London Design Biennale Launches with Utopia Theme

The first edition of the London Design Biennale opens from September 7 to 27, 2016, at Somerset House, inspired by the Venice Biennale. Curated by Christopher Turner, former editor of Icon magazine, the event adopts the theme 'Utopia by Design,' marking the 500th anniversary of Thomas More's 'Utopia.' Thirty countries participate with installations addressing sustainability, migration, pollution, urbanism, and equality. Highlights include Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby's 'Forecast' for the UK, exploring wind energy; Makkink & Bey's 'Design Diorama' for the Netherlands; Spain's VRPolis virtual reality smart city; Southern Guild's presentation of Porky Hefer's suspended animals from Africa; and Italy's collective of twenty young designers under Triennale Design Museum, reinterpreting the white flag as a symbol of truce. The biennale runs concurrently with the London Design Festival (September 17-25), which features over 400 previews and events across the city.