Design Centre Stories

A Show of Appreciation

Design has the power to bring people together, and London Design Week 2020, which took place in mid-March, was when the community came together to share ideas. Looking back to happy times, Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour asked designers for their outstanding memories of the show – and here are some of their responses, with more to follow. Design, when it’s at its best and most inspiring, reveals the fundamental human truth that there’s more bringing us together than keeping us apart.

“I loved catching Zak+Fox’s talk – very inspiring,” says Dylan O’Shea of A Rum Fellow (above), who also launched his own Kindred collection at George Spencer Designs during the week. “London Design Week is a great opportunity to meet and share ideas with industry colleagues. The dome ribbon decorations were spot on!”

“By far the best talk I went to during the week was Olga Polizzi’s,” says Ottilie Stevenson of Vero Fabrics. “Every aspect of it was interesting, especially if you are fascinated by hotel design. She talked through more recent projects and discussed how she overcame issues with layout and design. I could have listened to her knowledge and wisdom all afternoon.” The week also saw the announcement of the winner of Holland & Sherry’s design competition to create a new fabric for Vero Fabrics.

“A real highlight for me has to be the creative transformations that happen in the run-up to London Design Week,” says Gail Taylor of th2. “The Design Centre and all the showrooms create the most wonderful installations & window displays for all to see and admire. This year in the studio we went for a pastel palette with heaps of lush green plants and foliage.

“Another favourite memory has to be the collaborative talk I hosted with Rebecca Weir from Light IQ. Lighting in the home is an art, and so important in creating a calm and balanced interior – it was a fantastic opportunity to share our knowledge.”

“My wonderful team mate Karl Stedman and I had the opportunity to present Holly Hunt’s newest category launch, wallcovering,” says Holly Hunt’s director of global sales (above). “The group that attended the presentation were lovely; interested, engaged and enjoyable. Bites and cocktails never hurt the fun of seeing new product launches either!”

“Becky Metcalfe did a brilliant overview of interior design trends delving into all aspects of design, its heritage and how we are still looking back in time to discover, inspire and gain a new perspective of how we design today,” says Selina McCabe of Winch Design. “It truly was an education in new and different materiality, processes and disciplines.”

“We had a wonderful time welcoming visitors into our showroom to explain a little about our history and production methods,” says David Hunt Lighting’s creative director Hollie Moreland. “Being able to show people how our craftspeople create our designs by hand in our Cotswolds workshop and taking through our history, which extends three centuries, was a real highlight.

“Design Week never disappoints and I am always inspired by the creativity on show. I very much enjoyed the Conversations in Design talks: taking a moment to pause and listen to incredible inspirational voices from our industry is such a joy. And I’m always amazed by the textures and ingenuity at Arte, their wallpapers are far more that you imagine a wallpaper to be, and this year’s launches were no exception, from velvet textured corduroy and origami pleated papers to jewel coloured printed silks and quilted fabrics.”