesy of Norwegian Opera House. Die Fledermaus. Make: Believe, UK Design for Performance 2011-2015.
6. Image: Courtesy of The London Design Festival. Contour Collection Table and Chair by Bodo Sperlein.
7. Image: Courtesy of The London Design Festival. Elizabeth wallpaper from the Deconstructed Tudor Collection collection by BlackPop.
8. Image: Courtesy of The London Design Festival. DiscoDisco by Haberdashery.
9. Image: Courtesy of The London Design Festival. Conran Shop.
10. Image: Courtesy of The London Design Festival. Iris by Sebastian Scherer.
11. Image: Courtesy of The London Design Festival. Iris by Sebastian Scherer.
12. Image: Courtesy of The London Design Festival. Multiplex by Tom Dixon.
13. Image: Courtesy of The London Design Festival. Multiplex by Tom Dixon.
14. Image: Courtesy of The London Design Festival. Dazzle Ship London by Tobias Rehberger.
15. Image: Courtesy of The London Design Festival. Multiplex by Tom Dixon.
16. Image: by BN App - Download now!
17. Image: Courtesy of Contra Vision®. Dazzle Ship London by Tobias Rehberger.