Mayfair Design District '24 presents a dynamic nexus of art, design and fashion

The upcoming edition of the London Design Festival has creatives and connoisseurs around the world eagerly anticipating its commencement. Set to unfold in 11 districts across London, the design festival will inject the vigour, vision and innovation of the global creative community into the urban fabric of the city—morphing it into a hub for art and design from September 14 - 22, 2024.

Since its inception, its Mayfair Design District (MDD) has been a melting pot of art, design, hospitality and fashion, expanding on its creative foundation with this year's programme as well. In the vibrant design district, visitors will be greeted with an array of exhibitions, immersive installations, new launches, open studios and animated discourses, its programme running during the design event and throughout the Autumn season. "We are thrilled to have the participation of some of today's most inspiring galleries, artists and brands who will bring a unique, bold, surprising and thought-provoking experience to the area," says Anne-Laure Pingreoun, curator and co-founder of the Mayfair Design District.

As the extensive roster of design presentations is soon to activate the locale, STIR, as a media partner with the Mayfair Design District, picks presentations and conversations that will underscore it.

Liquid Light

Date and time: September 14 - 16, 2024 (10:00 - 18:00); September 17 - 18, 2024 (10:00 - 16:30); September 19 - 22, 2024 (10:00 - 18:00)

Event type: Exhibition / Installation

Cost: Free

Location: Mayfair Design District

Organiser: Johnnie Walker, Marshmallow Laser Feast

Liquid Light is an immersive installation conceived by renowned artist collective Marshmallow Laser Feast in collaboration with Johnnie Walker, delving into the innovation and craftsmanship of glassmaking. Through extensive research and development, the installation strives to explore the balance between the strength and the fragility of glass as a medium. The centrepiece lays bare a platoon of glass-blown droplets suspended mid-air—symbolising the evolution of form through time. As light passes through these glass entities, a dance of light and shadow will ensue, complemented by a musical score—a juxtaposition of gravity, liquid glass, material, design and innovation.

Group show by David Gill Gallery

Date and time: September 14 and 21, 2024 (11:00 - 18:00); September 16 - 20, 2024 (10:00 - 18:00)

Event type: Exhibition / Installation

Cost: Free

Location: Mayfair Design District

Organiser: David Gill Gallery

At LDF 2024, London-based David Gill Gallery will present a curated selection of pieces that epitomise the qualities of polished steel. The design exhibition by the art gallery will revolve around six key works by Mattia Bonetti, Fredrikson Stallard, Daniel Libeskind and Zaha Hadid, all experimenting with the various expressions—from rigorous to fluid—and potentials of the medium. The bold forms defy the conventional notions surrounding furniture design and domestic environments, while their reflective quality creates new perspectives of space.

Fortnum & Mason x Jaime Hayon

Date and time: September 14 - 22, 2024 (10:00 - 20:00)

Event type: Exhibition / Installation

Cost: Free

Location: Mayfair Design District

Organiser: Fortnum & Mason

Spanish designer and artist Jaime Hayon will celebrate his eponymous studio's 25th anniversary with a captivating installation at Fortnum & Mason in Piccadilly. The window display titled Celebration I transforms the store's windows and atrium while reiterating the brand's commitment to artistry. The display in Mayfair Design District will trace Hayon’s creations, showcasing dynamic and quirky silhouettes alongside ceramics, bronze, glass and wood. Malabarista, the piece in the atrium, is a laser-cut panel installation featuring a figure juggling celestial elements—a nod to Hayon's creative philosophy. Marking Fortnum’s most ambitious LDF collaboration yet, the installation speaks of Hayon's characteristic expression and the store's legacy of craftsmanship.

Boundless

Date: September 14 - 22, 2024

Event type: Exhibition / Installation

Cost: Free

Location: Mayfair Design District

Organiser: Mint

Boundless will welcome visitors into an environment where design intersects with pressing global issues. Fuelled by established creatives and emerging talents, the exhibition showcases innovators who challenge design conventions and embrace the boundlessness of contemporary design. Works by Trent Jansen, inspired by Australia's majestic landscape and its vibrant First Nations People cultures are at the heart of the show. His designs pay tribute to diverse narratives, cultural richness and avant-garde innovation. Studio Waldemeyer pushes the boundaries of lighting design through their installations at Mint, harnessing the transformative power of LEDs and cutting-edge technology. Boundless will also stage a curated selection of this year's standout graduate designers and emerging talents, underlining new perspectives and their contributions to contemporary design.

Nucleo by Francesco Perini

Date and time: September 14, 2024 (11:00 - 18:00); September 16 - 21, 2024 (10:00 - 18:00)

Event type: Exhibition / Installation

Cost: Free

Location: Mayfair Design District

Organiser: Gallery FUMI

Gallery FUMI is set to unveil Nucleo, the first solo exhibition by Italian designer Francesco Perini at the gallery’s Mayfair location. Nucleo, translating to 'nucleus' in Italian, points at the core of Perini's practice - an admiration for natural surroundings. Perini dabbles with his Incontro design for his new pieces, referring to the Desert Rose crystallisation as a key influence. The petal-like, circular patterns formed around sand grains trapped at its centre, are manifested through Perini's skilled marquetry. The new pieces will include a dining table, side tables, a coffee table, a bench, a console and a wall mounted cabinet.

House of Astrid & Miyu; Future Retail Experiences

Date: September 14 - 22, 2024

Event type: Open studio / Showroom

Cost: Free

Location: Mayfair Design District

Organiser: Seen Studios

In a time when communities actively seek spaces that harbour a sense of belonging and foster cross-pollination of ideas, creative design and production agency Seen Studios conceives the new Astrid & Miyu (HOAM) flagship store with culture and community at the heart of the retail experience. Together, the collaborators reimagine retail design, building a sanctuary of experiences and connections. At HOAM, visitors will be invited to explore welding bars, a piercing and tattoo studio, and a kiosk and café hosted by local partners, artists and communities—allowing them to witness meaningful innovation in traditional retail environments.

Living in a Material World

Date and time: September 16 - 22, 2024 (10:00 - 16:00)

Event type: Exhibition / Installation

Cost: Free

Location: Mayfair Design District

Organiser: Lyon & Turnbull

Living in a Material World sheds light on contemporary craft and the revival of the craft movement through the investigation of the evolution of craft in Britain over the last five decades. Conceived in collaboration with the Crafts Study Centre, part of the University for the Creative Arts, the exhibition will spotlight works by craftspeople and makers with mastery in their respective disciplines—from Hans Coper and Peter Collingwood to Mary Farmer and Richard Kell. A repertoire of handmade objects will take the stage in the show, featuring a variety of media including glass, ceramic, wood, textile, jewellery and silver—all enunciating the skill, knowledge and expertise of contemporary makers.

Artek Reimagined by Paul Smith at Paul Smith Albemarle Street

Date and time: September 14 - 21, 2024 (11:00 - 18:30); September 22, 2024 (12:00 - 18:00)

Event type: Talk / Panel

Cost: Free

Location: Mayfair Design District

Organiser: Paul Smith

Owing to their dedication to innovation and human-centric design, Paul Smith and Artek have realise bold versions of classic product designs from the Finnish furniture maker's oeuvre. Smith dons three Artek products—the Stool 60, Screen 100 and Coat Rack 109—in his characteristic visual style. Each piece in the collection is treated with subtly varying wood stains, leading to a muted adaptation of the Paul Smith Signature Stripe. The Artek Reimagined by Paul Smith collection will be displayed at the brand's Albemarle Street shop in Mayfair.

EarthCrafted Designs by Porcelanosa

Date: September 14 - 22, 2024

Event type:Exhibition / Installation

Cost: Free

Location: Mayfair Design District

Organiser: PORCELANOSA

EarthCrafted Designs, an exhibition by Porcelanosa, is centred around connecting natural elements and the expert craftsmanship of Spanish design. During the London Design Festival, Porcelanosa will partake in a range of experiences including hands-on workshops and craftsmanship exhibitions. The brand will also highlight Spanish art and craftsmanship with a special exhibition at its Hanover Square showroom, featuring the works of seven Spanish artists—a dynamic dialogue of different artistic styles celebrating Spain's rich heritage and contemporary creativity.

Open Gallery by APPARATUS

Date: September 14, 16 - 21, 2024

Event type: Open studio / Showroom

Cost: Free

Location: Mayfair Design District

Organiser: APPARATUS

New York-based interdisciplinary design studio Apparatus has, across its body of work, explored the ties between lighting, furniture and objects in their environments. Drawing from the Modernist principle of Gesamtkunstwerk, or total work of art, the open studio will welcome visitors to fully articulated collections presenting individual pieces as artefacts of the world; each piece references the historical and cultural mood encapsulated in its vision.

In its 22nd edition, the London Design Festival—including its 11 design districts, partners and the design fair Material Matters—stirs the city with a dynamic programme of installations, exhibitions, workshops, talks and more. Follow STIR at London Design Festival 2024, as we continue to bring the best of the festival's offerings as media partners along with our own initiatives across the city, including our partners Shoreditch Design Triangle, Mayfair, the Global Design Forum, and more across Brompton, Battersea, Chelsea, Dalston to Stokey and Bankside.