On Sunday 22 September, for the finale of London Design Festival, we hosted a special event on Exhibition Road focusing on design solutions to the climate emergency.
Together with the Natural History Museum, Science Museum, Imperial College London, Design Museum and Brompton Design District, we held a street celebration looking at the role that design thinking can play in fostering new ideas and changing attitudes to the way we consume food, use energy and deal with waste.
The enduring message of 2019 has not been, as expected, the UK’s departure from the EU, but an issue that transcends borders and boundaries: the climate crisis. Our aim was to inspire and support innovative thinking that works to contend creatively with this major challenge of our time.
Hosted from 11.00 – 17.00, the day featured free, drop-in installations, talks and workshops as well as a food-waste feast staged on upcycled furniture created from the V&A's exhibition packing crates. Climate change experts hosted these tables, giving visitors the chance to discuss important issues around the future of our planet, whilst sharing a meal created from ‘food waste’.
The furniture making took place at a workshop space provided by Lewisham College, in partnership with homelessness charity, the 999 Club. After the event, the bespoke upcycled furniture created by London’s design community is being donated to community gardens and charities. Take a look at our blog to see a selection of these pieces being made.
Exhibition Road was further animated with talks, workshops and installations focusing on the power of design to address the key issues of our age.
