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THE SURFACE DESIGN SHOW RENEWS PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ROYAL INSTITUTE OF BRITISH ARCHITECTS FOR SDS27
Soho’s Inaugural year as a Standalone District brings Design back to the West End for London Design Festival 2026
12th to 20th September – Soho, London
Soho Design District is on the map for the first time at London Design Festival. This September, Soho will become a living showcase for design, creativity, craft and community bringing together an ambitious programme of exhibitions, installations, talks, workshops, film, photography, material innovation and cultural events throughout the neighbourhood.
Running from 12th to 20th September 2026, the week will activate some of Soho’s most distinctive spaces – from the Heal’s Building and Soho Lighthouse to The Soho Hotel, Century Club, Groucho Club, and The Union Club – creating a week-long platform for designers, makers, architects, artists, developers, entrepreneurs and the wider public to explore how design can contribute to unique character of Soho.
Championed by Informare, the district will focus on next generation designers, sustainability, heritage and the future of the creative industries. The programme will bring established names together with emerging talent and next-generation businesses, building on Soho’s community.
All Week Long:
Throughout the festival, visitors can enjoy a programme of panels, talks and tours hosted by Soho Design District’s partners. Alongside Soho’s many sights, hospitality venues and attractions, a series of daily displays and installations will offer further opportunities for discovery, including an installation by Bocci and photography by Claire Davis.
From 10th to 19th September, Stüdyo Akdoğan Furniture will present its collection, with Founder and Designer Mehmet Yilmaz Akdoğan showcasing his latest designs. The collection marks the first chapter of The Primitive Trilogy, a series of three collections exploring the relationship between instinct, humanity and the natural world. The trilogy will unfold over the coming years, with its subsequent chapters continuing this exploration through new forms and materials. Titled GÜDÜ, meaning “Instinct”, the first collection seeks to uncover the aesthetic perception of primitive man, translating his psychological presence within the merciless habitat of nature into sculptural form. The resulting pieces occupy the space between art and furniture, combining a dark, avant-garde aesthetic with highly sculptural forms. Each work reflects a primal sensibility, bringing a distinctive sense of tension and character to the collection.
With the support of Shaftesbury Capital, Soho Design District also celebrates the recently restored Beloved Spirit of Soho mural, located on the corner of Carnaby Street and Broadwick Street. The mural captures the energy, colour and enduring spirit of Soho, providing a fitting focal point for the district throughout the week.
Reflecting Soho Design District’s commitment to celebrating the diverse creative voices that shape the area, Informare will present ‘Soho: People & Place’, an exhibition of photography by Claire Davis. Claire Davis is a photographer and healthcare manager who has lived in London for over 30 years. She has recently been able to combine her photography and NHS work by curating a series of annual staff art exhibitions. Taking place throughout London Design Festival at 21 Great Chapel Street, Soho Lighthouse, the exhibition captures the energy, character and unmistakable rhythm of Soho through Claire’s distinctive lens. Her raw, instinctive approach documents the neighbourhood as it truly is spontaneous, colourful and constantly in motion, bringing its eclectic cast of characters and everyday encounters into focus. With prints available to purchase, Soho: People & Place offers visitors an intimate portrait of one of London’s most dynamic neighbourhoods, celebrating the people, places and fleeting moments that give Soho its enduring sense of identity.
To mark Bocci’s involvement in London Design Festival’s Soho Design District, the multidisciplinary design studio, research lab, and factory unveils a new purple colourway of its iconic 14p portable light, presented through a labyrinthine installation created by multidisciplinary designer Bethan Laura Wood.
Inspired by the distinctive purple hue of Bocci’s portable light, Wood was immediately reminded of the cult film Labyrinth, starring David Bowie. She dubbed the light the “Bowie Ball,” a playful name that ultimately became the starting point for her sculptural installation. Drawing on the complex, maze-like architecture of Labyrinth, Wood has created a landscape of colourful totems, each crowned with playful arrangements of Bocci’s Purple 14p lights.
Although the installation can be enjoyed throughout the week of London Design Festival, it will be officially launched with an opening party on Wednesday 16th September, coinciding with the district’s late night. The event will bring together designers, creatives and guests to celebrate the new Purple 14p and Wood’s distinctive interpretation of the iconic light.
Monday 14th September: 9:00 The Future of Soho: Reimagining Soho’s Landscape
Kicking off the week, Informare hosts a standout panel chaired by Peter Murray OBE, exploring the future of Soho. Bringing together some of the area’s most influential voices, the discussion will feature Matt White (Matt Architecture & Soho Business Alliance), Barbara Brownlee (Soho Housing Association), Minnie Kemp (Design Director, Kit Kemp Design and Firmdale Hotels), Russell Potter (SODA Studio), and Joseph Corré (Founder of Soho Light House and Co-Founder of Agent Provocateur), each offering their unique perspective on Soho’s evolving future. With the topic title ‘The Future of Soho: Reimagining Soho’s landscape’ the panel promises to explore the wider regeneration agenda: public realm, accessibility, safety, affordability, development, investment, culture, hospitality, commerce and community. Based in the Soho Hotel, audience members will get to enjoy the comfort surrounded by Kit Kemp Design and enjoy refreshments from the hotel.
RSVP Here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/2000006123153?aff=oddtdtcreator
Monday 14th September: 11:00 – Great Chapel Street – Informare’s A Seat at the Table
Following the Future of Soho panel the audience can move onto ‘a seat at the table’ on Great Chapel Street hosted by Informare. First launched at London Design Festival in 2025, the series aims to open round table discussions to the public and enable anyone who is watching to join the conversation and share their thoughts and views on the chosen discussion topic. This year, the topic focuses on navigating the tension between technological advancement and natural heritage. Audience members are encouraged to jump into the conversation, making this panel a moving and living conversation with primary voices from Lee Roberts (Zebra), Justine Fox (Studio Justine Fox), Izzy Kelly (Product and Furniture Graduate), Assa Ashuach (Director at Assa Studio Limited), Yvonne Donaldson (Associate Partner at Garnett Architecture LLP), Ana Matic (Scott Brownrigg) and Chaired by Anna King, CEO and Founder of Informare.
RSVP Here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1999094262754?aff=oddtdtcreator
Monday 14th September – 14:00 to 18:00 – Great Chapel Street – Surface Design Show x Green Grads Workshop
The Surface Design Show will partner with Green Grads to bring one of its well-loved workshops to London Design Festival. Led by experienced Green Grad Claire Malley, visitors will learn how to design and weave their own artwork from varied textile waste, including denim offcuts, and recycled yarns, taking away their own unique piece. This workshop follows on from the successful workshop stage that was launched at SDS26, it is suitable for beginners upwards, encouraging makers to unwind, and enjoy the mindful flow of weaving.
RSVP Here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/2000005510320?aff=oddtdtcreator
Tuesday 15th September – 10:00 – Great Chapel Street – Lighting the Elizabeth Line: Design Beneath the City
Future Designs, the British lighting designer and manufacturer, will present the story behind the company’s landmark contribution to the Elizabeth Line, one of Europe’s most ambitious infrastructure projects. ‘Lighting the Elizabeth Line: Design Beneath the City’ will draw on Future Designs’ role in creating bespoke LED lighting systems for Crossrail, the talk will explore how technical design shaped the lighting experience across Tottenham Court Road station and the wider network.
Attendees will gain insight into the design philosophy that guided the project: using the station’s light grey, matt textured, glass reinforced concrete to reflect light and enhance spaciousness, rather than drawing attention to the luminaires themselves. The talk will unpack the rigorous prototyping process- over 350 hours of thermal testing for IKON’s bespoke heatsink, and the safety critical engineering behind PLINTH’s IP68 sealed glass panel, capable of withstanding a 1000N load.
Set within the Soho Design District programme, this session positions Tottenham Court Road as a live case study in designing for public experience, offering the audience a behind the scenes look at how Future Designs helped shape the visual identity of London’s newest railway.
Thursday 17th September – 17:30 to 19:00 – Lucy Gough Book signing
Renowned interior stylist, author and educator Lucy Gough will join Informare for an intimate 90-minute evening of conversation, creativity and design on Great Chapel Street. Drawing on more than 15 years of experience across London and Sydney, Lucy will share stories and insights from her career styling interiors for leading magazines and global brands, writing books, teaching thousands of students and creating inspiring design-led experiences.
The relaxed Q&A will offer guests the opportunity to hear Lucy’s approach to colour, creativity and creating a home that feels truly personal, while putting their own questions to her on everything from styling a room and building a creative career to finding confidence with colour and the secrets behind a beautifully considered interior. Guests can enjoy a glass of fizz while connecting with fellow design and interiors enthusiasts, before meeting Lucy and having copies of her book personally signed.
Warm, informal and inspiring, the event promises an evening of honest conversation, practical ideas and plenty of creative inspiration for design professionals, aspiring creatives and anyone who loves a beautiful, characterful home.
As a key partner of the Soho District for London Design Festival, Yasmin Jones-Henry brings unique expertise from her extensive experience. Having worked as a Financial Times writer, Cultural Placeshaping Strategist, Co-Founder of The Lab E20, Founder of The Lab W1, and Curatorial Director of ‘HOMEGROWN’ based in London. Working across investment, real estate, the creative industries and public art, Yasmin is committed to demonstrating the power of culture and co-creation as catalysts to unlocking inclusive regeneration and growth.
Yasmin has curated a schedule of events throughout the London Design Festival week with The Heals Building, Century Club, and Groucho. Listed below:
Saturday 12th September 11:00 to 17:00 – Better Living By Design Exhibition Launch, Kind At Heart CIC x Daniel Heath x Young Craft Citizens @(Crafts Council) wallpaper screen-printing community workshops – Supported by the Pinterest Arts Creator Community
13th and 20th September from 12:00 to 15:00 – Colechi-You Can Knit With Us – 3 Regenerative Designers in residence showcase and facilitate community workshops.
Monday 14th September 18:30 to 22:00 – Soho LDF Film Club ‘Chief of the Beach’ photography exhibition & drinks reception by Louie-Joe Findlater x Raindance
Tuesday 15th September 18:30 to 20:30 – Panel discussion titled Better Living By Design: NextGen – Moderated by Yasmin Jones-Henry
Wednesday 16th September 18:30 to 20:30 – Panel discussion titled Better Living By Design: Community Craft & The Circular Economy with Brodie Neill, Cassie Quinn, Ella Doran, Bella Gonshorovitz and Moderated by Yasmin Jones-Henry.
Thursday 17th September 08:30 to 10:30 – Morning session with Futurecity
Thursday 17th September 18:00 to 21:00 – Better Living By Design: NextGen Materials showcase, The Mills Fabrica – Start Ups Rapid Fire Presentations, Amanda Johnston Panel Discussion, Centre for Sustainable Fashion – UAL
Sunday 19th September 10:00 to 17:00 – Raindance Film Masterclass with Elliot Grove
As Soho’s Design District enters its first year, there is already a clear energy and enthusiasm around bringing design back to the heart of W1.
Informare and Yasmin Jones-Henry have curated an exciting programme of events designed to engage and inspire the next generation of designers, while celebrating and reigniting passion across the wider design sector.
For further information on the events, including locations and sponsorship opportunities, please get in touch directly with Informare.
For all press enquiries contact [email protected]
Participants
Informare, Future Designs, Scott Brownrigg, Barr Gazetas, Overbury, Morgan Lovell, Bocci, Stüdyo Akdoğan Furniture, Heals, W1, and SDS
About Informare
Informare is a PR and communications consultancy, focused on the Built Environment sector in the UK, with a network of consultants spanning UK, Europe, North America, GCC and Australia.
Founded by Anna King, Informare began as a traditional PR company and has expanded its services to comprise every touch point for its clients to help navigate an increasing complex world of communication.
With its in-depth knowledge and broad insight of design, architecture and property, Informare offers unrivalled support to our clients in the ever-evolving world of communication, across all platforms from third party media to our clients’ own online platforms.
The experienced and knowledgeable team creates compelling content, to enable clients’ stories to achieve cut through and impact in a crowded media space, delivering regular coverage in key trade, consumer and national press, whilst building brands and alignment through the numerous platforms now utilised in B2B and B2C marketing.
www.informare.co.uk
About London Design Festival
London Design Festival was launched by Sir John Sorrell CBE and Ben Evans CBE in 2003. Building on London’s existing design activity, their concept was to create an annual event that would promote the city’s creativity, drawing in the country’s greatest thinkers, practitioners, retailers and educators to a deliver an unmissable celebration of design. The launch of the first Festival took place at Bloomberg on 25 March 2003, with a show of support from design, education, government and London organisations. 23 years later, this vision remains ever strong.
In 2019, the Festival welcomed a record-breaking 600,000 individual visitors from over 75 countries. Celebrating its 24th anniversary in 2026, London Design Festival is now well into a new decade, celebrating how it has played a key role in the growth of the design industry, bolstering London’s position as a global destination for business, culture and tourism, and contributed to the UK’s reputation as a creative powerhouse. As one of the world’s leading design events, the Festival has also served as the blueprint for design weeks and festivals globally and continues to be a key moment on the cultural calendar.