While Designscape 2020 launches in August, Fashion SVP autumn show is cancelled.

London and UK fashion and design trade fairs, along with the rest of the global events industry, have had to change their show dates and exhibition arrangements in recent months in view of the current Covid-19 crisis.  However you lose some you win some.
First there is a new virtual show called Designscape 2020 that organisers believe “conceptualises a unique and much needed opportunity for the design community to connect, do business remotely, network from anywhere in the world and learn on a scale like never before.”  This inaugural event, from 11 – 13 August, came from the creative minds behind leading design shows Decorex, designjunction, kbb Birmingham and Sleep & Eat, which have cancelled their autumn 2020 events.

Decorex September 2019 at Olympia, Kensington, London.  Photo © Lucia Carpio

Bringing together those at the forefront of the global Residential, Hospitality & Retail communities, its three-day programme looks to the future of design, combining virtual symposiums, educational and topical seminars, global matchmaking & speed networking, and a comprehensive product directory. Each day will feature unrivaled thought-leading programming and conversations with real-time audience engagement from trailblazers in business and design to innovators in science and technology.

Now among the latest to announce cancellation of their autumn 2020 event is Fashion SVP which will not show in September.  Their new dates will be 26-27th January 2021 in London.
The organisers said in a statement, “We want our exhibitors and visitors to be able to travel freely to the show, feel safe and secure whilst taking part, and maximise the benefits achieved from both the time and financial investment they are making.  With this in mind, we have now taken the difficult decision that it will be in the best interests of both our visitors and exhibitors to postpone our September event until January 2021.”
While the UK government is still working with the main trade show trade associations to see when tradeshows will re-open in the UK and how they will work with social distancing measures etc., there is not yet enough certainty about the nature of the guidelines and how this will impact upon visitor confidence, for us to plan with confidence and in detail for September. Additionally many brands and retailers are in a state of flux in the UK at present and their sourcing requirements are not clear at the moment.

Rado announces the winner of Rado Star Prize UK

David Knowles named winner of the Rado Star Prize UK

The various shows and events including designjunction that marked this September’s London Design Week have come to a close but for one designer, his design journey continues after winning a prestigious prize from the Swiss watch maker Rado.

This year, a panel of distinguished judges have awarded the second edition of the Rado Star Prize UK to David Knowles who impressed the judges with his entry “GC18” – a coffee table inspired  by  the   Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland, a unique landscape of stunning natural beauty. 

The inspiring place features interlocking hexagonal columns of ancient black basalt staggering out of the ocean, forging a majestic pathway of multi-faceted levels.

Knowles’ GC18   coffee  table responds  to  that landscape’s  aesthetic elements resulting in a furniture piece that is tactile, intriguing and thought-provoking; consequently inspiring mindfulness. 

“It has been a great opportunity to showcase my design at Rado Star Prize UK.  I am honoured to  win  the award, especially to have been judged by a panel I admire  so much.  I hope  this  will  be  the  start  of  setting  up  my  design  career”  comments David Knowles,  winner  of  Rado  Star  Prize  UK  2018. 

Knowles, a  3D  Design  student  from Northumbria University received £5,000 and a True Thinline Plasma as a prize for his winning project. GC18 was selected from a shortlist of ten designs, with each entry responding  to  the  theme  ‘On  Time/Time  Off’.

David Knowle, left, with Hakim El Kadiri, Bethan Gray
and Will Sorrell.

 The  theme  explores  the  concept  of passing  time,  enriching  life,  and  products  that  enhance  user’s  awareness  of  where they spend their time. 

Rado CEO Matthias Breschan commented: “The creativity and thought present in this year’s Rado Star Prize UK entries is very impressive. I am pleased that Rado can help to promote the work of young designers such as David, the Rado Star Prize UK is a great example of Rado’s continued dedication to design.” 

“This  second  edition  of  the  Rado  Star  Prize  UK  has  challenged  the  judges  with  a fantastic selection of projects.” commented designjunction Event Director, Will Sorrell.  The stellar line-up of judges who selected the winner included award-winning designer Bethan Gray; Head of Design at John Lewis Philippa Prinsloo; Vice President of Product Management at Rado Hakim El Kadiri; Founder of Arts Thread Katie Dominy and designjunction Event Director Will Sorrell. 

London's designjunction to transform South Bank for its September 2018 show

The designjunction show will take place 20–23 September 2018 at a new venue at Oxo in the cultural hub of London's South Bank.

Due to take place at Oxo Tower Wharf, Doon Street and the Riverside Walkway, designjunction, now in its eighth year, will play host to hundreds of product launches, boutique pop-up shops, bespoke installations, exhibitions, and a specially curated talks programme that will celebrate equality and diversity with 50 world-class speakers.  There will also be dedicated spaces to relax, meet, work and enjoy delicious food.

The Doon Street site, the largest super-structure ever built by designjunction, will house 200 international design brands and temporary pop up shops. The Riverside Walkway will showcase a series of outdoor installations, whilst Oxo Tower Wharf  and Bargehouse will host major brand activations, talks and exhibitions.

Mud Shell developed by Stephanie Chaltiel, Riverside Walkway

The Riverside Walkway will provide a platform for Mud Shell, an innovative housing project marrying ancient earth architecture techniques with the latest drone spraying technology.  Led by architect Stephanie Chaltiel, the project aims to build a simple but sturdy and durable housing system that can be customised depending on the location. Stephanie has developed a unique digital tool that can be piloted or programmed to "Drone Spray" natural materials over a light prefabricated framework until it forms an inhabitable structure.

On one of the jetties overlooking the Thames, the city of Saint-Etienne will showcase the ‘Gateway to Inclusion’, an installation conceived by Lisa White, Head of Lifestyle and Interiors at WGSN, in collaboration with designer François Dumas.  A structure made of steel and ribbon, two of Saint Etienne’s traditional industries, the project aims to promote inclusion in design.

On the Doon Street Site, designjunction is supporting the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust (SLCT) in partnership with RIBA in a year-long campaign, which aims to raise funds and promote diversity and inclusion in the design and architecture industry.

Co-working space designed by Squire and Partners, Doon Street site 

‘The Architect’s Toolkit’ project will be launched at designjunction as part of a co-working space designed by award-winning, Brixton based architecture practice Squire and Partners, using acoustic panels by We Design Silence.

Images from designjunction.