• Preview of 100% Design London 2007
• Blog from 100% Design London 2007
• XYMARA™ Design Award
• Preview of Tokyo Designer's Week 2007
• “Always start from scratch” – An Interview with Ditte Hammerstrøm
• Colors and beyond: Ciba at 100% Design 2008!
• LIVE Blog from 100% Design 2008
• Preview of Tokyo Desginers Week: Blickfang Tokyo and 100% Design Tokyo - Tokyo design extravaganza

By Ania Dardas, with additional material by Le Vin Chin

"When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life," said literary figure Samuel Johnson famously in September 1777. There was always something going on then and he would have loved the program for this September in London, when design hits London from three directions almost simultaneously: the London Design Festival (September 13-23), 100% Design at Earl’s Court (September 18-21) and Tent London at the Truman Brewery in Brick Lane (September 18-21). Designers and design mavens can probably pick up enough inspiration in London this September to take them through all the following 12 months.

The London Design Festival has been around since 2003 and has grown with every year. It was set up to celebrate London as a metropolis of design and has drawn an increasingly international mix of visitors and exhibitors each year.

"Across the design world, people are talking about the Festival and being in London in September," says rising design star Jaime Hayon. "What I like about the Festival is that it’s full of new ideas".

Among the key projects for 2008 is Size + Matter where David Adjaye – a leading architect – has created a pavilion out of American tulipwood at the South Bank Centre. The South Bank will also be home to a broad program of events including talks organized by the Financial Times; a show ‘n' tell event where up and coming designers talk about the factors that influence and shape them; and graphic designers head-to-head in a live digital design battle ‘cut & paste’. Look for shows in the Brompton Design District and in Covent Garden, as well as 100% Design in West London and Tent London over in the East End.

100% Design in West London is the event that focuses specifically on interiors and makes the link from design and interior decoration to architecture.

It is geared to the contract market and attracts key manufacturers as well as star designers and major specifiers from the both the U.K. and overseas.

100% Design presents innovative contemporary products produced by a mix of established and new talent within a framework of features, events and shows. You may remember we blogged from our stand at last year's event. Ciba and XYMARA will be back again this year in a major way: we're looking forward to meeting you at our stand (R70) and we'll be presenting our young designer's award, the Ciba XYMARA™ Design Award on September 18, the first day of the show, at 100% Design's showpiece theater, specially christened the Ciba XYMARA™ Theater! Look out for more details soon - we'll keep you up to date on all our preparations for the big event! UPDATE: and here are all the details!

At the center of the fair will be the Levantina Bar, designed by Lime Studio in cooperation with Levantina, the world’s biggest stone company. The result reflects the versatility of stone and the creativity of Lime Studio – not to be missed. You can expect to be wowed by amazing lighting at the Corian feature, with Corian’s new ICE series of translucent lighting, as well as Lighten Up – a new feature at 100% Design devoted to sustainable lighting. Sustainability remains central and new ideas and inspiration can be found at 100% Sustainable.

The seminar program has been divided into category days: ‘luxury’, ‘past, present and future’, ’live/work', and ‘light relief’: expect to be challenged, informed, amazed and amused.

Over in East London, in Brick Lane, alongside some of the best curry houses and bagels to be found in London you can enjoy the many events that make up Tent London.

Building on its launch success in 2007, Tent London has a number of shows such as Circa – the vintage show where you can pick up design icons from the 20^th century.

Browse though the work of up-and-coming designers as well as established companies in the form of furniture, lighting, digital media, ceramics and textiles, materials and accessories at Content. The Talent Zone is a curated and juried show where you will find the work of a handpicked group of new generation designers. They get the opportunity to exhibit - and you get the chance to discover the work of designers who are set to change the shape of our world.

And there is space for you if you register early enough: Your Space is for anyone: small and large groups, individuals, anyone who wants a corner, or a space to show what they’re working on. In 2007, Tent London had more than 18,000 visitors and 300 exhibitors; 2008 promises more of everything.

Jaime Hayon summarizes: "I moved to London because it’s the world’s most dynamic city and the place I draw creative inspiration from." Clearly Samuel Johnson is not alone.