#HTE

Keep Calm and Carry On in Shoreditch and the London Design Fair 2016

Aside from the inaugural biennale at the Somerset House, the 14th edition of London Design Festival felt like business as usual. Indeed, the introductory text to the official guide to LDF2016 only makes a passing mention of the Brexit. Similarly, only one exhibition in East London explicitly addressed the results of June’s referendum — an apt indication that the effects of leaving the EU remain to be seen.

Among the many exhibitions and events from September 17–25, Place Your Bets solicited visitors’ opinions about the post-Brexit future of London through a series of infographics. But the balance of the offerings in Shoreditch — a neighborhood inevitably labeled as “trendy” or “hip — were rather more conventional design week fare. Highlights among the product and furniture exhibitions included the Map Shop and Particle Particular, which we’ve covered before, as well as Emily Forgot’s photogenic Neverland at KK Outlet.

Meanwhile, the well-gentrified environs of Brick Lane have long been home to the (somewhat confusingly named) London Design Fair, one of three tradeshows that takes place during the second weekend of LDF. Formerly known as TENT London and Super Brands, this year marks the tenth anniversary of the event at the Old Truman Brewery, where it has expanded into the third floor.

Signal Noise - "Place Your Bets” (installation view)

Data design agency Signal Noise produced a thought-provoking exhibition at Protein Gallery

Photo credit: Ray Hu

Signal Noise - “Place Your Bets”

On view for five days, “Place Your Bets” was billed as an exercise in “predictive analytics”

Photo credit: Ray Hu

Signal Noise - “Place Your Bets” (detail view)

Visitors were invited to share their thoughts and opinions about the future of London

Photo credit: Ray Hu

Signal Noise - “Place Your Bets”, Robot Oracles

These Little Printer-like robots are futuristic fortune tellers

Photo credit: Ray Hu

Signal Noise - “Place Your Bets” (installation view)

As elegantly designed as it was provocative, the exhibition was a highlight of LDF2016

Photo credit: Ray Hu

Ready Made Go 2 at the Ace Hotel

The Ace Hotel presented the second edition of “Ready Made Go.” For the second year running, Laura Houseley (editor of Modern Design Review) has curated a series of commissions for the hotel.

Photo credit: Ray Hu

Ready Made Go 2 at the Ace Hotel: Soap dish by Studio Silo

Studio Silo designed an I-beam-shaped soap dish in two sizes: A small one for the guest rooms at the Ace (for the small bar of soap) and a larger one for retail.

Photo credit: Ray Hu

Ready Made Go 2 at the Ace Hotel

The products also include glassware by Jochen Holz and Assemble’s smoked tiles, which clad the bar on the seventh floor.

Photo credit: Ray Hu

Ready Made Go 2 at the Ace Hotel: “Doublet” quilt by Faye Toogood

The quilt, pictured here in situ in a guest suite, is based on a pattern from Toogood’s fashion collection.

Photo credit: Ray Hu

Ready Made Go 2 at the Ace Hotel: Climbing Wall by Patternity

The adjustable climbing wall by Patternity has been permanently installed in the basement gym.

Photo credit: Ray Hu