I spent much of the second half of September hopping backwards and forwards between Bristol and London, trying to catch as much of the London Design Festival as I could. This huge celebration of design saw hundreds of pop-up installations and exhibitions taking place all over the city, a couple of which I’ve featured already. It also brought a cluster of interiors fairs, and today I want to share my top picks from the two that I managed to visit: Design Junction and the London Design Fair.
Both events featured stands from some of my favourite brands, including the likes of NORR11, Northern and Marset. But I also discovered plenty of designers and makers who weren’t previously on my radar, and it’s those whom I’m going to focus on in this post. So, here are 10 new finds which I loved and which I think you will too…
Jo Elbourne
Based in Margate, Kent, Jo Elbourne puts a contemporary spin on the traditional craft of seat-weaving. Using string and dyed cord, she creates beautiful stools and chairs with abstract patterns and wonderful colours, as well as woven artwork for walls and surfaces. Her work featured in Carl Hansen & Son’s 2018 product catalogue, and in 2017 she was named ‘Best in Craft’ at the Elle Decoration British Design Awards. Her pieces instantly caught my eye and I can’t wait to see what she does next.
Poiat
I first came across the work of Helsinki-based studio Poiat in Finland a few weeks ago (a post about my time there to follow soon), but it was great to learn more at the London Design Fair. Set up by Antti Rouhunkoski and Timo Mikkonen in 2010, it has been responsible for all sorts of commercial and residential spaces and launched its own furniture line in 2014. Most eye-catching for me were the Asian-inspired ‘Bastone’ cabinets and sculptural ‘Fiori’ tables, both created in collaboration with master cabinetmaker Antrei Hartikainen; I also loved the look of the simple yet elegant ‘Lattiva’ collection of chairs and tables.
OBJT
South Korean studio OBJT was founded in 2016 by Lee Geonmin, who first developed an interest in product design while studying Fine Arts at university – in his own words, he ‘liked to make tools for making artistic works rather than doing actual artistic work’. After graduating, he merged his knowledge of materials, techniques and sculpture to create a collection of beautiful yet functional objects, resulting in deceptively simple-looking designs such as the ‘Origami’ side table, the ‘Slide’ storage box and the ‘Reverse’ incense holder.
King & Webbon
I’m a bit embarrassed that I hadn’t come across King & Webbon before, as it’s based right here in Bristol. It was founded last year by designer-maker Andy King, who produces a stunning range of freestanding wooden furniture, as well as bespoke commissions covering everything from stools to kitchens. All the designs focus on simplicity and texture, and are handmade from responsibly sourced materials. My favourite pieces form part of the oak ‘Hideout’ collection, which has clear references to mid-century Danish design; prices start from £495.
Dor & Tan
I’ve always had a thing for minimalist ceramics, so I was delighted to discover Dor & Tan, which is based in St Ives, Cornwall. It was founded by potters Peter, Sharron, Matthew and Viola, who wanted to break away from the disposability of modern life and create items to be cherished. The result is a handcrafted range of tactile tableware and planters made from local clay, many with colours that evoke the misty skies and ragged cliffs of the Cornish coast. I particularly love the understated shapes, as well as the speckled glazes used on many of the pieces.
TORU
I found TORU at ‘Inspired by Barcelona’, a stand funded by BDC Barcelona Design Center and Barcelona City Council to showcase designers based in and influenced by the Catalan capital. Established by Jordi Ribaudí, it’s located in a restored 19th-century tannery and produces exquisite furniture from wood and vegetable-tanned leather. Every piece is handmade by local artisans and designed to grow more beautiful over time – a sustainable approach that always appeals to me. I was also very taken with the sculptural curves featured in many of TORU’s creations.
Terence Woodgate
Industrial designer Terence Woodgate uses LEDs to create lighting that balances energy efficiency with a minimalist aesthetic. He already has a range of sleek table lamps and pendants made from natural oak and Carrara marble, and used Design Junction to launch a new series called ‘Sum’. Consisting of a large floating disc balanced above a silicone shade, it produces a warm, ambient light and can be dimmed as needed. It’s available in black and white and costs £285.
Ro Smit
Ro Smit has created furniture, tableware and more, but it was his ‘Wolwaeren’ collection of blankets, rugs and cushions that instantly caught my eye on the Dutch stand at the London Design Fair. Handmade by people with mental and physical disabilities on looms built to accommodate their needs, it consists of beautifully snuggly designs with subtle patterns. The collection also aims to reinvigorate the Netherlands’ traditional woollen trade and the yarn is ethically sourced from sheep farmers on the island of Texel.
Lundhs x Jenkins & Uhnger
Norwegian stone-worktop company Lundhs used the London Design Fair to launch ‘Essence’, a limited-edition accessories collection created in collaboration with British-Norwegian duo Jenkins & Uhnger. Made from natural stone with wood and brass detailing, it consists of serving boards, vases, trays and a pestle and mortar. All feature soft curves that catch the light and showcase the character of the material, and were designed to be statement pieces as much as practical objects. The collection will be available to buy online from 15th November, with prices to be announced soon.
Experimental Perfume Club
Finally, something a bit different: London-based perfume studio Experimental Perfume Club, which was set up by classically trained French ‘nose’ Emmanuelle Moeglin. As well as creating bespoke fragrances for brands and running workshops all over the UK, she’s just launched her first standalone perfume collection. Called ‘Layers’, it encompasses three distinct fragrances that can you can blend in different combinations to build your own customised scent. There’s a top layer of bergamot and incense, a mid layer of jasmine and osmanthus and a base layer of sandalwood and musk, all priced from £25 each. I was lucky enough to try them during a taster session at Design Junction and I was astounded by the huge range of scents that you can make. They all smell wonderful in their own right, too!
All photography via the brands and designers listed above
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