emotional states: London design Biennale 2018

A highlight of the global design calendar, London Design Biennale saw some of the world’s most exciting and ambitious designers, innovators and curators gather in the capital to show how design impacts our very being and every aspect of our lives. 

In response to the theme Emotional States, participants from six continents exhibited engaging and interactive design installations across Somerset House. In an exhibition of outstanding ideas and creativity, international design teams illustrated how design can challenge, delight, educate and surprise. 

Working over a 6 month period, I was appointed by Brilliant Stages as the coordinator for the London Design Biennale, receiving the incoming design work from the global network of curators, designers and artists planning to exhibit at the event.

With close collaboration with the organiser at all times in the process, I established the project scope, feasibility and costs, continually developing each project through the design iterations. I then assembled each standalone project into an overarching framework of delivery as a coordinated event production. In all 14 projects were serviced and installed over a 9 day build schedule across Somerset House.

Each exhibitor had a broadly different set of service requirements, and many would supply elements of the designs themselves through sponsorship or by bringing materials from their countries of origin. Services supplied by Brilliant Stages included:

• Full service technical design and supply, mechanical design engineering, structural design / engineering

• Audio visual supply, video mapping and content assembly, electrical wiring and installation, truss and rigging supply

• Scenic fabrication, metal fabrication, scenic artistry and set dressing, print production

• Test building of exhibits prior to the event, installation and removal of all equipment onsite

• Production management, stakeholder coordination, health and safety coordination