Designersblock is
one of the best design exhibition in the world. Every year the products they show are fascintating, creative and innovative it's superbly accessible and sans wank, plus the people behind it are so goddam nice.
This year Designersblock left their gritty Bishopsgate digs in the east end and made the move to the west end's Covent Garden. I chatted to the lovely organiser Rory Dodd about the recent London event.
"This year's show was a blinder for us, really good, we always like to try a few new things at each event to develop what we're doing and prevent any boredom for visitors, exhibitors and us. This year's venue was a dream in terms of smooth production, the navigation was easy so all the exhibitors were happy with the way the flow around the building worked. Visitors loved having access to a building that normally they wouldn't be able to see. It was good doing something central and it was our busiest London show to date," said Rory.
A definite coup was curating seven Selfridges windows on London's busy Oxford Street. The windows cost between four and six thousand pounds to rent for promotions but Selfridges actually paid the designers to fill them, and for some it was their first commission.
Below: Three of the Selfridges windows, Oxford Street, London
I grilled Rory for his pick of the bunch at the show, but he's the eternal diplomat. "Most exciting find is a bastard, the show was strong this year in London, the reactions from visitors was good and we know alot of people who come to our events consistently and who are terrifyingly willing to share their thoughts with us in a brutally honest kind of a way. This year was a real good live show with everybody talking, always a very good sign."
Ben Rousseau, Haidee Drew and Carola Wochner were three designer who surprised everyone by turning the complexity of their work up a notch. Rory adds "One fella who really stood out in terms of everybody talking about his work was Seung Kwan-No. His animation was amazing, very clear, and a more articulate and together young man you couldn't hope to meet on a May morn."
Below: Seung Kwan-No's work
Below: Ben Rousseau's work
Below: Carola Wochner's work, photographed by Ken Sparkes
With the financial system going haywire in London, I wonder if overly cautious investors will have an effect in the exhibition. "To many people's surprise we don't get funding from anybody so we are used to being self-reliant and independent. It has made us very good at dealing with budgets and not spending money when we don't need to."
And will poeple keep paying for ideas in design? "To our minds there's never been a better time for ideas and the current financial conditions reinforce that hugely. Bring it on, time for a change, the sun will be up in the morning."
Below: Work by Karen Ryan
Below: Tea Un Kim's lace covered lanterns
Below: Shroud Me's mobile park bench
Below: Jo Angell's lights
Below: Work by Chunwei Liao
Below: Stools by Blok
Below: Jug by Chooi Leng Tan
Below: Sea urchin cushions by Taschide
