Contemporary Design News
News of Contemporary Design, Architecture and Interiors
News of events covering contemporary, modern design including works around the world by both leading and emerging designers.
7-9 June 2023
The theme of the 3daysofdesign 2023 festival in Copenhagen is 'Where Would We Be Without You'. This year, over 290 emerging and established design brands from Denmark will showcase their furniture, lighting, accessories and materials. Venues include showrooms, shops, workshops and the streets of 13 Design Districts around Copenhagen. Photo - Festival identity created by Rasmus Hjorshøj. 3daysofdesign
1 - 25 June 2023
The forth edition of the London Design Biennale takes place at Somerset house and its artistic director is the Nieuwe Instituut, the Netherlands national museum and institute for architecture, design and digital culture, led by General and Artistic Director, Aric Chen. The Biennale's theme is collaboration and it brings together design participants from around the world. London Design Biennale
7 April - 30 July 2023
Ai Weiwei: Making Sense is the artist's first exhibition focusing on design and architecture, displaying unseen works. Hundreds of thousands of objects are laid out over five expansive 'fields'. The field works are: Still Life, displaying 4,000 tools from the stone age; Left Right Studio Material, displaying the remains of Ai's sculptures from his 'Left Right' studio in Beijing; Sprouts, 250,000 hand crafted porcelain spouts form the Song dynasty; Untitled (Porcelain Balls), around 200,000 cannon balls also from the Song dynasty; Untitled (Lego Incident), lego pieces donated by the public. Other works on display by Ai include Water Lilies #1, a 15m high re-creation of French Impressionist Claude Monet's famous painting, made from almost 650,000 lego pieces Photo Ed Reeve. Design Museum
23 - 25 May 2023
The 12th edition of Clerkenwell Design Week hosts more than 600 events and showcases thousands of cutting edge design projects from both leading international designers and new talent. The festival covers furniture, lighting, textiles, surfaces and accessories and takes place over a number of venues across London's creative hub, Clerkenwell. Photo BAUX Installation with Feature Wall by Morag-Myerscough at St John's Square EC1. Clerkenwell Design Week
20 May - 26 November 2023
The 18th International Architecture Exhibition themed 'The Laboratory of the Future' is curated by academic, educator and best selling novelist Lesley Lokko and organised by the La Biennale of Venice. The spotlight this year is on Africa, with over half of the 89 contributors of the main show from Africa or the African Diaspora. Photo of Padiglione Centrale Giardini by Francesco Galli. Venice Biennale
14 July - 15 October 2023
The Royal Academy of Arts in London presents an exhibition of Herzog & de Meuron (H&dM), the Swiss architectural practice founded in Basel in 1978, known for projects such as Tate Modern, Laban Dance Centre, Elbphilharmonie and M+. The exhibition will be in three spaces. The first space displays 400 objects, including models, materials, prints and photographs, covering a range of projects. The second space screens two films exploring people's observations of H&dM projects. The final space focuses on a single project, the Kinderspital Zürich, Switzerland, featuring a 1:1 model of a hospital patent room. Royal Academy
13 May - 14 July 2023
The Gagosian gallery at 976 and 980 Madison Avenue, New York, will exhibit works by Donald Judd dating from 1965 to 1991. The exhibition features objects made from anodized and painted aluminum, galvanized iron, colored plexiglass, and plywood together with one of Donald Judd's largest series of prints. Main image is Donald Judd, untitled, 1991, clear anodized aluminum with transparent green over black plexiglass, 9 3/4 × 39 1/4 × 9 3/4 inches (24.9 × 99.9 × 24.9 cm) © Judd Foundation/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. Photo Martin Wong. Courtesy Gagosian. Gagosian
17 - 21 May 2023
The 11th edition of Frieze New York brings together over 60 contemporary art galleries from 27 countries. Established and emerging galleries, along with non-profit organisations, are represented at the Shed in Manhattan, with additional events taking place across the city. Photo Alex Staniloff / CKA. Courtesy of Frieze. Frieze
10 May - 7 August 2023
The Centre Pompidou in Paris will host the largest retrospective of Norman Foster's contribution to architecture spanning six decades. The exhibition, covering almost 2,200 square meters, reveals how the architect 'sought to challenge conventions, reinvent building types and demonstrate an architecture of light and lightness, inspired by nature, which can be about joy as well as being eco-friendly'. Photo © Daniel Jamme / Eiffage. Norman Foster, Centre Pompidou
8 May - 17 May 2023
This year's theme for Berlin Design Week 2023 is Resilience, emphasising the need not only to deal with crisis but also to remain adaptable and resilient in a climate of change. Berlin Design Week brings together exhibitions, talk and events across the city. Berlin Design Week
8 May - 14 May 2023
The 9th edition of London Craft Week utilises workshops, pop-up shops and exhibitions to showcase the work of celebrated and emerging artists, makers and designers from across the world. Locations for the events include the Pimlico Road, Chelsea, Mayfair and the newly established Park Royal Design District. Photo Maria Bell. London Craft Week
25 March - 3 October 2023
The Garden Futures exhibition at the Vitra Design Museum explores the history and future of modern gardens. The exhibition explores various gardens including vertical urban farms, contemporary community gardens and gardens by designers and artists. After the show closes at the Vitra Design Museum it is expected to move to other venues around Europe. © Vitra, Photo: Dejan Jovanovic. Vitra Design Museum
8 November 2022 - 29 April 2023
The RIBA 'Long Life, Low Energy: Design for a Circular Economy' shows how the principles of the circular economy can help develop net zero architecture. The exhibition follows RIBA's Built for the Environment report which concludes that 38% of the global energy related greenhouse gas emission are attributable to the built environment. RIBA
18 March - 16 September 2023
An exhibition about 'architecture born of craftsmanship' is to exhibit architecture models from the Swiss architect Peter Zumthor. The models are working models that counter the abstraction of computer assisted drafting by their solidity and texture. The venue, which was designed by Zumthor, is the Werkraum Bregenzerwald in the Bregenz Forest, Austria. Photo Peter Loewy for Werkraum Bregenzerwald. Werkraum Bregenzerwald
18 March - 1 October 2023
Stately Chatsworth House in Derbyshire, England, continues the Devonshire family's tradition of supporting creativity by commissioning contemporary designers. 'Mirror Mirror: Reflections on Design at Chartworth', places works by 16 international artists and designers into the historic context of the house, creating unexpected connections. Photo Chatsworth House Trust. Chatsworth
19 June 2022 - 31 December 2024
An exhibition about the design of the future takes place at the Design Museum Danmark. 'The Future is Present' exhibition aims to show examples of designers working to shape a better future by exploring different approached to challenges such as climate crisis, refugee flows, surveillance and pandemics. Design Museum Danmark
27 May 2023 - 14 January 2024
The Tate St Ives presents an exhibition of the revolutionary approach of The Casablanca Art School, which proposed a bold new visual culture following Morocco's independence in 1956. The School explored the combination of traditional Berber skills with modernist influences from Europe and North Africa, creating a new perspective for the post-colonial era. Photo © Mohammed Chabâa Estate. Tate St Ives
21 - 23 May 2023
The International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) and WantedDesign Manhattan, the show featuring high end North American studios and emerging international designers, return with new leadership and a new vision. The show in New York City will feature more than 300 designers from over 20 countries and will host the 43rd Annual ICFF Interiors Awards. ICFF + WantedDesign Manhattan
19 February - 29 July 2023
The Museum of Modern Art features a new exhibition, Architecture Now: New York, New Publics. The exhibition features 12 recently completed projects and is the first in a series that showcases emerging talent and groundbreaking projects in contemporary architecture. Photo: Iwan Baan. MoMA
30 March - 13 May 2023
An exhibition of new paintings by artist Stanley Whitney, 'There Will Be Song' is on display at the Gagosian, Grosvenor Hill in London. The work emerges from Whitney's exploration of colour and composition, and responds to artists including Piet Mondrian, Giorgio Morandi and Mark Rothko. Photo Rob McKeever © Stanley Whitney Courtesy Gagosian. Gagosian
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28 March - 14 April 2023
To coincide with PAD Paris 2023, Saint Laurent are holding an exhibition dedicated to French modernist furniture design, featuring the work of Jean-Michel Frank, Jacques Adnet and Jean-Després. The exhibition will be at Rive Droite stores in Paris and Los Angeles. Saint Laurent
25 and 26 March 2023
Buildings and sites normally closed to the public will be open during Open House Copenhagen. Over 10,000 people are expected to visit and registration is required. The range of buildings include Arne Jacobson's central bank of Denmark, utility provider HOFOR's tunnels under the city and Urban Rigger, the floating shipping container islands that are home to 100 people. Photo Johanne Troelsgaard Toft (DACDOM). Danish Architecture Centre, Open House
February - 1 April 2023
The gallery S94 Design has moved to the Rafael Viñoly designed New York landmark 3 East 89th Street. S94D currently hosts exhibits including 'Aluminium Furniture' by Donald Judd, Kwangho Lee's first solo exhibition in New York, 'Infinite Expansion' and Ernst Gamperl's 'The Houghton Oak Project'. S94 Design
22 & 23 March 2023 at the Truman Brewery, London UK
The 10th edition of the trade show for the British architecture and design community features talks by guest speakers including architect Amin Taha and focuses on Energy and Ecosystems. Photo Marek Sikora Photography. [email protected]
26 January - 12 March 2023
The KIOSK K67 was designed in 1966 by architect Saša Mächtig. 7,500 of these were mass produced in fibreglass and occupied the streets of the former Yugoslavia, and are still being used for many purposes including news stands, coffee shops and flower stalls. Architecture professor Dijana Handanovic has refurbished a Kiosk K67 as an exhibit for the Blaffer Art Museum, University of Houston. Photo Nicholas Nguyen. Blaffer Art Museum
18 - 28 May 2023
Melbourne Design Week 2023 is a 11 day program of design exhibitions and events across Melbourne. The themes this year are 'transparency, currency and legacy'. Melbourne Design Week
19 - 23 April 2023
The 61st Salon del Mobile, Milan returns after delays and cancellations in recent years. There will be 1,962 exhibitors and the 31st edition of the lighting biannual, Euroluce will take place in parallel. Salon del Mobile. Milano
Until 5 March 2023
The EU Mies van der Rohe Award exhibition takes place at the award winning Town House, which itself won the Stirling Prize and the EU Mies van der Rohe Award in previous years. The exhibition showcases 40 contemporary architecture projects that have been shortlisted for the award from across Europe. EUMies Awards, Kingston University
9 - 12 March 2023
Brussels, Belgium
The 6th Edition of COLLECTIBLE features 21st century collectible design. The fair shows a curated selection of high quality and well researched objects and includes new galleries and emerging designers. COLLECTIBLE
2 February - 3 April 2023
In partnership with the Design Museum the Ralph Saltzman Prize celebrates emerging product designers. Marco Campardo, who has a keen interest in making and material experimentation was nominated by Barber Osgerby design studio and is the winner of the 2023 prize. Design Museum
14 February to 12 March 2023
Annual event held in Madrid covering all design disciplines from graphic design to architecture, with the aim of promoting Madrid on the international design scene. Madrid Design Festival
16 to 19 February 2023
Frieze Los Angeles 2023 was launched in 2019 and moves to a new location of Santa Monica Airport this year. The international art fair focuses on contemporary art and celebrates LA's dynamic culture. Photo James Jackman / CKA. Courtesy of Frieze. Frieze Los Angeles
12 to 16 October 2022
Frieze London and Frieze Masters will take place at London's Regents Park. It features 280 galleries from 42 countries. Alongside the main exhibition Focus will feature galleries established in the last 12 years. Frieze
1 to 11 September 2022
Helsinki Design Week 2022. Design events throughout the city with the main venue at Alvar Aalto's building known as 'The Sugar Cube', which will be open to the public for the first time. This year's theme is 'Openness'. Helsinki Design Week
23 Oct 2021 to 20 February 2022
To coincide with COP26 the Design Museum's exhibition 'Waste Age: What Can Design Do?' demonstrates how design can tackle the issue of waste and its environmental consequences. The exhibition confronts visitors with the scale of global waste, educates them about raw materials in everyday objects and then explores visionary designer's proposals for a circular method of production. Design Museum
13 to 17 October 2021
Major galleries from around the world come together at Frieze London and Frieze Masters in London's Regents Park. Events include talks and special projects.
22 March 2020
Filmaker Gary Hustwit is streaming his documentaries free for the world during the COVID-19 crisis. Documentaries include Rams, a portrait of one of the most influential designers Dieter Rams. The documentaries are streamed here.
14-18 February 2020
This year's London Fashion Week will be themed around 'Positive Fashion'. The city-wide activities organised by the British Fashion Council will include 78 brands, 103 stores and 346 events. London Fashion Week
MoMA, working with architects Diller Scofidio + Renfro in collaboration with Gensler, have added more than 40,000 square feet of gallery space to the existing campus. The extended gallery opens on 21st October 2019 with street level galleries connecting the Museum to New York City. Photo Iwan Baan, Courtesy of MoMA. MoMA, Diller Scofidio + Renfro, Gensler
9 April to 14 May 2019.
Milan Design Week comprises the Salone Internazionale del Mobile and the Fuorisalone. The Furoisalone is a set of events taking place throughout Milan. Although traditionally furniture and industrial design companies take part, recently events also cover automotive, technology, telecoms, art, fashion and the food sector. Fuorisalone.
9 April to 14 May 2019.
The 58th edition of the Salone del Mobile.Milano features more than 2,400 exhibitors and 550 young designers at the SaloneSatellite. Salone del Mobile.Milano.
14 February to 12 May 2019
Whitechapel Gallery has invited ten groups of artists and architects including 6a, Adjaye Associates and David Kohn, to offer their visions of the future. The 'Is this Tomorrow?' exhibition follows on from Whitechapel's 'This is Tomorrow' exhibition in 1956 which featured architects including Alison and Peter Smithson. Whitechapel Gallery.
Until 5 May 2019
David Adjaye: Making Memory explores how celebrated architect Sir David Adjaye OBE uses the architecture of monuments and memorials to reflect on history, memory and record human lives. The exhibition covers Adjaye's landmark structures including the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington D.C and the UK Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre in London. Design Museum.
5-7 October 2018 (Preview 3 & 4 October)
The 16th edition of Frieze London feature around 160 galleries with art from over 1000 of todays leading artists. Frieze London coincides with Frieze Sculpture and Frieze Masters at Regent's Park. Frieze London 2018.
20-23 September 2018.
Launched in 2007 and located in Shoreditch, the London Design Fair is a four-day industry event that brings together 550 exhibitors from 36 countries showcasing the very latest in furniture, lighting, textiles, materials and conceptual installations. London Design Fair.
