Art, Design & Cultural Events: London Design Festival 16 — 24 Sept 2023

London Design Festival 2023 is in full swing and this September, the LDF programme over 9 days is spread across 13 districts, outdoor sculptures, solo exhibitions, two church installations, insightful talks and much more.  It is an experience for all the senses, including AI-enhanced smells, artful feasts for the eyes in Greenwich and sounds and textures come together in an ode to Shoreditch’s industrial legacy.  

Click HERE for free digital guide.

London designer Yinka Ilori is a keynote speaker at  Global Design Forum
at the V&A Museum.
Photo from Global Design Forum website.

Plus, the Global Design Forum at the Victoria & Albert Museum (V&A) in South Kensington, is the LDF’s curated thought leadership programme, celebrating design and the minds shaping its future.  The programme features the challenging and exciting topics that designers face today, including regenerative futures; new possibilities in digital design; identity and inclusivity; design to shape behaviour; connecting communities; participation in design and design for crisis and recovery. Speakers from the global design community share new perspectives on how design can be more accessible, inclusive, sustainable and at the forefront of change.  The sessions are hosted at the V&A Museum on 16, 17, 20 and 21 September 2023.

Created in association with Artichoke and supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies, "Aura" installation by Pablo Valbuena at St Paul's Cathedral examines the potential of time, sound and light to create a contemporary response to this Christopher Wren masterpiece.  ‘Aura’ listens to the sound, voices and music generated in St Paul’s and materialises them into a spectral, three-dimensional aura.
Image from London Design Festival

One of the headline LDF events is "Aura" by France-based Spanish artist Pablo Valbuena inside the St Paul's Cathedral, EC4.  "Aura" is a live installation that transforms the sounds present in the Cathedral into a pulsating line of light projected at an architectural scale. The piece is deeply intertwined with the context and fabric of the cathedral. It introduces new ideas while seamlessly integrating into the building and its daily life as if it had been part of the original design.

Another headline event is ‘Halo’ by Moritz Waldemeyer at St Stephen Walbrook, EC4

"Halo" by Moritz Waldemeyer integrates two complementary
layers to create an immersive experience.
Images by Ed Reeve from London Design Festival

"Halo" is a transcendent light installation nestled within the storied architecture of St. Stephen Walbrook Church. This historic landmark, also designed by the Sir Christopher Wren, stands as a symbol of London's resilience and enduring spirit, rising from the ashes of the Great Fire of London in 1666. 'Halo' thoughtfully integrates two complementary layers to create an immersive experience. The first layer features a meticulously designed conical pendulum, carefully embedded with integrated lights. Suspended from the apex of the church, the pendulum traces a celestial-like path around the church's central attraction – the renowned altar. Created by acclaimed artist Henry Moore, this travertine marble masterpiece invites viewers into a shared space of contemplation and admiration.

One of the special projects during LDF is "Nice to Meet You Again" by Morag Myerscough at

Shoreditch Electric Light Station, N1.

Image from London Design Festival

Morag and MINI (one of the motor brands under BMW group) are united by their "shared values of imaginative space utilisation." They integrate their designs with the surrounding environment to create captivating experiences. These values shape the installation, "providing a fully immersive journey into a future where spaces are adorned with abundant greenery and teeming with vibrant life."

Until Tuesday, there are talks at the installation that invites visitors to explore a luscious urban world where tradition meets technology. The installation exudes a contagious sense of optimism and positive energy, mirroring MINI's signature 'go-kart feeling' and playful nature. 

Morag, born and raised in Holloway, London, has now embraced life in the countryside but has always been captivated by how colour, pattern and words can alter the urban environment and the public perception of spaces.  This collaboration with MINI amplifies the brand's commitment to creating dynamic and positive mobility solutions that reflect the energy and diversity of both rural and urban life.

Coinciding with LDF is the Shoreditch Design Triangle cultural event  with a programme of design-led happenings that are representative of the vibrant creative scene that flourishes in the area.  Shoreditch's transformation from historically a working-class and industrial area to a hub of creativity, culture and innovation, can be traced back to the 1990s when artists, musicians, and creative entrepreneurs began to move into the area, attracted by its affordable rents and industrial spaces. This influx of creative individuals laid the groundwork for the neighborhood's transition into a creative and design-focused community.