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

Daddy Longlegs stool by Martin Solem dailytonic

While we’re still not quite sure whether this collection of minimalist wooden stools takes its name from the 1955 musical starring the legendary Hollywood Fred Astaire or, if it was the cellar spiders family that lend their name to this design (or perhaps none of the above), ‘Daddy Longlegs’ is the latest, award-winning barstool series created by the Norwegian-born Copenhagen-based design student Martin Solem. (more…)

'Ta-rae Lighting' by Design Virus

As part of London Design Week 2011, an exhibition of Korean design, which goes by the rather cunning title ‘Korea Design’, will showcase the work of 15 companies and individuals. Covering furniture, lighting, product and textile design, the show functions as a corrective to the prevalent image of Korean design as one associated with electronics and other high-tech goods. (more…)

'Katakana' sofa by Dare Studio

Ahead of this year’s edition of London’s 100%Design fair, the Brighton-based contemporary brand Dare Studio has recently expanded its already-impressive collection of handmade, elegant and timeless furniture. The new designs, which will be presented at the show later in September, include a highly-expressive coat stand developed in solid wood, a multifunctional storage system whose colourful modules reminded us of Eames’ iconic 1949 ESU Bookcase, as well as this well-proportioned leather-and-wood ‘Katakana’ sofa. (more…)

'Harbour Chair' by Edward Robinson

This wide, protruding armchair was created by the young British designer and graduate from Northumbria University Edward Robinson. Made from aluminium and coated in a soft rubberized paint, the upholstered ‘Harbour Chair’ offers, with its large armrests space for belongings, storage and even a place to rest you head.

The chair was introduced at this year’s 100%Design in London.

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'Clyde' side table by PINCH, photo by James Merrell

The British label PINCH is a family run business founded by the product designer Russell Pinch and his wife Oona Bannon. From their studio/showroom in London they develop their beautiful down-to-earth designs, all made by hand and to order in collaboration with local workshops. At this year’s 100%Design the couple will showcase their newest creations. Get a short preview here:

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'Line' floor light by Chikako Ibaraki

At this year’s 100%Futures in London the Japanese designer Chikako Ibaraki presented this minimalist floor lamp. The lamp is reduced to what is staticly absolutely necessary – a metal base which keeps the slim line diffuser in balance.

“I saw a line of light shine in, through a small window. It was simple, clear and sharp. The room’s stillness was created by the light. I wanted to capture the line of the light” the designer explains.

'Line' floor light by Chicako Ibaraki

The light source is an LED lamp.

to the Chicako Ibaraki website