A well-established part of the design calendar for nearly 20 years, the Surface Design Show returns to London’s Business Design Centre from 7-9 February to again showcase the best in materials innovation for specifiers
The Surface Design Show provides the perfect opportunity for material experts, and the architectural and design community to come together under one roof.
Visitors to the show will be inspired by new product launches running the gamut of colour, materiality and sustainability, plus diverse displays of surface-based installations and a comprehensive speaker programme featuring accomplished industry professionals who are passionate about the future of surface design.
Features and highlights
There are over 150 exhibitors – of which 70 are new for 2023 – ensuring that the show will have the latest surface innovations on display. Supporting emerging materials designers has always been important to the Surface Design Show. That is why the New Talent section will, for the fourth year in a row, be held in partnership with Trendease International. Its chief creative director, Jennifer Castoldi, will be curating over 30 ‘New Talents’ this year. The section will inspire and excite visitors with the ‘Class of 23’ showcasing a fascinating mix of biomaterials, natural materials, digital print, textiles, furniture, wallcovering, weaving and biopolymers.
This forthcoming edition will be the most international yet with new talents coming from as far afield as Sweden, the Netherlands, Lebanon, Malaysia, Korea and China, and will give them the opportunity to learn from each other and connect.
Located right in the heart of the exhibition, Surface Design Show welcomes back Surface Spotlight Live (SSL), an area which gives visitors a chance to touch and compare the latest material prototypes. Centred around this year’s theme, ‘Shaping Communities’, SSL will highlight the importance of new exchanges between surfaces, people and environments. From material transformation to inclusive design, co-creation to sensory wellbeing, SSL will present designs creating thoughtful solutions for interiors and architecture. This section of the show will again be curated by leading trend and colour expert, Sally Angharad.
Stone Gallery showcases the possibilities with one of the most sought-after materials – this section of the show has attracted companies from the UK, Europe and further afield. It is officially supported by Stone Federation Great Britain, whose Knowledge Hub forms a focal point for its member companies. It will feature Stone Tapestry, meanwhile, an installation curated by leading London-based architectural practice Squire & Partners. It explores innovative textures, light, colour and pattern to create a tapestry of inspiring materials from around the world.
The talks programme is always a particular highlight of the Surface Design Show. The main stage, designed by Emily Skinner of recycling pioneers Smile Plastics, will host 18 different presentations and feature more than 40 speakers, to inspire the show’s audience of architects and designers.
Over the two and a half days, the main stage will host a range of debates, panels, trend forecasts and insights into the latest surface design innovations. It will also be the venue for the Legends Live series of ‘In Conversations’ in partnership with Mix Interiors, where industry leaders have the chance to interview a figure they particularly admire.
The Awards
The Surface Design Awards are sure to again be a popular element of the show. Now in their 11th year, they continue to set a benchmark for architectural and design achievements across the world. More than 110 projects were entered into the 2023 Awards, coming from 24 different countries. The BAFTA Headquarters in London by Benedetti Architects, which won the Supreme Winner award in 2022 set the standard for excellence in surface design. Following the success of its debut last year, the Architectural Photography category returns once more for 2023.
This year the Awards judging panel is co-chaired by Jonathan Hagos, director of architects studio Freehaus and Nasim Koerting, head of design at The Office Group, and features a diverse mix of industry professionals who have made a name for themselves among their peers.
Readers can register now for the Surface Design Show 2023.