FOCUS VII
London Open City @ Sommerset House
If I could design London I would...
+ Bike - extend cycle lanes, improve awareness and allow bikes on the train network at all times.
+ Demotorise - pedestrianise, share space
+ Plant - trees trees trees
+ Modernise - water, electrical, lighting infrastructure to reduce waste
+ Experiment & Innovate, with new schemes, cultures and design
+ Dare to do it!
A well put together exhibition, with loads of freebies, focusing on the future of London's built/unbuilt environment.
Sommerset House here
Design for London here
Brit Insurance Designs Of The Year @ Design Museum 
Muon Four-Way Limited Edition Loudspeakers - A KEF concept designed by Ross Lovegrove
"The first in an annual exploration of the most innovative, interesting and forward looking new work in design of all kinds. Selected from around the world, Brit Insurance Designs of the Year presents 100 projects nominated by a group of internationally respected design experts, curators, critics, practitioners and enthusiasts. These projects fall within seven categories: architecture, fashion, furniture, graphics, interactive, product and transport. The exhibition gives an overview of the most significant achievements in design and architecture in the last year, whether they are projects by a practice, a team or an individual."
An interesting collection well worth a look in especially for those who enjoy interactive exhibitions.
Design Museum here
Jean Prouve @ Design Museum/Tate Modern
Design Museum here
Tate Modern here
Haque Design + Research @ London Met
Burble London from haque d+r on Vimeo.
"Usman Haque has created responsive environments, interactive installations, digital interface devices and mass-participation performances. His skills include the design of both physical spaces and the software and systems that bring them to life. He has been an invited researcher at the Interaction Design Institute Ivrea, Italy, artist-in-residence at the International Academy of Media Arts and Sciences, Japan and has also worked in USA, UK and Malaysia. As well as directing the work of Haque Design + Research he was until 2005 a teacher in the Interactive Architecture Workshop at the Bartlett School of Architecture, London."
Usmans' presentation covered a snapshot of his work to date. He started by explaining what drives his work,
1 - Architecture - how we are programmed to explore and experience space.
2 - Interaction not reaction - how can participation affect a response.
3 - Design + Research - how these are so closely intertwined to be almost indistinguishable.
I thought his mapping of modern phenomena, mobile telephone reception for example, and how he applied the results to his proposals fascinating.
Haque Design here
London Metropolitan University here
Potters Field Park Kiosks
DSDHA Architects here
China Design Now 
Ji Ji, Hi Panda, toy figure, 2006
"China Design Now explores China’s dreams and hopes over the last two decades, from individual designers to the nation as a whole."
China Design Now here
Snowboarding @ La Plagne
La Plagne here
