Over the course of London Design Festival, our team clocked up 28,000 steps, a fitting measure of just how much ground there was to cover. From immersive sound experiences to thought-provoking light installations and insightful panel discussions, the festival once again proved why it is such an important fixture in the design calendar.
We began the week at Focus/25 at the Design Centre Chelsea Harbour. House of Rohl hosted a calming sound bath that set the tone for the days ahead, before we explored the latest interior design trends in the vibrant exhibitions in the atrium below.
Left: JPA Design presented Afterglow Frequencies
Right: House of Rohl calming sound bath
In London Fields, JPA Design presented Afterglow Frequencies at their studio, our second sound bath of the day, but with a strikingly different approach. Instead of yoga mats, guests leaned into an installation that allowed the vibrations to be physically felt through the body. The multi-sensory experience guided visitors through two zones: Sunset, a contemplative, dimly lit space for reflection, and Sunrise, a brighter, energising environment of biodynamic light and sound. The project perfectly reflected JPA’s human-centric ethos, shaped by their expertise across aviation, hospitality, and lifestyle.
From there, we travelled east to Shoreditch to see Mirrored Landscape by artist Yael Erel at Art’otel. The installation explored light as a tool for drawing, combining digital fabrication with handcraft to produce stainless-steel reflectors embossed by a robotic arm. As these reflectors rotated, they transformed anatomical forms into shifting, architectural-scale light drawings that encouraged stillness and reflection. We found the installation deeply moving and unpredictable. The soundtrack, which mimicked a heartbeat, made you feel centred and extremely focused.
Left: Mirrored Landscape by artist Yael Erel at Art’otel
Right: A new alarm clock guided by a gentle circadian light by Thomas Heatherwick
Later that evening at Tala’s showroom we joined a fascinating discussion with Thomas Heatherwick about the new alarm clock their studio designed in collaboration with Tala. Thomas humorously and engagingly explored the materiality and design process of the lamp/ clock and explained the science of how we should be waking up… (which is not meant to be with our iPhones next to our bed!)
We then made our way to Museum Studio in London Bridge, where our very own Creative Director – Dan Blaker joined a panel discussion with collaborators from Coda-to-Coda (sound) and The Workers (AV) for ‘A Night of Nielsen’. The panel discussed the creative process behind the Carl Nielsen Museum in Odense we worked on, offering insights into the integration of light, sound, and media within the museum.
Throughout the week we visited a multitude of events hosted by interior design studios, manufacturers, and suppliers. Among the highlights were the Tom Dixon party at Coal Drops Yard, where the designer himself took to the decks, and a vibrant rooftop gathering and exhibition at The Light Lab in Shoreditch.
Left: Dan Blaker, A Night with Nielsen
Right: Lee Broom, Beacon
Our final stop was the Southbank just 5 minutes from our office, where Lee Broom’s Beacon illuminated the entrance to the Royal Festival Hall. Inspired by Brutalism and the Festival of Britain, the chandelier-like installation was constructed from upcycled glass fragments. One of its most striking features was the light performance that aligned with Big Ben’s chimes, pulsing from gentle rhythm to dramatic crescendo. Beyond its visual impact, the work was conceived with sustainability in mind, with elements designed to be repurposed after deinstallation.
