Dezeen promotion: the Surface Design Show event is set to present materials for architecture and interior design at London's Business Design Centre from 9 to 11 February 2016.
Since its launch in 2005, the Surface Design Show has presented materials for the built environment to members of the industry, and provided a platform for them to network with like-minded designers, architects and suppliers.
The 2016 edition will feature a programme of events and entertainment, including a live debate chaired by Peter Murray of New London Architecture on the topic Architecture is More Than Skin Deep.
A PechaKucha evening hosted by Annalie Riches – cofounder of Mikhail Riches – will take place on 10 February 2016.
New for 2016 is the Stone Gallery, which has been introduced to reflect the importance of the rapidly growing stone market in the UK and will also feature samples of natural stone from across the world.
"The overwhelmingly positive comments from exhibitors at Surface Design Show 2015 along with the huge increase in visitor numbers has led us to extend the show and introduce some new and exciting categories and events," said event director Christopher Newton.
An area named Future Thinking will examine what is next for materials and highlight colours, topics and surface trends for 2017.
Also debuting this year is Surface Spotlight – a showcase curated by colour and trend consultant Sally Angharad.
"Texture is key, I will be looking for surfaces that address all the senses and encourage touch and feel as we look for more engagement with our surroundings," said Angharad. "Colour continues to be very important. Sophisticated bright colour palettes are emerging in new material collections."
Light School – first introduced to Surface Design Show in 2014 – will present architectural lighting, and aims to provide architects and designers with in-depth information about the products.
Presented on the last day of the show, the Surface Design Awards recognises examples of innovative uses of surfaces and finishes across the architecture and interiors industries. Categories include retail, commercial, housing, public building, light and surfaces, and temporary structures.
Dezeen and Dezeen Jobs are media partners for the event, which takes place from 9 to 11 February 2016.
For further details about the event and to register to attend, visit the Surface Design Show website.
Read on for more information from the organisers:
2016 will see the biggest and best Surface Design Show to date
Surface Design Show is the only event in the UK that focuses solely on interior and exterior surfaces, connecting innovative and exciting materials with a specifying audience of architects and designers. Returning to London's Business Design Centre between 9 to 11 February, the 2016 show will be the largest and most exciting show occupying both the ground floor and all of the mezzanine level for the first time.
2015 saw 5586 professional and trade visitors, an unprecedented increase of 49% on the previous year. 80% of the audience came from architectural, interior design, lighting design or multi design practices with 5% of these visiting from abroad.
"The overwhelmingly positive comments from exhibitors at Surface Design Show 2015 along with the huge increase in visitor numbers has led us to extend the show and introduce some new and exciting categories and events. Surface Design Show 2016 looks set to be our biggest and best to date," said event director Christopher Newton
Since its inception in 2005 the show has become the destination for industry people to see, touch and explore the latest materials for the built environment, gain new insights and network with like-minded designers, architects and suppliers.
Surface Design Show 2016 will be full of new ideas and firm favourites, refreshed to provide our specifying audience with a unique visiting experience. The packed programme of events and entertainment will include the Preview Evening Live Debate and the ever popular PechaKucha Evening - an informal and fun presentation of inspirational slides.
Future Thinking is Surface Design Show's annual look at the future of materials, highlighting colours, topics and surface trends for 2017, new for 2016 will be Surface Spotlight Live curated by Sally Angharad a leading YK colour and trend consultant. The two sector spotlights highlighted will be Health and Wellbeing and Retail Design sponsored by Concord featuring materials that make a significant contribution to both areas.
Sally Angharad has highlighted some of the trends that she will be looking out for during Surface Design Show 2016:
"Texture is key, I will be looking for surfaces that address all the senses and encourage touch and feel as we look for more engagement with our surroundings. Colour continues to be very important. Sophisticated bright colour palettes are emerging in new material collections and I am also looking forward to seeing the exhibitors offering customers the potential to specify a bespoke colour."
New for 2016 is Stone Gallery which has been introduced to reflect the importance of the rapidly growing stone market in the UK. Hosted on the mezzanine level, the gallery will focus on natural stone from across the world.
First introduced to Surface Design Show in 2014 Light School has established itself as the UK's main event for architectural lighting. Light School is presented by Light Collective and supported by the Institution of Lighting Professionals and consists of three parts: The School Room, Product School and the School Newspaper sponsored by Xicato. The School Room, sponsored by iGuzzini and with mondo*arc as its media partner will provide architects and designers with education and knowledge about lighting design and lighting products.
Since 2013 the Surface Design Awards have been recognising and celebrating outstanding examples of progressive design and the use of innovative surfaces in projects both in the UK and internationally. In 2015 the Awards received 181 entries in 11 categories – a 62% increase on 2014 with a third of all entries coming from outside the UK. The 2016 Judging Panel will be Co-Chaired by Sarah Featherstone of Featherstone Young and Theresa Dowling of FX Magazine with a judging panel that includes names from some of the most prestigious design practices in the UK.
The awards presentation will take place on Thursday 11th February during Surface Design Show.
As Health and Wellbeing is one of the focuses at Surface Design Show 2016, the organisers have adopted Maggie's as this year’s chosen Charity Partner. Maggie's provides free practical, emotional and social support to people with cancer and their family and friends. Surface Design Show will be helping to raise funds for the new Maggie's Centre in Leeds designed by Heatherwick Studio.
Professionals can attend for free by registering via the website.