London Design Festival 2012

This playful and imposing canopy hanging above the entrance to the V&A is designed by Heatherwick Studio and constructed from 208 traffic cones
Photography: Sabine Zetteler

The sculpture accompanies the studio's 'Designing the Extraordinary' exhibition in the museum which will run until the 30 September
Photography: Sabine Zetteler

The American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC) has teamed up with product design students from London's Royal College of Art to produce a series of chairs. British furniture producer Benchmark worked with the students to realise their designs, which are as aesthetically pleasing as they are sustainable. The results are on show at the V&A in an exhibition titled 'Out of the Woods: Adventures of 12 Hardwood Chairs'
Photography: Petr Krejci

'Designed Legacy' chair by Michael Warren tip toes en pointe as elegantly as any ballet dancer thus enhancing its lightweight, low-impact construction
Photography: Sabine Zetteler

Spanish designer Santi Guerrero Font has created his seemingly basic, but actually highly complex chair, entitled 'Num. 4', using American ash as his hardwood of choice. He was keen to make visible how everything slots together using only glue to fuse his joints
Photography: Sabine Zetteler

'Floating Chair' by Bobby Petersen and Tom Gottelier, and 'Squeeze' by Nicholas Wallenberg
Photography: Sabine Zetteler

Home grown British designer Sam Weller's intelligent chair design involves a seamless rigging process to hold the contributing parts in place, yet the fluidity of the rope design makes it all appear deceptively simple
Photography: Sabine Zetteler

'Folded Chair' by Japanese designer Norie Matsumoto combines ash and walnut
Photography: Petr Krejci

'7X7' installation by Faye Toogood in Covent Garden. The installation is part of a series of works commissioned by Dezeen, called Seven Designers for Seven Dials, inspired by tradespeople of the area. Photography: Rory van Mullingen

For the Wonder Cabinets of Europe exhibition at 4 Cromwell Road, eight designers were asked to create a cabinet of curiosities by curators Maria Jeglinska and Livia Lauber to showcase new works and give an insight into their creative process. Pictured, from right, are the cabinets of Oscar Diaz and Pauline Deltour. Photography: Sam Scott-Hunter

'I wanted to work on lamps that almost had "no forms"', says Maria Jeglinska of her Ash series. Instead of embellishing them with the elaborate patterns she usually adorns her work with (see the sketches, pictured), these pieces rely on the natural patterns of ash wood
Photography: Sam Scott-Hunter

The 'Building Baskets' exhibition at 4 Cromwell Place. The works are a design collaboration between Kingston University's Faculties of Design and Business, the basket weaving enterprise Lupane Women's Centre and the National Gallery Zimbabwe

Colour dying techniques, showcased on the walls of the exhibition

'Mimicry' chair installation by Nendo at the V&A

Nendo has morphed the press-punched metal chair into different configurations for different rooms in the museum, mimicking the proportions of a particular space or object

'Bench of Plates' by AL_A for Established & Sons' 'Bench Years' installation at the V&A Museum

Mosaic bench by Konstantin Grcic for Bench Years

Metal bench by Felix de Pass for Bench Years

Tubular steel bench by Alexander Taylor for Bench Years

Patricia Urquiola's 'Tatou' collection of lamps has its UK launch at FLOS, Clerkenwell
Photography: Sabine Zetteler

The 'Tatou' lamp collection, seen from below
Photography: Sabine Zetteler

The FLOS showroom infrastructure in fifty shades of white
Photography: Sabine Zetteler

The FLOS 'Zeppelin Pendant Light', pictured from below
Photography: Sabine Zetteler

'Masonite: Memorium' small drawer units by FolkForm, for Svenkst Tenn at Skandium

Patchwork leather benches by Folkform at Skandium

'Atomium' egg holder by Christian Ghion, for Alessi

Aram Store has enlisted fashion brand Eley Kishimoto to design a series of rugs. Pictured is a design called 'Ropey'

'Flash' rug by Eley Kishimoto

The 'Flash' rug also comes accompanied by 'Flash' gnomes at the Living With Patterns exhibition at Aram Gallery in Covent Garden

A series of geometric sculptures by Eley Kishimoto at Aram Gallery

A vase at Eley Kishimoto's Living With Patterns exhibition

A series of graphic plates at Eley Kishimoto's Living With Patterns exhibition

B&B Italia has launched the 'Tobi-Ishi' table in marble, by Barber Osgerby. The table is their first project for the brand
Photography: Sabine Zetteler

'Incunabular' sideboard by Invisible City at Tent

'Incunabular' side tables by Invisible City at Tent

Cushions by Tamasyn Gambell at Tent

'Venus of Cupertino' iPad charger by Scott Eaton at Tent

The Shoreditch Design Triangle has hit its stride in its fourth year. The initiative allows those smaller design businesses within the area to be part of the festival without having to pay the costly fees of being in the official guide. A little blue triangle marks the businesses taking part and it's well worth picking up a copy of the broadsheet and visiting the website

It's been nine months since Objects for Use opened its doors in Shoreditch, and now the shop is relaunching as Momosan Shop with a new exhibition 'Hexagon' as part of the London Design Festival. Momosan Shop has selected works with hexagonal forms to complement its own collection. Designers exhibiting include Lars Frideen, Gemma Holt, Wanju Kim and Max Lamb

At the back of Momosan Shop, Rupert Blanchard opens his workshop to the public for the first time with an exhibition of his new work, including a bespoke sideboard made from reclaimed elements

'Conversations' is a series of prints by Mark McGinnis for SCP - set to be a big seller for Autumn

SCP is also selling stickers by Mark McGinnis so that people can arrange their own 'Conversations' - a wall is dedicated to customers' creations during LDF

London based designers Faudet-Harrison present the restrained and elegant 'Boundary' pendant and spot light, as part of SCP's Design Department Store, for which they also designed the lay out

Standard Wall Hooks in solid walnut by US designers Fort Standard for SCP's new collection

Bitossi Reissue vases from the 1950s and 70s at SCP. The amazing collection was originally created under the art direction of Aldo Londi, and the company is still run by the same family today

More Bitossi Reissue vases from the 1950s and 70s at SCP's Design Department Store

Makers & Brothers show the process of weaving a willow basket at SCP's Design Department Store. If you time your visit right (we didn't quite, but hope to go back) you might get to see a real-life basket weaver in action

Max Lamb's Crockery for 1882 Ltd is a family of tableware cast in fine bone china from plaster models carved by the artist. The range includes a jug, bowl and mug, all made in Staffordshire

The 'Cross/Over' exhibition at the Rocket Gallery comprises wall-mounted objects, sideboards...

... and a freestanding bookcase, by Danish artist Lars Wolter

Low tables by Lars Wolter

In the Old Shoreditch Station, Boskke exhibited its transparent 'Sky Planter', which enables its owners to witness plant growth, while Hulger launched the compact 'Baby Plumen 001', a new variant on the original low energy sculptural lightbulb

The Sky Planter and Hulger's Plumen low energy light bulbs are combined delicately to create living chandeliers

Show 5 at Viaduct is devoted to eight key creations by legendary designer Ferdinand Kramer, re-imagined and recreated by the master craftsmen at e15
Photography: Sabine Zetteler

The 1925 'Karnak' side chair by Ferdinand Kramer is the ultimate combination of style, simplicity and function
Photography: Sabine Zetteler

'Theban' daybed by Ferdinand Kramer, in waxed oak with natural leather weave. Photographs line the walls of the Viaduct exhibition, telling part of the Kramer story dating back to the 1920s
Photography: Sabine Zetteler

The soon-to-be cult classic 'Calvert' coffee table, redesigned from Kramer's 1951 original is cut from a single plywood sheet and is available clear lacquered, or in these coloured editions
Photography: Sabine Zetteler

A self portrait in drawing pins by Duncan MacAskill hangs in the window of the Ally Capellino shop. The pairing came about thanks to the artist and Ally Capellino's shared love for humble materials

MacAskill's drawing pins have been painted to reflect and complement the colours of the Ally Capellino bags

Some studies for MacAskill's drawing pin 'paintings', arranged at the back of the store

For its 'Collaborations' exhibition, Linley has launched new pieces designed by Rolf Sachs and Alex Hull. Pictured is the 'Equus' writing desk, by Alex Hull, made from carbon fibre with traditional leatherwork upholstery

Detail view of the 'Equus' writing desk

The 'Q-ubes' collection by Rolf Sachs is inspired by building blocks. This is the cheapest design of the new 'Collaborations' offerings, coming in at a mere £22,500

Rolf Sachs' 'Stack-ed' desk for Linley takes its inspiration from the aesthetics of storing and drying freshly cut timber. Constructed from layered panels of almost untreated solid wood, the design features no nails or screws, relying entirely on traditional joinery techniques

All the rage in London this year, the lightweight and perfectly formed Tokyo Bike is part of the Red exhibition at The Conran Shop, celebrating 25 years in the Michelin Building. The shop has commissioned a collection of new and existing works by leading designer in the flaming hue of British pillar boxes (Pantone 032, to be precise)
Photography: Sabine Zetteler

This unique Giant Slingshot is made by Christopher Jarratt from a beautiful Sycamore forked branch
Photography: Sabine Zetteler

Zaha Hadid's design gallery is playing host to a pop-up hair salon run by hair extraordinaire John Vial, the creative director of Fudge

A lucky candidate has her tresses tended to at the by-invitation-only salon

The dramatic 'Lotus' bed by Zaha Hadid, which was shown at the Venice Architecture Biennale in 2008

'Cirrus', a sculpture in Formica by Zaha Hadid

Designer Lee Broom has once again transformed his Rivington Street studio space into an old grocery store for the London Design Festival, complete with original wooden panelling, sawdust covering the floor and 200 of his crystal bulbs cascading from the ceiling and resting in cabinets and crates
Photography: Sabine Zetteler

Here, the bulbs are presented like fruit and vegetables in the grocery store
Photography: Sabine Zetteler

Flat-packed Finnieston 'Tripod' tables by Samuel Chan for Channels

Lighting installation by Bocci at Design Junction

The leather-covered 'Wrap Glassware' collection of vases-cum-carafes by Simon Hassan

Carved wooden bowls and dishes by Chilean collective, The Andes House

Wicker lighting by The Andes House

A trio of rulers by Kukka made from reclaimed stone

Lindsey Adelman’s ‘Nick and the Candlestick’, also part of the America Made Me exhibition

Gubi has launched a new addition to its Adnet Collection, a series of midcentury pieces originally designed Jacques Adnet and revived by the Danish brand. Pictured is the 'Adnet Rectangulaire' mirror, encased in hand-stitched leather

Joanna Mires' 'New World' ceramic work, which was exhibited at Design Junction's Ceramics Camberwell collective, has a serious case of jungle fever

Traditional chairmaker Lloyd Loom challenged five designers to rethink its iconic woven chairs

The designers include Gareth Neal, Clar Clerkin, Amos Marchant, Chris Eckersley and William Warren

A rocker by Carl Clerkin

William Warren's stacking version

A pair of his n' hers chairs by Gareth Neal

Amos Marchant's high-backed reading chair

Light by Areti at Design Junction

A unique piece by Jaime Hayon for Baccarat at Design Junction

Tel Aviv-based studio Kukka showed off a series of simple desk trays

A delightful collection of table accessories by Daniel and Emma

A new chair by VW+BS for Decode

Another Country revealed a new letter tray and pencil holder

Ceramic tableware by Another Country

Russell Pinch continues to delight us with his latest collection. The new 'Holland Park Chair' was one such winner

 A model of a past coffee table sits within Pinch's new 'Post Office Shelving'

The 'Post Office Shelving' in all its glory

Chairs made from old bus and tube seating stand before a picture of Thomas Heatherwick's new London bus

While wondering the streets of London during the festival, we've spotted a number of furniture and product designers stepping into the realms of footwear. One such designer is Dutchman Tord Boontje, who has teamed up with Canadian shoe designer Tracey Neuls to create a special edition collection. Boontje selected one of Neuls' sculptural heeled pumps and one of her classic rubber soled derby shoes, embellishing them with autumnal leather trimmings that recall the inventive laser cutting techniques he employs in product design. This is the second collaboration for the duo, who first teamed up in 2010

Another footwear collaboration comes in the form of design duo Doshi Levien and Camper. Pictured is one half of Doshi Levien's new Twins collection for the footwear brand

Doshi Levien fleeting opened the doors of their studio during the festival. Pictured are some of their sketches and the ephemera that inspired the collection

Silver curios on Doshi Levien's shelves

An installation of Arper's 'Saya' chairs, with birds made from the chair backs flying overhead, at the brand's newly opened London showroom in Clerkenwell

A design circuit refuelling station at Arper's new London showroom

Parisian store Merci has opened a pop-up shop at Tom Dixon's The Dock, giving its non-French fans a taste of its goods

Merci glassware

Merci neon notebooks, wallets and pencils after our own heart

Following up on Piet Hein Eek's scrapboard wallpaper, NLXL have specially created this pressed tin version, which recalls the ceilings of Victorian Brooklyn, just for Merci

A first peek of Eclectic, Tom Dixon's new accessories line, which includes paperweights, chopping boards, a nest of metal plates and a brogue doorstop

A first peek of Eclectic, Tom Dixon's new accessories line, which includes paperweights, chopping boards, a nest of metal plates and a brogue doorstop

The world of Sé was shown off at the Superbrands show in a pale colour palette

The Zuzunaga + Texidors stand showed a plentiful collection of colourful textiles and cushions by Cristian Zuzunaga, along with a hand weaving machine in full flow

'#006 Side Seat' by Studio Makkink & Bey for Prooff. Layers of grey make up this series of lecture chairs with attached side tables

'#001 Ear Chair' by Studio Makkink & Bey

The '#002 Worksofa', by Studio Makkink & Bey, is an upholstered sofa system with a wood base structure

'A Quiet Celebration' hinged brass mirror, by Morie Nishimura

'Rebay' lights, collaged from Ebay purchases by designer Jon Male at Tent

Designers Siwen Huang and Qiongjie Yu have used traditional bamboo handicraft to modern ends for the W&Q project at Tent

'Apollo' Hanging lamps, made from spun anodised aluminium, by Robin Grasby and Marc Bell for International

An installation of geometric screens for the Tent press office, designed by Curtis and McEvoy using cut MDF shapes

DIY Objeto de Diseno products made from anodised aluminium at the 100% Argentina pavilion, within 100% Design

Lighting by David Irwin at 100% Design, including a new 'M Lamp' table light for Juniper, from kickstarter.com

Colour-changing LED 'Table Lamp (O)' by Pierre Lota, for Kaer & Splann at 100% Design

'Nonla' pendant lights, by Paul Crofts, for the debut of design brand Isomi

Cutlery and packaging by Manifesto Design lab, on show at the Korea pavilion

Sink unit in concrete with metal frame base by Low Info

Traditional design is given a modern edge in this induction cooker, in a midnight blue hue, by Mercury

'Kurk' flat-pack cork and metal desk lamp by Craig Foster. It requires no screws or glue to be assembled

'Console O' plant bench by JiB Design Studio studio

Wooden shelving unit with coloured panels by Drugeot Labo at 100% France

'Potluck series' timber stools by Lola Lely