Art & Design: London Design Biennale & Eureka 2023 has opened at London's Somerset House

The international London Design Biennale has opened in Somerset House. It serves as a platform for designers, artists, and innovators from around the world to come together and showcase their creative ideas, concepts, and projects, celebrating design as a powerful tool for driving change, improving lives, and shaping a better future. 

Dubai Pavilion.
Image courtesy of London Design Biennale.

From June 1 to 25, the Biennale takes over the entirety of Somerset House in London, including the Edmond J. Safra Fountain Court and River Terrace, where participants from across the globe are interacting with one another through the medium of design and enacting new forms of international cooperation.

London's Somerset House, shown with the Edmond J. Safra Fountain Court, is an iconic neoclassical building
located in the heart of London, UK,
situated on the south side of the Strand, overlooking the River Thames.
Photo: Richard Bryant

This year's Biennale is held under the artistic direction of Nieuwe Instituut, the Dutch national museum and institute for architecture, design and digital culture, led by its General and Artistic Director, Aric Chen.

Visitors can immerse themselves in a diverse range of installations, interactive displays, and thought-provoking exhibits. These exhibits often incorporate innovative materials, cutting-edge technologies, and sustainable design principles. 

The event encourages cross-cultural collaboration, fosters dialogue between different design disciplines, and encourages visitors to engage with the ideas and concepts presented.

 Poland's entry – ‘Poetics of Necessity’ - was awarded the London Design Biennale 2023 Medal, for the most outstanding overall contribution. Photo by Iona Wolff

Some 40 designers from around the world are showcasing their work responding to the theme: The Global Game: Remapping Collaborations.

There are 45 pavilions from 5 continents, involving more than 50 countries, cities and territories, including Abu Dhabi, Ai-Da Robot, Austria, Automorph Network, Beatie Wolfe, Bidibidi Pavilion, Care Pavilion, Chile, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark & Switzerland, Dubai, Future for Beginners, India, Inner Peace Pavilion, Italy, Japan, Malta, Mudac Museum, Netherlands, Nigeria, Poland, Romania, Serbia, South Korea, Spain & Peru, Taiwan, Turkey, The European Union Delegation to the United Kingdom, Ukraine and the USA.

The London Design Biennale has tackled various themes in its previous editions, including Utopia by Design (2016), Emotional States (2018), and Resonance (2021). Each theme invites participants to explore and respond creatively to social, political, and environmental issues of global significance.

This year's theme, Eureka, showcases design-led innovation from the UK’s leading research centres, featuring cross-disciplinary invention and creativity from academics, and problem solvers, exploring a wide range of topics, from ageing to city planning to Britain’s colonial history, social equality and the cultural and emotional significance of our oceans. 

Participants include Canterbury Christ Church University, Centre for Natural Material Innovation, Cambridge University, Royal College of Art, Glasgow School of Art, King’s College London, Kingston University, Lab4Living, Sheffield Hallam University, The UK’s National Centre for Ageing (NICA), University of Strathclyde, University of the Arts London.

Visitors can also take part in a workshops scheduled during the Biennale, such as baking bread, witness an AI Robot designing, weave a tapestry, get inside a space pod, find inner peace and visit a virtual garden and more. 

For talks schedule, booking details and workshops, click HERE.