Designjunction 2012, as seen by Architonic

Following its last year’s debut, earlier last month designjunction returned for its second edition which this time was held at central London’s 1960s Royal Mail sorting office. Featuring an array of latest products, design classics, site-specific installations and pop-up shops, it was a not-to-be-missed spot during the 2012 edition of The London Design Festival.

However, if for some reason you didn’t make it there, worry not. We did so on your behalf and here’s what we saw…

view Architonic’s photo tour of designjunction, London Design Festival 2012

TENT London at the London Design Festival 2012, as captured by Architonic

Tent London opened its design big-top once again at this year’s The London Design Festival, allowing more than 200 exhibitors from over 26 countries the opportunity to present a glittering array of furniture, lighting, ceramics, textiles, materials and accessories to an audience of over 20,000 visitors.

Weren’t one of the 20,000? Fear not. You’re ever-faithful design scout Architonic was on the ground…

view Architonic’s photo tour of TENT London, London Design Festival 2012

Super Brands London at the London Design Festival 2012, as captured by Architonic

Our special LDF 2012 partner, Super Brands London, put the super into, well, Super Brands, at their off-Brick Lane venue last week. In addition to hosting the inaugural exhibition of Architonic’s new partner company Materials Council (with attendant gin-soaked launch party, of course), Super Brands London was also home to a high-calibre selection of international design labels. Weren’t there? Fear not. Here’s the whole shebang in pictures…

view Architonic’s photo tour of Super Brands London, London Design Festival 2012

Before Vignelli there was Matter: Herbert Matter’s old logotype for Knoll in the window of their West End showroom during the London Design Festival 2012

While the London Design Festival’s big-top design destinations, such as Super Brands London, Tent, designjunction and 100% Design pulled large crowds, a number of design brands used their city showrooms as spaces for serving up fascinating slices of design-historical culture. Here’s some of what was on the menu. (by Simon Keane-Cowell …yes, he’s back!)

read the ‘Internal Culture: design history revisited at London design showrooms during LDF 2012′ article in full on Architonic

view Architonic’s photo tour of 100% Design, London Design Festival 2012

100 % Design 2012, as seen by Architonic

Everyone loves a comeback. And they seldom come any bigger in design terms than 100% Design, which, this year, under new management made a very clear statement of intent – to put the creativity and excitement back into this London Design Festival regular through a more considered, almost curated kind of approach to mounting a design trade show. More, please.

Architonic’s photo tour of 100% Design, London Design Festival 2012

‘Eclipse mirror’ by Uli Budde

Known for their well-curated and undeniably insightful shows, the Czech creative collective Okolo strikes again, this time with an exhibition focusing on the ‘trend of creating mirrors in the context of contemporary experimental design’ which emerged in the recent years. On view at at the Superstudio Clam-Gallasův palác during the upcoming Designblok 2012, Prague Design and Fashion Week which opens on Monday (1 October), ‘The Mirror’ will present various forms of the mirror perceived by contemporary designers and artists such as, among many; Uli Budde, Oscar Diaz, Tomáš Král, OS ∆ OOS and Martin Žampach. (more…)

Sainsbury Laboratory by Stanton William is one of the six projects shortlisted for this year’s RIBA Stirling prize; photo by Hufton+Crow

UK’s Royal Institute of British Architects has just announced the six projects which have made it to the shortlist of this year’s RIBA Stirling Prize. Among the contenders for Britain’s top architecture award are: Hepworth Gallery by David Chipperfield Architects, London Olympic Stadium by Populous, Lyric Theatre in Belfast by Dublin-based O’Donnell + Tuomey, Maggie’s Cancer Centre by OMA, New Court also by OMA (with Allies and Morrison) and Sainsbury Laboratory by Stanton Williams. The winner, selected by the judges led by the architect and former president of the Royal Academy Sir Nicholas Grimshaw, will be announced in Manchester on Saturday 13 October.

visit Architonic’s facebook page to view the images of all shortlisted projects

Impressions from Design Miami/ Basel 2012

Earlier this month (11 – 17 June) Design Miami/ Basel returned to Switzerland for its 7th edition with exhibitions from from Europe, the United States and Asia’s most relevant design galleries showcasing 20th and 21st century collectible design. Naturally, Architonic was there but in case you didn’t make it to Basel, here’s our vast image gallery with no less than 240 images from this inspiring show. Enjoy!

to Architonic’s tour of Design Miami/ Basel 2012

to the Design Miami/ Basel website