V&A: LDF highlights

Photography by Emily Nicholson, Dursk 

Earlier this week I visited London for the day, and with the hype of London Design Festival I felt it was a must to visit the V&A to see the currently exhibited LDF pieces and the jaw dropping Double Space installation for BMW.

On arrival I was welcomed by Carousel, a kaleidoscopic wall of tiles leading the way from the tunnel entrance to the museum. The adaptation of the 2011 Carousel collection by London-based print and design studio David David and British manufacturer Johnson Tiles, is a bright and decorative continuation of the already tiled underground passage and takes inspiration from traditional Islamic pattern.  

Photography by Emily Nicholson, Dursk

Exhibited with an accompanying video showing the chair being created is Sketch Chair by Swedish design company, Front. With a concept to combine design and production and effectively shorten the 'design process', the chair is drawn in mid air using motion capture, and then translated into 3D design. To see this bizarre process, you can watch the video here.



Broken Mirror from Emily Nicholson on Vimeo.

This is my favourite of all the LDF pieces exhibited at the V&A; designed by ECAL students Guillaume Markwalder and Aurélia von Allmen, Broken Mirror, is more like an interactive device. As you can see from my video, a sensor captures your movement so that upon approach, the foil is suddenly tightened, allowing your reflection to be seen.

Double Space for BMW

Image sourced from V&A website 

Photography by Emily Nicholson, Dursk and Poonam Dhuffer 

Walking into the grand Raphael Gallery space is a stunning contradiction of Renaissance art and contemporary technology, resulting in a 'Precision & Poetry' motion experience. Designers Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby have collaborated with BMW for the installation of two revolving ceiling fixtures that reflect pieces in the room, as well as the distinctive architecture. The dim-lit lighting adds a surreal element, (and is also why my photography is a bit ropey), overall making the observer feel like the room is a continuous and fluid movement. I would strongly recommend to see this, such an obscure but delightful experience!