LDF 2023 Highlights from TFP's Sustainability Consultant

September 29, 2023

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Isola Design - Nothing happens if nothing happens

Last week, London was immersed in an abundance of design experiences for the annual London Design Festival. LDF 2023 welcomed designers from near and far to present everything from new product launches, to hosting innovative workshops and showcasing captivating installations. This year, TFP’s Sustainability Consultant, Alex Webb, observed countless examples of brands embracing more sustainable practices through their innovative material components, design processes and principles. From 3D printed materials to a focus on circularity, Alex presents seven brands, installations or exhibitions that stood out from the crowd. Read on for more.

Are You Mad unveiled their in-house recycling center located in the vibrant heart of Soho. Within a 250-meter radius of their facility, they gather plastic waste from nearby stores, repurposing these materials through a variety of methods including shredding, injection, moulding, 3D printing, and extrusion to craft products and furniture.

Local, transparent and simple, which is exactly what sustainability should be, proving that sustainability doesn’t have to be an overly complex process. Furnishing their own shop and creating objects using plastic waste from local businesses highlights the true potential that plastic recycling has.

Material Change by Pearson Lloyd

Pearson Lloyd’s exhibition ‘Material Change,' offered an insightful exploration into various facets of circularity and recyclability within design practices. This exhibition delved into pressing sustainability concerns within the design industry, highlighting the significance of material intelligence as a crucial factor in shaping a sustainable future.

Designing for disassembly is becoming evermore popular among those in the industry, but knowing where to start and how far to go can often be tricky to navigate. Pearson Lloyd clearly displayed thought-provoking ways in which a product can become more circular, and the scope of what’s really possible.

Digitally Woven by Gareth Neal

Gareth Neal is an innovative design and craft studio located in East London pushing the conventional limits of 3D printing. Their latest collection in collaboration with The New Raw - ODC 3D - presents new material textures achieved through the utilisation of three-times recycled polymer - a quicker and more cost-efficient approach to 3D printing.

Ways of recycling plastic are becoming more and more varied, and popular. This exhibition highlighted just how far and sophisticated 3D printing has come in recent years as well as the capabilities of using recycled plastic.

Cascara by Claire Chan

Cascara, an Australian-based material design company, specialises in the creation of environmentally-friendly stone products meticulously crafted by hand using shells from local sources, such as oysters, mussels, and pipi shells. Established by Claire Chan, Cascara is dedicated to circularity by responsibly procuring renewable and biodegradable materials to craft an assortment of architectural elements and surfaces.

A beautifully crafted surface showcasing the naturally pearlescent qualities of a seashell. A stunning natural material regarded as waste once removed from the ocean, diverting it from landfill by conversion into a lustrous surface for the home or workplace.

Serious Play by Rowena Liangru Lu

An exceptional sculptural exploration that immerses itself in the world of children's play, emphasising the limitless opportunities and creative potential it offers. Artist Rowena Liangru Lu designed 'Serious Play,' which delves into a spectrum of sustainable materials, employing borrowed items to fashion these distinctive sculptures.

A playful approach to finding sustainable materials. A visually intriguing installation showing that the art of discovery isn’t meant to be boring, but fascinating and exciting.

Nothing Happens if Nothing Happens by Isola Design

Isola Design presented the exhibition 'Nothing Happens if Nothing Happens,’ featuring a collaboration of designers and curators who joined forces to present their furniture and materials designed with sustainability and circularity in mind. One notable aspect was the exhibition's core structure, crafted entirely from repurposed mattresses provided by Re-Mat.

Even the foundation of Isola’s exhibition needed to be sustainable, which is exactly why Re-Mat were involved. Foams and mattresses are notorious in the industry for being a waste material, by reusing the foam and turning it into blocks to sit the exhibition on resulted in a harmonious message of sustainability throughout the room.

Kofika by Hagen Hinderdael and Novavita Design

HagenHinderdael and Novavita unveil their latest collection, Kofika, which represents a sustainable and innovative design achieved through 3D printing. This collection revolves around sculptural items and textures that are exclusively crafted from sugar cane, coffee waste, and recycled milk packaging.

A coffee table made from all components you’d make your coffee with! A fun yet serious environmentally-orientated story matched with a chic design is the ultimate solution to sustainability.