Making its debut in East London’s buzzing creative district, Design London Shoreditch brought together three dynamic exhibition spaces: Design at Work, Design Culture, and House of ICON. This exciting new addition to the design calendar served as a vibrant hub of innovation, showcasing the latest in commercial, hospitality, and residential design.
Set in the heart of the Shoreditch Design Triangle, the event attracted an international audience of architects, designers, and creatives. The programme featured inspiring talks (co-curated by journalist Roddy Clarke), immersive installations, brand activations, and a curated mix of both emerging and established design names. Design London Shoreditch positioned itself as a must visit destination during the London Design Festival.
Three exhibition venues:
1. Design at Work
Protein Studios Shoreditch, 31 New Inn Yard, EC2A 3EY
Focusing on workplace innovation, Design at Work explored how thoughtful design enhances wellbeing, productivity, and comfort. Leading global brands and rising talent showcased forward thinking products and ideas shaping the modern office.
2. Design Culture
Kachette, 347 Old St, EC1V 9LP
This curated exhibition examined how culture influences design. Featuring works from independent designers, artists, and Kingston University graduates, the show presented statement pieces and finely crafted products that demonstrated the power of design to transform space.
3. House of ICON
Shoreditch Town Hall, 380 Old St, EC1V 9LT
Taking over the iconic Shoreditch Town Hall, House of ICON celebrated the full spectrum of interior design. From minimalist Scandinavian aesthetics to bold maximalism, brands transformed the venue’s historic rooms with standout furniture, lighting, textiles, and accessories for residential and hospitality environments.
Participating brands
Design London Shoreditch featured a curated selection of leading design brands, each contributing a distinct vision and high level of craftsmanship. Brands included:
- BAUX: Swedish innovators in sustainable acoustic design, BAUX presented functional and visually compelling solutions using natural materials.
- Berlin Acoustics: Established in 2022, Berlin Acoustics introduced soundproof booths that blend aesthetics with environmental responsibility.
- Dare Studio: This British design studio offered timeless, award winning furniture for luxury interiors and contract settings.
- JDD Furniture: UK based specialists in bespoke meeting pods and modular seating solutions tailored for modern workspaces.
- sixteen3: Focused on sustainability and durability, this independent UK brand produces high quality furniture for commercial interiors.
- LaErre: Italian makers of bespoke large scale luxury trunks.
- Thonet: A legendary furniture brand dating back to 1819, known for pioneering bentwood and tubular steel furniture.
- Isomi: This British brand unveiled the award winning Knit One chair, a modular seating system designed with sustainability in mind.
Installations and collaborations
Creative installations and cross disciplinary collaborations were showcased across the venues:
Design Discussions with Roddy Clarke
Roddy Clarke co curated the talks programme, hosting inspiring conversations with designers and thought leaders at the heart of Shoreditch’s creative scene.
2LG Studio – “You Can Sit With Us” at House of ICON
Jordan Cluroe and Russell Whitehead curated a welcoming interior salon that centered Queer designers, featuring conversations, tarot readings, and an open mic for designers.
Ben Cullen Williams – “Self Portrait” at Design London Shoreditch
In partnership with Google DeepMind and Google Arts and Culture Lab, Williams presented an installation where an AI model generated a self portrait of itself. Using Williams’ photographic archive and tools like Veo, Gemini, and Imagen, the piece explored the evolving relationship between human creativity and artificial intelligence.
ISOLA at House of ICON
ISOLA brought together a global community of designers, studios, and manufacturers in a dynamic and diverse showcase.
British Council – “Ancient Futures” at Design Culture
This project explored how traditions and future narratives intersect through artistic and ecological collaborations.
Royal College of Art – MA Design Products Showcase
Graduates from the RCA presented innovative work across furniture, materials, objects, and storytelling, with a shared focus on the role of design in contemporary life.
Lois O’Hara – Bar Installation at House of ICON
O’Hara created a bar experience in her signature curved aesthetic, designed to inspire curiosity and spark social connection.
Moleskine Workshops at Design Culture
Moleskine hosted participatory workshops focused on the creative power of handwriting and sketching, offering a space for visitors to express themselves.
From the organisers
Marlon Cera-Marle, Director, Media 10, said:
“Shoreditch has grown into a vibrant creative community. With our experience in design events and publishing, we were proud to launch this new platform during London Design Festival. The early support from respected brands helped bring our vision to life.”
Ben Evans CBE, Director of London Design Festival, added:
“Design London Shoreditch was an exciting and timely addition to the Festival. It reflected Shoreditch’s role as a creative engine for the city and provided a valuable platform for emerging and established voices in the design community.”
About Shoreditch Design Triangle
Now in its 18th year, the Shoreditch Design Triangle returned with its most ambitious programme yet. For the first time, it included three large scale industry showcases in partnership with Design London Shoreditch, hosted at Shoreditch Town Hall, Kachette, and Protein Studios.
These venues were part of a wider lineup of over 40 events across the area, featuring product launches, exhibitions, talks, workshops, and more. Once home to the furniture trade, Shoreditch has evolved into a celebrated global design destination. Its mix of heritage and innovation made it the ideal setting to experience the full spectrum of contemporary design.