100% Design celebrates an outstanding show

Posted in Events, News on 17 October, 2018

Founded in 1995, 100% Design was London’s first dedicated stand-alone design show and delivered a then ground-breaking idea of showcasing contemporary design. This year, the show triumphed as visitors experienced a thoughtfully curated exhibition featuring high-calibre exhibitors, exceptional new features and an unrivalled talks programme with some of the world’s leading design talents.

The 24th edition of 100% Design saw more than 400 exhibitors with world class brands and the biggest names in design, covering lighting, interiors, surfaces, hardware, kitchens, bathrooms and bedrooms and more. Exhibitors included a variety of brands from the UK and internationally, across each of the show areas. Leading brands Established & Sons and Missana exhibited at the show for the first time. This year also saw iconic British design brand Benchmark and award-winning Dare Studio return to the show.

“100% Design was one of the stand out trade shows during London Design Festival and provided us with the perfect opportunity to present our latest products to an international audience of architects and designers. It was our first time exhibiting and we were delighted to meet so many genuine design lovers, which is what it’s all about.” – Established & Sons

Fiona Coyne, Head of Furniture at Benchmark comments, “We were really pleased with the response of our stand. Incorporating live making and craftsmanship at the show helped to generate significant interest in our new designs by Fosters + Partners and Space Copenhagen.  We left on the Saturday feeling positive with some excellent leads. The team were supportive from the moment we signed up, featuring Benchmark on newsletters and across social media – there was a buzz before the show even opened!”

Returning to the show’s roots as the destination to discover new ideas and emerging talents, 100% Design introduced new features for 2018 which included 100% Forward, 100% Futures and Design Fresh.

Curated by Barbara Chandler, Design Editor of Homes & Property at the London Evening Standard, 100% Forward provided visitors with a vibrant and enticing entrance to the show, spotlighting seven emerging design talents each championed by an established designer who launched his/her career during the first decade of 100% Design.

Barbara Chandler comments, “100% Forward celebrated the pedigree of 100% Design as London’s longest running design show. A brilliant stand design by Justin Southgate allowed the feature to tell our story prominently and very clearly. Thanks to the unbounded enthusiasm of the new designers taking part, we showed design that was innovative and beautifully-crafted, and noticeable was the number of visitors who stopped for a good long look and to read carefully-researched accompanying text. Visitors also loved the little “booths” we created for each designer in which they could hang out and tell the stories of their work. Our designers distributed a huge number of cards and flyers, and got international enquiries from store groups, web shops, interior designers, architects and galleries – as well as personal purchases and commissions.”

Emma Krause from Light Up North, one of the 100% Forward exhibitors says, “Since our time as part of 100% Forward our feet have not touched the floor. Thank you for such a brilliant opportunity. Four days to meet our customers and clients. Four days of inspiration and growth. The whole event was a money can’t buy experience. We would love to be part of it again next year.”

100% Futures, spearheaded by Max Fraser with an expert panel, brought together a selection of enterprising visions for future improvements to city life. The selection of projects celebrated ideas that reduce waste and power consumption, automate construction, lower congestion, increase mobility and aid wellbeing.

Fraser comments, “With 100% Futures, we were looking to explore the wider role of design to help make our cities better places to live, today and in the future. While the world’s problems seem to hang over us like a dark cloud, this feature aimed to celebrate a select number of projects from designers and entrepreneurs that are improving our lives, be they small scale, emotional, practical, infrastructural, digital or more. I hope this marks the start of a continuing dialogue around the future of how we live through intelligent design. This optimistic message carried through the show this year with a renewed energy and an emphasis on new design talent spreading tangibly throughout the hall.”

Design Fresh, also a new feature for 100% Design 2018, provided a platform for 22 breakthrough designers to showcase their works. Each designer was chosen for their explorative ideas and original products ranging from plush interior accessories, intricate ceramics to contemporary furniture and everything in-between.

The inaugural Design Fresh Awards were presented to; Joe Wanham for Product of the Year for his Eris Bar Stools; Gavin Keightley’s Aeolian Processes for Innovation; Atticus Durnell with That’s Caffeine for Business Prospect Award and Freya Whamond & Sam Bolt – Troo Studio for One to Watch.

With architects and designers making up 73% of visitors, the newly launched 100% Build London presented a unique selection of brands showcasing the latest construction materials, innovative glazing technology, exterior surfaces and integrated automation technology. Amongst the exhibitors Riko stood out presenting prefab homes designed by Philippe Starck.  

As part of 100% Build London, 100% Design introduced The CPD Hub in partnership with BSI. Over 200 visitors attended a variety of accredited sessions from the likes of CEDIA, BRE and more. Running across the four day event, Talks with 100% Design was attended by more than 1,300 visitors in the main auditorium designed by Projects Office. The line-up of speakers included industry-leading names such as Thomas Heatherwick, Marcel Wanders and Kelly Hoppen MBE.

Other participants included designer Ini Archibong, leading architect Farshid Moussavi, designer Yinka Ilori, lighting designer and artist Flynn Talbot, interior designer Suzy Hoodless and Rabih Hage, the revered designer behind this year’s Press and VIP Library at 100% Design.

Daren Newton, Managing Director of 100% Design, commented “This year was the start of an exciting journey for 100% Design as we see the show develop into what it was best known and loved for when it first started in 1995. There was such an exciting buzz at Olympia London and as we look ahead to the show’s 25th anniversary in 2019 we are excited to continue the success.”

As well as an outstanding year for the show 2018 marked the launch of the brand new West Kensington Design District at the heart of which stood 100% Design. The district was comprised of a stellar line-up of design destinations and cultural institutions which included the newly opened Japan House, Design Museum and V&A Blythe House to name a few.

100% Design returns for its 25th anniversary edition in 2019 and will take place Wednesday 18th – Saturday 21st September 2019.