Forget summer flip flops, you’re going to need comfortable trainers to get round all there is to see in London this September

London Design Festival runs from 16 – 20 September across the city, the event will showcase installations, the Global Design Forum, London Design Medals, fairs and a partner programme across eleven Design Districts

LDF continues to champion both emerging and established talent, fostering collaboration and innovation across the international design community. This year placing an emphasis on dialogue – between East and West, past and future, human and non-human, physical and digital. This dialogue often foregrounds sustainability, circularity and reflection; positioning London not just as a showcase of design innovation but a platform for critical global conversations

Highlights at LDF include :The Pangolin Shield on The Strand. The installation explores colonial legacies, power, ecological exploitation and the movement of people and beings across borders

MADE will be unveiling a collaboration with the Barbican, launching an interiors collection (pictured above) that brings one of Britain’s most iconic architectural estates into the heart of the contemporary home. To celebrate, they have created an immersive installation in the iconic institution for the London Design Festival, one which delves into the archives of Barbican interiors and the design inspiration behind the MADE x Barbican collection

Craft x Tech will return to the London Design Festival this September for its second edition. Founded by designer and engineer Dr Hideki Yoshimoto of design studio Tangent, with curatorial direction by Italian independent curator Maria Cristina Didero, Craft x Tech pairs international designers and artists with local Japanese craftspeople from the Tokai region to produce new creative works. The project explores how Japanese craft, specialising in lacquer, metal, woodworking, ceramics, washi paper and textiles, can be reimagined through a thoughtful dialogue between traditional techniques and contemporary practices

And I will be heading to Bisazza who are handing their London showroom over to Kate Watson-Smyth. Kate is reimagining the space as a curated domestic environment exploring the relationship between mosaic and contemporary living. Rather than treating mosaic simply as an architectural finish, the installation looks at the material in a more decorative, residential context – bringing together Bisazza mosaics with furniture, art and objects to explore how a single tile can spark a much bigger decorating idea. Kate will also be hosting talks during the festival

Don’t forget, Shoreditch Design Week runs as part of LDF from 15 to 20 September. As the event’s largest official district, Shoreditch will be offering a programme of installations, topical talks and showroom openings. Highlights will include Material Matters, an inspiring showcase of regenerative, circular and low-impact materials, and Neuroplaces the UK’s first B2B exhibition and conference dedicated to neuroinclusive and accessible design