Samuel Chan: Design Purity and Craft Principles

London-based award-winning product and furniture designer Samuel Chan is celebrating 20 years of establishing his London studio-showroom, Channels, by launching a publication that explores his creative and entrepreneurial endeavors.

Front cover of book Samuel Chan: Design Purity and Craft Principles, authored by Charlotte and Peter Fiell, and published by Laurence King. For details on purchasing the book, click here.

Samuel Chan with one of his new ‘Mr Knock’ Bookcase I showcased at designjunction2016 as part of London Design Festival, 22-25 September.
Photo © Lucia Carpio. 

The new book tells the story of Samuel Chan’s creative and entrepreneurial endeavours, exploring his singular approach to design and manufacture, from first discovering his love of woodwork as a
schoolboy new to England, to opening Channels with a studio-showroom in 1995, and going on to be awarded 12 Design Guild Marks over the course of his career so far.

To read in full, click HERE.

designjunction2016 celebrates record visitor numbers and great success in its new King’s Cross home

The move of the London design show Design Junction to a new home at the King's Cross development had proved to be a great success, as organisers reported a record-breaking attendance to its 2016 edition (22 - 25 September), which attracted 27,000 visitors, including architects, designers and consumers from the UK and overseas.

As part of this year’s London Design Festival, the show took over key locations in its new King’s Cross home – from Granary Square and The Canopy, to The Crossing, The Gallery (Stable Street) and Lewis Cubitt Square.  designjunction2016 was most attended by UK visitors (74%), while 26% of visitors were international, with visitors from 89 different countries.

Home to a stellar line-up of international furniture and lighting brands, Cubitt House boasted a spectacular super façade – the world’s largest GRID installation (W70m x H7m) – designed by London-based Satellite Architects, alongside Danish design curators, Icons of Denmark. Exhibiting brands included Design House Stockholm, Sony’s Life Space UX, Bethan Gray, Christopher Jenner, Charlene Mullen, Isokon Plus, Bolon, Deadgood, Very Good & Proper, Another Country, Channels, Northern Lighting, LSA International, VITA Copenhagen, Brokis, String, Haberdashery and Verena Hennig amongst others.

Deborah Spencer, managing director of designjunction said, “This year has been our most exciting and ambitious show to date with more than 200 brands represented across the show. King’s Cross is the perfect home, an area so connected with the design and architectural community – representing London’s industrial past and pioneering creative present. Moving designjunction2016 to King’s Cross has been an overwhelming success and we hope to have a footprint on this vibrant and exciting area for many years to come.”

Indeed the 67-acre King’s Cross site's a rich history and a unique appeal added to the vibrant atmosphere of the fair. This former industrial heartland is being transformed into one of the capital’s most exciting creative hub, with the redevelopment of the area creating 1,900 new homes, 20 new
streets, 10 new public parks and squares and 3 million square feet of commercial office
space as well as cultural attractions.  

In line with its leading theme #immersedindesign, designjunction2016 collaborated with the King’s Cross Development and Central Saint Martins, UAL, to deliver a four-day programme of design exhibitions, installations, retail experience, events and workshops.

To read in full, click HERE.

All photos © Lucia Carpio