This month’s line-up of unmissable design events includes glass, ceramics, game design, fashion, digital art, sustainable design, textiles and more. From international events and blockbuster exhibitions to pop-ups and hidden gems, stay up to date with the latest trends and concepts with our April Design Diary – keep reading for this month’s top picks.
THE DESIGN MUSEUM
29 MARCH – 8 SEPTEMBER
The much-anticipated Enzo Mari exhibition has just opened at the Design Museum – visit until 8 September for a celebration of the life and work of one of the greatest Italian designers of the 20th century whose iconic pieces and commitment to the social responsibility of design has inspired generations of creatives from across the globe.
The world’s biggest annual design event returns in Milan this April with today’s industry protagonists presenting a host of showcases, exhibitions and talks to celebrate the international design scene. See a full guide of the programme of this year’s event below.
‘As a species we are waking up to the simple fact that we are part of nature’ – Oliver Heath Design Studio
Delve into the world of biophilic design at ‘Bio-Spaces’, an experiential, multi-sensory exhibition opening this month curated by media and events platform Planted, in collaboration with Oliver Heath Design Studio. Featuring pieces by WASP + MCA, Norman Copenhagen, Henning Larsen Architects and more, the showcase will explore a nature-based approach to design.
SOMERSET HOUSE
6 – 15 APRIL
The most prominent experimental games festival in the UK, Now Play This, makes its return to Somerset House this spring, spotlighting cutting-edge independent and innovative game designs from around the world. Marking its tenth anniversary this year, the event presents immersive interaction and play for all ages, blending art and games surrounding the theme Liminal: Playing Between Worlds.
KENSINGTON OLYMPIA
19 – 21 APRIL
This year, Ceramic Art London celebrates its twentieth anniversary, heading to Kensington Olympia West for an international showcase of ceramics across 3 days, with 119 top ceramic artists to discover.
Bringing together rarely seen works from key UK collections for the very first time, this bold exhibition celebrates the unforgiving, fragile, strong and sustainable properties of glass, challenging existing perceptions of the material and bringing its history to life.
In this joint exhibition, discover works by two of the world’s most influential societies – Fellows of Designer Bookbinders and Society of Scribes & Illuminators. A rare opportunity to see these fine contemporary bindings and calligraphic artworks.
V&A SOUTH KENSINGTON
UNTIL 15 SEPTEMBER 2024
Experience the unique collection of digital art curated by visionary collector Patric D. Prince, showcasing unique collaborations and technological innovations. This 14-work exhibition offers a glimpse into digital art evolution from the 1960s to the early 2000s.
BANKFIELD MUSEUM, HALIFAX
UNTIL 21 DECEMBER 2024
This fascinating exhibition highlights fashion designers from across the country who specialise in creating garments based on historical dress, taking a closer look at the process of transforming museum artefacts or fashion plate into wearable pieces of historically influenced clothing.
Part of Calderdale’s Year of Culture 2024 festivities, this exhibition is also supported by an Arts and Humanities Research Council funded initiative in collaboration with the London College of Fashion titled ‘Exhibiting Fashion: exhibition-making and curation as a catalyst for advancing innovative museum practices.’
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APRIL DESIGN DIARY 2024 This month’s line-up of unmissable design events includes glass, ceramics, game design, fashion, digital art, sustainable design, textiles and more. From international events and blockbuster exhibitions to pop-ups and hidden gems, stay up to date with
